By Joseph T. O’Connor Explorebigsky.com Editor
BIG SKY – Suzan Scott has years of experience working for nonprofit organizations and state government offices. Now, she’s bringing this expertise to the Big Sky Owners Association.
On Aug. 29, BSOA welcomed Scott as its new executive director then introduced her to the association’s homeowners at its Aug. 31 annual meeting in the Summit Hotel at Big Sky Resort. Scott replaced Mary Jane McGarity, who held the position from 2004 until this past summer.
A fifth generation Montanan, Scott hails from Gallatin County but has spent much of the last few years in Helena working in Gov. Schweitzer’s budget office. She has a political science degree from Montana State University, focused on public administration. One could almost say she has been primed for this position.
With more than 16 years working in both the public and private sectors, she’s been a lobbyist in Salem, Ore. and the Public Policy Director for Coeur d’Alene, Idaho’s Chamber of Commerce, among other things.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with this choice,” said Rumsey Young, President of the BSOA Executive Board. “[Suzan’s] experience and knowledge of public policy and nonprofits will support BSOA’s mission to preserve, protect and enhance our member’s property values in Big Sky.”
As BSOA Executive Director, Scott is in the driver’s seat, overseeing and budgeting the association’s many responsibilities. These include road signage, trail maintenance and snow removal services, as well as noxious weed management and garbage removal.
In the past, the BSOA has also been involved with community projects such as a bear aware campaign and a tree pests program, which is working to minimize the impacts of the mountain pine beetle and the Western spruce budworm on local trees.
