Team
Penny Ronning - Founder
Penny Ronning was the 2022 Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Montana’s Second Congressional District. The co-founder of the largest anti-human trafficking task force in Montana, she has secured municipal, state, and federal policies to protect children and adult victims of sexual violence and significant funding for law enforcement. Penny is a national speaker, has co-authored legislation, served on panels with members of Congress, and has been an invited guest to the White House. In her years of professional and public service, she has led on issues of public safety, economic development, energy conservation, infrastructure, equality, mental health, and homelessness. She is a small business owner and has served as an elected member of the Billings, Montana City Council. Throughout her career, Penny has lived, worked, and traveled around the world.
Jim Tevlin - Co-Founder, Treasurer
Jim Tevlin is a Certified Public Accountant (TN-inactive) with over 30 years of experience in the public (FedEx) and private sectors (Big Sky Economic Development Authority, Billings, Montana). Jim holds a BS degree from the University of Alabama and an MBA from the University of South Alabama. As an accounting and finance professional, Jim understands how important a role funding plays in public policy, and recently, the promotion of extremist ideas that threaten our democracy. Jim's financial talents will help us with our statutory reporting and with planning the Counter's efforts.
Karen Lyncoln - Co-Founder
Karen Lyncoln is an activist and advocate for progressive candidates and initiatives. She believes in democracy and is running for the seat in Montana Senate District 26 against a previously unopposed candidate. Before retiring in 2021, Karen had a long career preparing socioeconomic baseline and human impact analysis for projects in the United States, Peru, Ghana, Suriname, and Indonesia.
Bill McRae - Co-Founder
Bill McRae retired after a forty-one-year university career teaching and publishing in English literature, literary theory, the philosophy of science and popular scientific writing. Holder of two Fulbright appointments, he has taught in China, Oman, and Kyrgyzstan. Deeply concerned about religious nationalism, reproductive rights, assaults on education, and racial and gender inequality, he served on the primary committee for Penny Ronning’s MT-02 congressional campaign. He lives in Billings, Montana with his wife, two mutts and a princess cat.
Guest Bloggers
John Driscoll
Education: Graduated-Hamilton High School, Hamilton, Montana 1964; BA-Political Science, Gonzaga University 1968; MIA-School of International Affairs, Columbia University 1970; MPA-Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University 1979; MBA-Graduate School of Business, University of Montana 1986; Graduate, US Army War College 1996.
Experience: Montana State Legislator 1973-78; Majority Leader & Speaker; Montana Public Utility Regulator 1980-92; President of John B. Driscoll, Ltd. 1993-09; Joint Education Planner, J-7, Joint Staff, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff 1999-02; Firefighter 10 yr.; Smokejumper and Fire Crew Boss; Advisory Council Member, 1985-92; Electric Power Research Institute; US Army Officer 30 yr. (6 Active); Honorably Discharged Colonel; Treasurer, (23 years); The Steward, Non-Profit Education and Research Organization.
Special Areas of Expertise: Electricity Policy; Terrorism Counter Action; Distributed Learning and Knowledge Management; Montana History; Non-fiction Journalism.
Awards: Designated Outstanding State Legislator by Eagleton Institute and Carnegie Foundation; Received Defense Superior Service Medal (DSSM) from Secretary of Defense for initiating prototype Joint Collaborative Learning Environment; other awards.
Books: The Storm of A Lifetime: A Report to U.S. Catholic Bishops and Pope Francis; “The Guns, They Hear Me;” The Battle of the Bulge: A Montana Perspective; The Gonzo Roadshow Diary