Management Staff

Wallace A. Melcher, President/CEO

      wally@helenaindustries.org

Greg Olson, Director of Programs

      greg@helenaindustries.org  

       jester@helenaindustries.org       

Gia Bradley, Director of Finance

       gbradley@helenaindustries.org

Debra Heerdt, Director of Case Management

     dheerdt@qwestoffice.net

Shannon Alexander, Assistant Director of Programs - Facility

      salexander@helenaindustries.org

Ona Lepard, Assistant Director of Programs - Community

       olepard@helenaindustries.org    

Lois Ciske, Manager, HI Mail Center

       lciske@helenaindustries.org   

Bob Richardson, Manager, HI Janitorial Services

       brichardson@helenaindustries.org 

Let us introduce ourselves!

Ona Lepard

Ona recently assumed the position of Assistant Director of Programs at Helena Industries. She was hired in mid-February to replace Kerrie Reidelbach when Kerrie accepted a position with the State of Montana in the Aging Services Division. Before accepting her new post, Ona job coached and worked part time with Kerrie in Placement, which is matching jobs in the community with people with disabilities.

Ona has worked at Helena Industries for nearly 5 years. Before that, she taught second graders at what was formerly known as the Cornerstone School, currently called the Helena Christian School. She was raised on the West Coast and came to Montana after getting married. She and her husband have lived in Missoula and Helena and have one child. Her husband works for FedEx and their son is graduating from Helena High in 2011. She loves riding horses and relaxes by picking up a good mystery to read. "My new job is really keeping me busy and, right now, I'm taking things one day at a time," she says. And, what about the future? "Surviving my son leaving home."

Shannon Alexander

Shannon has been with Helena Industries for five and a half years. She was originally hired as a Vocational Counselor and Learning Center Coordinator and is now the Facility Assistant Director of Programs. Before working here, she attended college and worked in the public school system. She graduated from Carroll College in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education with a Special Education Endorsement. In addition, she holds a State of Montana Education License.

Shannon was born in California, but spent the majority of her life in Montana. She and her husband, who works as a geologist and environmental engineer, have been happy to call Helena home for several years. They have two sons. One lives at home and is looking forward to finishing high school and going to college. The other is on his own, but still lives in Helena. In her spare time, Shannon loves volunteering and serving on the PEERS board. “I love doing things for other people,” she says, then smiles. “I love using power tools, too. I love building things.”

Bob Richardson

“I have a full life,” Bob will tell you. He’s not joking. He was operating his own janitorial business when he joined Helena Industries in 2007. In fact, he still has his own business, but continues to work as the manager of HI Janitorial Services. In addition, he has five children ranging from ages 8 to 18. His oldest son graduated from high school in 2010.

Bob is from a large family, himself. A native of Montana, he was born and raised in Great Falls -- the youngest of six children. After graduating from high school, he lived briefly in the Seattle area before returning to Montana to settle in Helena. “I love doing what I’m doing right now,” he says. “I love spending time with my kids, playing golf and working at a rewarding job.”