Paul Green, Director

 Reduced-Size-for-Leadership-Paul-Green-headshot.jpgA veteran of the U.S. Navy, Commerce Director Paul Green assumed leadership of the agency in 2024 after serving in the Montana House of Representatives. Director Green championed tax relief, economic development, red tape reform and workforce housing development while he represented House District 41.

Director Green has extensive leadership experience earned in the private and public sectors, as well as a strong background in economic development, serving as executive director of Two Rivers Economic Development Authority and as a leader with the Montana Economic Developers Association. He later started and ran a small business, and oversaw maintenance and civil engineering for Burlington Northern Santa Fe and the Bureau of Land Management, respectively.

In addition to farming and ranching with his family near Hardin for nearly three decades, Director Green has held various volunteer leadership positions in the area. He has served on the Board of Directors for Little Horn State Bank since 2007, and in 2019, helped found the Big Horn County Search and Rescue for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Persons, where he served as director until 2022. For nearly 20 years, Director Green has coached football, baseball, softball and wrestling in Big Horn County.



Mandy-Rambo-500x700.jpgMandy Rambo, Deputy Director

Mandy Rambo joined the Montana Department of Commerce in February 2022 as the HR Manager. She served as the Acting Deputy Director, along with her HR Manager duties, from September 2022 to April 2023. In May 2023, Mandy became the Deputy Director. She previously spent three years with the Montana Department of Administration in both HR and procurement roles. Prior to her State service, Mandy worked for Target Corporation in the Phoenix metropolitan area nine years in HR and business operations leadership roles before returning to Montana. Mandy was born and raised in North Central Montana and attended Carroll College. She lives in Helena with her husband, Brad, and their two dogs, Moose and Mara.



Mitch-Staley.jpgMitch Staley, Communication and Marketing Director

Mitch Staley is a Dillon native and resident who joins the Department of Commerce from the private sector having worked in high tech marketing and business development for seven years with Helix Business Solutions. Prior to Helix, Mitch worked as a private communications consultant for some of Montana's most impactful initiatives. 

Mitch is a graduate of Brigham Young University and holds a BA in Communications - Public Relations. Mitch has served as board president for the Beaverhead Chamber of Commerce, Bannack Association and as a member of the City of Dillon and Beaverhead County Planning Boards and loves his community. Mitch, his wife, Camille and their daughter enjoy being outdoors, riding dirt bikes, camping and home improvement projects. 



Cheryl CohenCheryl Cohen, Administrator, Montana Housing Division

Cheryl Cohen joined Montana Housing as Operations Manager in October 2018 and was hired as Division Administrator in May 2020. She previously served over eight years as a Community Development Specialist and Senior Community Development Specialist with the City of Seattle Office of Housing’s multifamily asset management unit. She has over 15 years of affordable housing compliance, property/asset management, and operations experience in the public and non-profit sectors. Cheryl is certified in low income housing tax credit compliance and is a Certified Specialist in HUD Occupancy. She has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington.



Jenny-Pelej.jpgJenny Pelej, Administrator, Destination MT Division

Jenny Pelej is the Destination MT Division Administrator. Though she originally came to the state from Wisconsin, Jenny’s Montana connections run deep. The majority of her more than 19-year career in communications, promotions and policy has been spent working in government or non-profit organizations throughout the state. The remaining years of her career were spent with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Jenny holds a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources and Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree in Public Relations from Montana State University. Jenny loves trail running, fishing, skiing and exploring all Montana has to offer with her son. (And since she came to Montana, she has lived in Helena twice, as well as Billings, Kalispell, Missoula and Bigfork.)



Liane-Taylor.jpgLiane Taylor, Administrator, Business MT Division

Liane Taylor is the Business MT Division Administrator. Prior to joining the Montana Department of Commerce, Liane worked for Governor Greg Gianforte; first as the Boards and Appointments Director, and then helping lead the State’s ARPA efforts. She has a real estate business, has been a lobbyist, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Russian and Political Science from the University of Texas.

Liane is a fourth generation Montanan, born on the Ft. Peck Indian Reservation to a farming/ranching family who fostered many entrepreneurs and small business owners. She has been a consistent leader in the real estate industry in Montana for over 20 years, helping numerous clients manage their business and investment portfolios, development projects, as well as residential and commercial real estate.

Liane enjoys all of the many outdoor wonders of Montana, including whitewater rafting and fishing. She has two fabulous daughters; one a junior at MSU, and one a senior in high school.



Galen-Steffens-500x700.jpgGalen Steffens, Administrator, Community MT Division

Galen Steffens is the Community MT Division Administrator. Galen returned to the Department of Commerce after serving as the Water Quality Planning Bureau Chief at the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Prior to her time at DEQ, Galen was the Community Planning Program Manager at the Department of Commerce and also previously worked as a city planner for the City of Great Falls.

Galen grew up on a farm in Colorado and has lived in Montana for the past 20 years. She is a graduate of the University of Montana and is an avid backpacker and general all-around lover of the outdoors. Galen is passionate about making a difference in the state in which she lives, works and recreates. Galen lives in Helena with her two children, husband and dog.



Sarah-Green500x700.jpgSarah Green, Human Resources Manager

Sarah Green, a Butte native, joined the Montana Department of Commerce in August 2023. She holds a bachelor's degree in occupational health and safety from Montana Tech. After graduation, Sarah served as an HR professional in the private sector healthcare industry for six years before joining the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) in 2015. At MDT, she served as the Lead HR Generalist until December 2020, when she took a position as Senior HR Partner with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

In her spare time, Sarah and her husband, Aaron, enjoy being outdoors on the family homestead with their dogs, Ole and Archie, and spending time with friends and family.