Montana Tax Appeal Board

MEMBERS

Dave McAlpin | Chairman

Governor Bullock appointed McAlpin to the Board in 2013 after which he was confirmed by a unanimous vote of the State Senate. In 2015 he was designated Chairman and was confirmed to a second board term in 2019. Before joining the Board, he was Director the Montana State Crime Laboratory. McAlpin served three terms in the Montana House of Representatives from 2004-2009, during which he was elected Whip, and appointed to the Taxation, Health, and Fish and Game committees. As a legislator he was appointed to the interim Revenue and Transportation Committee with legislative oversight of the Montana Dept. of Revenue. Prior to that service, as Chief Deputy Clerk of the Montana Supreme Court from 1995-1998, McAlpin gained extensive experience in case management and court administration. Since his appointment to the MTAB, he has taken certified courses and passed examinations by the International Association of Assessing Officers in real estate appraisal and income valuation methodology. He has successfully completed course work in opinion writing and rulings on evidence for Administrative Law Judges provided by the National Judicial College. He successfully completed the program for Ad Valorem Taxation of Communications, Energy and Transportation properties at Wichita State University in 2014 and 2017 and has presented cases to national gatherings of State Tax judges on two occasions. McAlpin has a BA from the University of Montana and grew up on the family dairy farm near Polson. He lives in Helena with his wife and two children and volunteers as a Board Member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Montana. He is also a Board member for the Burton K. Wheeler Center for Public Policy and the Exploration of Montana Issues, at Montana State University.

Term of Appointment:  January 1, 2019 - January 1, 2025

Amie Zendron

Board Member Zendron is a fourth generation Montanan. After serving on active duty in the United States Marine Corps, she returned home and completed her undergraduate studies at The University of Montana, graduating with high honors. After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree, she earned her Juris Doctor degree at The University of Montana School of Law and later earned her Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation at the University of Washington School of Law. While pursuing her LL.M., she volunteered at the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic where she assisted qualified individuals in resolving their tax matters with the Internal Revenue Service. Upon completion of her LL.M., she worked in the tax department of one of the “Big Four” accounting firms in Seattle, Washington and later at a regional accounting firm in Oregon before returning to Montana to practice law. Ms. Zendron worked as a transactional attorney, assisting clients with tax, estate planning, and business matters for several years prior to her appointment to the Montana Tax Appeal Board.

Term of Appointment:  January 1, 2021 - January 1, 2027

Travis Brown

Travis Brown was born and raised in Havre, Montana. After graduating from Havre High School, Travis attended the University of Montana, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business. Travis furthered his education at the University of North Dakota school of Law, where he graduated with a Juris Doctorate.

Travis has worked with property and real estate law his whole career. As a petroleum landman and title agent, Travis worked with mineral title reports, easement, title curation, and leasing oil and gas properties. Moving into private practice, he focused on natural resources and property law, including water rights adjudication and real-estate development. Travis has also worked with the Board as a Law Clerk.  

Since being appointed by the Governor to the Board, Travis has completed several courses from the National Judicial College and the International Association of Apprising Officers. in his spare time, Travis enjoys hunting with his dog Remmy, rafting, and anything outdoors. Additionally, Travis volunteers with Montana Legal Services' Phone Advice Project. 

Term of Appointment:  January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2029

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