![A man sitting in a chair with a mustache.](https://ability-mt.s3.amazonaws.com/Staff-Photos/_large/2199/Scott-Birkenbuel.webp)
Scott Birkenbuel
Chief Executive Officer
Serving as Ability Montana’s Chief Executive is the honor of my life. I am so proud of the work that everyone at Ability Montana does to help people with disabilities live independent, self-directed lives, in the community settings of their choice across southwest Montana. I also currently serve on the board of directors of APRIL (Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living). A national grass-roots organization that supports the independent living movement across rural America.
Prior to becoming CEO I served as Deputy CEO as well as served on the Board of Directors for the Montana Independent Living Project, Chaired the Statewide Independent Living Council, Chaired the Vocational Rehabilitation Advisory Counsel, and sat on the Governors Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities. I also held a seat on the Montana University System Board of Regents and had a 5-year tenure as an Adjunct Professor at Montana State University’s School of Business.
After graduating from Montana State University, I started and ran my own small business and created jobs in Bozeman Montana for 24 years. I married my high school sweetheart, and have two daughters and two grandchildren. At home in Bozeman, my family and I enjoy Montana’s great outdoors – everything from working in the yard to camping, and angling.
Sean Conroe - Veteran-Directed Care Specialist. I enjoy seeing our activism make positive changes for our community. What do you do in your free time: I build keyboards and spend an inordinate amount of time reading. There is also ample time spent working on 8th and 9th generation Fords