W. Scott Osterman, Director

Scott Osterman is a visionary leader with a private sector background of guiding successful strategy and execution to realize growth, develop strong partnerships and lead companies through transition. Osterman is a north central Montana native whose roots date back to an 1860s miner’s cabin on Helena’s Last Chance Gulch and to an 1880s homestead in the Missouri Breaks. Mostly recently, Osterman served as senior director of business unit operations at Applied Materials in Kalispell. Over the course of his 30-year career, Osterman has served as a senior executive in Fortune 500 companies and venture start-ups in the semiconductor, automobile, and high-tech hardware and software industries. His broad experience in business includes strategic planning, rapid growth initiatives, operations, sales, market development, and turnaround execution. Osterman is a graduate of the University of Montana and continued his graduate studies at Washington State University.

Mandy 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, Communication and Marketing Director

Mitch 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 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, Administrator, Brand MT Division

Jenny Pelej is the Brand 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, 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, 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.