News Release

Governor-Elect Judy Martz
State Capitol, Helena, Montana 59620 Phone 406-444-3111

For immediate release: December 8, 2000
For more information: Betti Christie Hill, 444-3111

Martz Names Five New Team Members

Today Governor-Elect Judy Martz named five new members to her team. They include:

Ralph Peck as Director of the Department of Agriculture

General Gene Prendergast as Adjutant General, Director of the Department of Military Affairs

Susan Ames as Board Appointments Advisor

Myrna Omholt-Mason as Citizen's Advocate

Molle Gemar as the Governor's Scheduler

"Today we are announcing two more of our 12 department directors plus three members of our personal staff," Martz said. "We know that all five of these people will serve the State of Montana admirably."

Major General Gene Prendergast, a native of Helena, enlisted in the Montana National Guard in 1958 and has held several positions since that time -- including everything from Storekeeper to Finance Specialist to Accounting Technician to Training Administrator for the Montana Military Academy. Governor Marc Racicot appointed the General to his present position in 1993 and in that time, he has become national recognized as an outstanding military leader.

Ralph Peck, a native of Lewistown, has worked at the Montana Department of Agriculture for over fifteen years. He has worked as the Director since 1995. Before that time, he served as the Deputy Director for 13 years. Ralph has a Masters Degree in Agri-Business and is highly respected among the many agriculture groups across the state.

Susan Ames has worked in the Governor's Office, and specifically in the Lieutenant Governor's Office since 1993. Before that she was Executive Assistant at the Montana Republican Party for two years, and before that Executive Assistant at Norwest Bank in Dillon for three years. She attended Montana State University and Western Montana College.

Myrna Omholt-Mason, also a native of Helena, is a graduate of Helena High School and attended the University of Montana. She was appointed to the position of Citizen's Advocate by Governor Stan Stephens in 1989 and has served in that position since that time. She has become well-known around the state as the person to call in case of problems with state government.

Molle Gemar grew up in Fort Benton, and has worked for the past few years in Washington, D. C. Currently she serves as the Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Government Affairs for the Washington Group International. Before that she worked in the office of U. S. Senator Conrad Burns first as a Deputy Legislative Assistant and later as the Assistant to the Chief of Staff.

####