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Committee on Telecommunications Access Services For Persons With Disabilities


Montana Relay and the Montana Telecommunications Access Program are overseen by a 13-member committee appointed by the governor. Our committee members are listed below.

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Linda Kirkland
Committee Chair
Linda is a Montana native. Currently with the Montana Department of Administration, Linda has worked in telecommunications for about 30 years, 21 of which were at U.S. West. She has worked for the State of Montana for 9 years. In her spare time she travels, watching her son race his sprint car.

Charles Charette
Vice Chair
Charles is a heavy equipment operator who lives in Lame Deer. He grew up in Billings and has a hearing loss. He was appointed to the committee on July 1, 2005.

Robert Ellesch
Bob was born in Billings Montana.  He attended the Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind from 1954-1959, then finished his remaining years in private schools.  He has lived in Western Montana for 27 years before relocating back to Billings to finish his degree.  In 1997 he came to work for the DPHHS as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf.  In January 2008 he became a Vocational Rehabilitation Program Manager.  He and his wife, Elizabeth, have resided in Great Falls Montana since 1997.  Bob loves to spend his time outdoors camping, hiking, and geocaching and having Elizabeth accompany him as his personal photographer.

Ron Bibler
Ron is a past chairman of the committee and has been an active member since its inception in the late eighties. He also played a big part in implementing relay services  in Montana. A certified financial planner, Ron runs his own advisory and  investment management firm out of Great Falls and makes over 200 Montana  Relay calls per month to clients, business acquaintances, friends, and  family members. As a committee member, he represents the interests and  concerns of disabled businesspersons across the state. A father of three  and avid traveler, Ron enjoys spending time with his family, refereeing  local football games and running a fantasy football team.

Eric Eck
Eric has been a member of the Governor’s Committee on Telecommunications  Access since 1989. Montana law requires that one member of the committee  represent the Public Service Commission. Eric works at the PSC, and  fulfills that requirement. He is a devoted husband and father of one  son, who has a hearing loss.

Julie Saylor
Born in Lewistown, Julie graduated from MSU and currently lives in  Helena, where she works for the Office of Public Instruction. She was  appointed to the Governor's Committee on Telecommunications Access in  2008 to fulfill the requirement that senior citizens be members of the  committee.  She began to experience hearing loss more than fifteen years  ago, and today she uses a variety of assistive technology to adapt,  including the two-line CapTel phone offered by MTAP.

Susan Kalarchik
 Susan has lived in Montana for over 29 years, and quips, “that almost makes me a native.”  In 1987 she took a Sign Language course at the University of Montana and, as a result, fell into the world of audiology.  She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications Sciences and Disorders in 1990, earned a Masters in Audiology in 1993 and her Doctorate in 2005.  She’s the owner of BC Hearing in Butte, as well as the regional Hearing Conservation Program audiologist for schools throughout SW Montana.  When not working she enjoys spending time with her husband Joe, her daughter Morgan and her son Michael.

Char Harasymczuk
Char was born deaf. She graduated from MSDB in 1973, attended Gallaudet University, and graduated from MSU-Billings. Char is involved in the Montana Association for the Deaf (MAD) and the Montana Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (MRID) along with the MTAP board. Her hobbies include hiking and building birdhouses. Char was honored in October of 2007 with a Lifetime Achievement award from the Montana Center on Disabilities.  The award recognized Char, who is Deaf, because of her devotion and leadership as an agent of change for those with disabilities over the years. 

Colette Custer
Colette was born and raised in Dagmar Montana. She serves on the Nemont telephone Board of Directors, teaches the piano, and sits on her church council. Her term on the committee began on July 1, 2005. She lives in Plentywood.

Chris Caniglia
A talented speech pathologist at St. Peter’s Hospital, Chris is a key contact person for speech-disabled Montanans. As a representative of businesses outside the telecommunications industry, Chris has maintained an active involvement with the Governor’s Committee on Telecommunications Access since 1999. Chris is a true nature lover who enjoys exploring Big Sky country.

Christy Keto
Christy is the marketing manager for Triangle Telephone headquartered in Havre and Montana In Touch Long Distance. She represents the Interlata carriers of the state. She's worked in the telecommunications and electric industry since 1994. She has a bachelors degree in business with a marketing and managing emphasis. Originally from Havre, she went to school in Butte. Christy has two boys and spends most of her non-work time with them – hunting, fishing and watching their sports and school activities. She also enjoys crafts and home improvement.

Matt Bugni
 Matt grew up in Helena with three older brothers. He and his wife, Katy, are continuing the tradition and have four boys of their own ages 10, 7, 4 and 2 years.  After graduating from Capital High School, he went on to receive a BA in Natural Science from St. John’s University, Minn. in 1996. His current position is the Finance Manager for the Disability Services Division (DSD), of which the MTAP is administratively attached.  Matt says he finds it challenging to work with all of the interest groups to utilize the approximately twenty funding sources of DSD to fund as many services as possible to as many people as possible, across varying disability groups. Other than enjoying the challenge of being a husband and father, Matt likes to spend time outdoors by hunting, fishing, and mountain biking. 

Pat McGlenn
Pat works for Qwest Communications as the Account Manager for the State of Montana account. Pat represents Qwest Communications. Pat has lived in Montana since 2001 and has worked for Qwest Communications since 2002. Prior to working for Qwest, Pat spent nine years working in the technology field as a network administrator. Pat lives in Helena with his wife and daughter and enjoys spending as much time as possible in the great outdoors.

Minutes of Meetings

This page last updated 01/04/2010