Andy Shirtliff is a proud Montanan. He was born in Butte to a single mother from Anaconda. He was adopted and raised in Kalispell where he attended High School and Community College before graduating with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Montana. Andy lives in Helena with his wife Laura, a Helena native and business owner, and her two sons, Peyton and Cooper,
who both attend Capital High.
Two Montana governors have appointed Andy to advocate for Montana’s small businesses, advance economic development, and develop workforce strategies. During his time in the Governor’s office, Montana was ranked as the number one state in the nation to start a small business. Andy has lived and worked across our great state, having worked in all of Montana’s 56 counties. Currently, he works full-time for the people of Montana at the Department of Labor and Industry, Andy’s focus is on business engagement and finding solutions to our state’s workforce crisis.
Andy enjoys volunteering with organizations such as the Lewis & Clark Disaster Action Team of the American Red Cross of Montana, Habitat for Humanity, and the Helena Food Share. He has served on the boards and committees of organizations like the Montana Economic Developers Association, Helena Farmers Market, and Exploration Works, and he was the Chair of the Downtown Urban Renewal District Advisory Board for the City of Helena during the pandemic before stepping down to fulfill the Commission role.