Ben has spent the majority of his adult life in Helena after moving here from rural Indiana. He started with the City of Helena as a water operator and worked his way up to Water Treatment Superintendent. Along the way, he helped keep Helena’s drinking water safe and supported major infrastructure projects that protect the community every day. He brings more than a decade of water and wastewater experience and comes from a third-generation water family. Ben holds Montana’s highest-level certifications in water treatment, wastewater treatment, and water distribution and is also certified in backflow prevention. He has a degree in Land Surveying and is continuing his studies toward an Earth Science degree with a concentration in Natural Resources.
Ben now serves as Executive Director of Montana Rural Water Systems, a nonprofit that supports small towns, districts, and Tribal communities across the state. MRWS provides technical assistance, operator training, and help navigating the funding and compliance demands that come with running essential systems. Ben has seen firsthand that in many rural communities, the operator is the system. When staffing is thin or something breaks, there is not much margin for error. That experience shapes his focus on core city services, long-term infrastructure planning, and clear, steady decision-making for Helena.
Ben and his wife, Kyla, enjoy backpacking, trail running, and fishing together.