Jolene Schalper

Jolene Schalper attained both her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing and her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with an emphasis in Organizational Communications from the University of Montana in Missoula. While completing her degree, Schalper interned with a statewide accounting firm who then hired her full time upon graduation. She was recruited to move back home by the University of Great Falls (now University of Providence). After three years at the University of Great Falls, Schalper was recruited as the Director of Organizational Communications for Rural Dynamics. There Schalper was first introduced to asset building, inclusion, and equity best practices. She was able to learn from engagements with the Kellogg Foundation, Northwest Area Foundation, Dartmouth Tuck School of Business, MIT Systems Thinking Conference, and others.

This is where Schalper discovered her passion as a community change agent. Schalper was able to build her knowledge base gaining certification as an OWEESTA Building Native Communities Trainer and was able to work with 19 Tribal Nations across the Pacific Northwest. Through Rural Dynamics, Schalper was also able to become a certified train the trainer in Bridges Out of Poverty. She was an organizer in Montana’s CAP the Rate Initiative a ballot initiative which successfully capped interest rates for short term loans to 36%, down from 600%. During this time Schalper was also an integral part of the Montana Financial Education Coalition, a national JumpStart Affiliate, serving multiple terms as State Coalition President.

When the opportunity arose to step up from direct service individual and family wealth and asset building to community and regional economic development, Schalper took it and has been with Great Falls Development Authority for nine years. She began engaging with IEDC her second year and quickly started down the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) path. Schalper attained her CEcD and Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) credentials. In the Spring of 2024 Schalper earned her Entrepreneurship Development Professional (EDP) credentials. She has previously served on the IEDC Membership Committee and currently serves on the IEDC Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) Committee. She was elected to the IEDC Board of Directors in 2024 for a term to begin January 2025. Schalper also served on the State of Montana on the State Workforce Innovation Board (SWIB).