The Montana Council for Economic Education (MCEE) is dedicated to empowering educators and inspiring students with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed economic and financial decisions. As a statewide nonprofit, MCEE works to strengthen economic and personal finance education by providing high-quality resources, training, and support to K–12 teachers across Montana. Our mission is grounded in the belief that economically literate citizens are essential to strong communities, a resilient workforce, and a thriving economy.
Through partnerships with schools, universities, businesses, and community organizations, MCEE delivers engaging, standards-based programs that bring real-world relevance into the classroom. We offer professional development workshops, classroom materials, and student-focused experiences that help translate complex economic concepts into practical understanding. From budgeting and saving to entrepreneurship and global markets, our work equips students with tools they will use for a lifetime.
MCEE is committed to accessibility and impact in every corner of Montana. We recognize the unique opportunities and challenges of rural education and strive to ensure that all teachers—regardless of location—have access to meaningful, effective resources. By supporting educators, we multiply our impact, reaching thousands of students each year and helping them build confidence in their financial futures.
At our core, we believe that education is the foundation for opportunity. By fostering critical thinking, decision-making skills, and economic awareness, MCEE is helping shape a generation of informed, capable Montanans. Together with our partners and supporters, we are building a stronger future for our state—one student, one classroom, and one community at a time.
The Montana Council for Economic Education (MCEE) was founded in 1970, at a time when educators and community leaders across the United States were recognizing the growing importance of economic literacy as a cornerstone of an informed and capable citizenry. Established as a nonprofit organization, MCEE emerged from a shared vision among leaders in education and business to ensure that Montana students would graduate with a practical understanding of economics and the forces shaping their communities and livelihoods.
At its inception, the Council was guided by its first board members—Melvyn Ryan, Thomas Collins, and Norris Johnson—whose leadership helped define the organization’s purpose and early direction. They understood that empowering teachers was the most effective way to reach students across Montana’s vast and diverse geography. From the beginning, MCEE focused on providing educators with the tools, training, and confidence needed to bring economics to life in the classroom, connecting real-world concepts to everyday decision-making.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the Council established strong ties with higher education, anchoring its work in collaboration with Montana State University and building a sustainable model centered on teacher professional development. Under early leadership, including Executive Director Dr. Terry Anderson (1976-1986), MCEE expanded its reach and strengthened its reputation as a trusted partner for educators statewide. This foundation was further solidified during the tenure of Dr. Norm Millikin (1986-2008), whose more than two decades of leadership brought continuity, growth, and a deepening commitment to excellence in economic education. Connie Genger, Former Executive Director, a semi-retired business professional and former board member, served as the executive director after Dr. Millikin.
As the economy and educational landscape evolved, so too did the Council’s work. In the years following the 2008 financial crisis, MCEE broadened its focus to include personal finance education, recognizing the increasing need for students to develop skills in budgeting, saving, credit management, and long-term financial planning. Through updated curriculum resources, teacher training, and student programs, the organization remained responsive to the changing needs of Montana classrooms.
In recent years, MCEE has entered a new era of growth and innovation, expanding partnerships with businesses, financial institutions, and community organizations across the state. Today, the Council reaches thousands of students and educators annually through hands-on programs, competitions, and professional development opportunities. Its work continues to be guided by a simple but powerful belief: that students who understand economics and personal finance are better prepared to make informed decisions, contribute to their communities, and build a strong future for themselves and for Montana.
More than five decades after its founding, the Montana Council for Economic Education remains committed to its original mission-advancing economic and financial literacy for all Montanans. What began as a small, visionary effort has grown into a statewide resource and trusted leader in education, grounded in the enduring idea that knowledge is the foundation of opportunity.
In 2015, MCEE hired Dax Schieffer as the Executive Director. Schieffer, a Montana State University graduate, comes to MCEE after an 18-year career in the private sector as an executive for Boyne Resorts at Big Sky Resort. He is principal of a management company that specializes in public affairs, public relations, and non-profit management.
Mailing Address:
PO Box 1306
Helena, MT 59624
Phone: (406) 624-6617
Email: mcee@montana.edu
Web: www.econedmontana.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/econedmontana
Twitter: @econedmontana
Physical Address:
409 Linfield Hall
Montana State University-Bozeman
