The MCA staff brings a wide breadth of experience to the association, allowing the team to serve our members on a variety of levels. From lobbying on our members’ behalf at the Montana Legislature, to providing top-notch training opportunities, to keeping our members informed, to coordinating effective networking events, our staff works for Montana contractors.
David Smith is the MCA’s Executive Director and joined the staff of the association in 2018. Prior to taking the helm at the MCA, he served as chief executive officer of the Helena Family YMCA for almost a decade, leading annual fundraising and capital campaigns, and instituting new, innovative programming to improve membership. David also spent 14 years as president/chief executive officer at the Bozeman Chamber of Commerce. He is on the AGC of America Executive Leadership Council board, and the State Workforce Innovation Board, where he chairs the public policy council. He is active in the Helena community as a board member of the Helena Kiwanis Club. He’s a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado and the US Chamber Institute for Organization Management. His wife, Coleen, is executive director of Youth Connections Coalition. Together they have four children and three grandchildren.
Nicole Hanni is the MCA’s Member Services Director and assists our member company representatives with daily requests along with helping to grow our association’s membership. She is also the staff liaison for the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) program. Prior to joining the team at the MCA in 2018, Nicole worked for Montana’s Office of Public Instruction as a paralegal assistant, managing contracts, conducting legal research, and assisting with providing public information. Prior to that, she worked as a Client Relations and Support account administrator for Student Assistance Foundation. Nicole completed her Paralegal Certificate Course Session 1 and 2 at Montana State University Billings. She and her husband, Ron, have one child.
Barry Houser is the MCA’s Communications Director and joined the association’s staff in October of 2019. He also leads the association’s workforce development efforts as the executive director of the MCA’s Education Foundation. Prior to joining the team at the MCA, he was the Media & Marketing Specialist for Intermountain. Barry has over 30 years of experience in the field of marketing, communications, public relations, and social media management. He has led strategic marketing campaigns for Opportunity Bank of Montana, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce, and the State of Montana. Barry holds a degree in Business Marketing from Montana State University and is a graduate of the Leadership Helena program. Barry and his wife, Frieda, have two grown daughters.
Hailee Olsen is the Build Montana and Workforce Director for the Montana Contractors Association and joined the team in June of 2023. She has a background in education as well as construction. She graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Elementary Education and spent several years in education coaching various sports and teaching 2nd grade. She comes from a construction family and has spent time working on job sites and operating machinery for R&R Taylor Construction in Bozeman. Her passion is working with students and problem-solving ways to get them into the construction workforce!
Craig Crawford is the Training Director for the Montana Contractors Association and joined the team in March of 2025. He is retired from public education as a superintendent, with 23 years of experience as an educator. He owned his own Domino’s Pizza Franchise in a previous life. Craig has served as president of his local Kiwanis Club, president of the local Salvation Army Board of Directors, and President of the Montana Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals. He was the 2023-2024 Central Montana Superintendent of the Year. Craig has lived in Montana for thirteen years and is building his dream cabin in the mountains in his spare time. He loves hiking, camping, backpacking, fishing, and playing golf. Each March he temporarily loses his mind for the NCAA basketball tournament. Craig has two amazing kids who are young adults and the best accomplishment of his life. He has a 17-year-old dog, named “Montana” (yep, he loves it that much!)