Brad Griffin, CAE
MRA President

Brad began his career leading the Montana Retail Association and it's affiliates in 1993.  The Montana Restaurant Association came under his management in 1997.  He grew up in Billings and graduated from Billings West High in 1979.  In 1983 he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from the University of Montana.  After graduating from the U. of M., he lived in Southern California for 9 years working for a real estate development firm before moving back to Montana.  Brad was a field representative for the National Federation of Independent Business for three years before the association management opportunity arose.  He earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in 2004 and in 2006 his peers elected him to be president of the Council of State Retail Association Executives, a national group of state retail association leaders.  He and his wife, Lisa, have three sons and reside in Billings, Montana.  Besides his family, he enjoys skiing, reading, lobbying, politics, and traveling.

Julie Hilliard, Office Manager

Julie joined the Montana Retail Association staff in October 1995. She has over 30 years of office experience from insurance to non-profit. Her duties include managing the office, banking, assisting the sales people at trade shows and helping organize the conventions for both the Montana Equipment Dealers Association and the Montana Tire Dealers Association.  Julie has a good ear for voices and easily remembers faces and names of the members.  Julie and her husband Bob have seven grown children between them and 18 grandchildren.  Ten of the grandchildren live in the Billings area so they can enjoy and spoil them. Julie and Bob are very involved in the State and National Elks Organization.  They enjoy dancing and getting together with their friends and family on a regular basis.  Julie also enjoys reading, golf, quilting and gardening.

Randy Holbrook, Membership Director

Randy Holbrook is a past president of the Montana Restaurant Association, serving on the board from 1998 to 2001.  After leaving Walkers Grill in Billings in 1998, he worked as the retail manager for Sodexho at Billings Clinic, and then as a food service broker for Juhl Brokerage, Inc.  In June 2006 Randy returned to the association office as the membership director and our in-house sales representative for Heartland Payment Systems.  He grew up in Great Falls and first moved to Billings to attend Montana State University-Billings where he began studying music, but ultimately received a BSED in English.  Randy enjoys traveling with his kids, cooking, listening to music, collecting old radios, and biking.

Linda Thompson, Bookkeeper

Linda joined the MRA staff in September 1995 as bookkeeper and has over 20 years office experience.  Her association office duties involve accounting and payroll administration, as well as website member data management and newsletter production.  Originally from Roundup, MT, Linda moved to Billings in 1985 and has two adult sons and two grandchildren.  She enjoys flower gardening, photography, reading, traveling and nuturing her cats.  Linda and her husband, Bob, support local professional sports (both the Mustangs and the Outlaws), participate in square dancing with the 59ers Club, work out at the gym,  and are actively involved in serving their church.