(Great Falls)
Maria Valandra has 25-plus years of experience in the banking industry and community development. She is the VP of Community Partnerships for Clearwater Credit Union where she heads up their Indigenous and Philanthropy Strategies. In this role, she collaborates with Native CDFI’s, tribal organizations, and MT Tribal nations to support the need for capital, financial education, and services. She encourages more Indigenous people into the financial industry. She also oversees the grant-making for Clearwater. Previously she was the Business Development Officer at Island Mountain Development Group, where she worked on special projects ranging from procedure development, mentoring non-profits and co-led the creation of a foundation. She also managed the Montana Department of Commerce’s Office of Indian Country Economic Development. In this position, she oversaw various technical assistance and grant programs that target projects aimed at strengthening the economy and building strong communities of tribal nations in Montana by developing and enhancing business opportunities, creating access to capital, and creating jobs.
Before this, Valandra worked at a regional bank headquartered in Billings, MT, where she held positions as a senior vice president and chief synergy officer, senior vice president of talent management and organization development, and vice president of community development.
Her current and past board service is extensive and includes, MT Community Foundation, NeighborWorks MT, Plenty Door Community Development Corporation, NACDC Financial Services, and the Impact Investing Committee of the Montana Community Foundation. Past boards include Northwest Area Foundation, NeighborWorks Great Falls, Billings Clinic, Montana Economic Development Association, and co-founding the Montana Indian Business Alliance and the Montana Financial Education Coalition. Valandra holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Montana State University in Bozeman. She has dual enrollment as a band member of the Cree First Nation Nekaneet of Saskatchewan and is an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree on the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation in north-central Montana. Valandra now resides in Great Falls, MT. She has three adult sons and two grandchildren.
