Staff

Bernadette is Vice-President of the agency and a Personal Lines Account Executive. She has been in the insurance industry for over 30 years, all of which have been with First West. When not at work she loves traveling, coercing her husband into the next home improvement project and spending time with their spirited Boston Terrier. She enjoys the insurance industry because she likes building relationships, solving problems and being a member of her clients trusted team.

Mark joined First West Insurance in April of 2003. Prior to that he worked at Acordia NW in Seattle, WA as a Commercial Insurance Broker in the Construction and Surety Department. Mark became a shareholder at First West in 2005 and focuses on many areas of commercial insurance including construction, non-profit/social service, transportation, manufacturing, and hospitality. He currently holds the Associate in Risk Management and Construction Risk Insurance Specialist designations and sits on the Board of Directors at First West. Mark is married and has two amazing kids, Riley and Olivia. In his spare time you can find him outdoors on the rivers of Montana and on the road to watch Boise State soccer.

Tyler has been a Commercial Insurance Agent at First West, Inc. since 1998. He has a proven record of benefiting his clients though market knowledge, coverage expertise, cost saving solutions, claims prevention and management. A CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor) since 1999, he values long-term relationships with his clients, understands the importance of a fast response time and making every effort to minimize their administrative burden.

Rob is a Commercial Account Executive. He has been in the insurance business for seven years starting at First West in 2016. Born and raised in the insurance world he is the third generation in the insurance business. In his free time, he enjoys playing hockey, golfing, and hiking. When work allows Rob loves to travel and see new places. He likes insurance because every client and business is different, so you never know what to expect.

Justin is a Commercial Account. He has been in the insurance business since joining First West in 2023. He enjoys spending time with friends and family. In his free time, you can catch Justin golfing, curling, skiing, hiking, attending bobcat events, and traveling with his wife. He appreciates the insurance business because of the sense of security it provides. Knowing that people have coverage for unexpected events brings peace of mind. Plus, I find it fascinating to analyze risks and help businesses make informed decisions.

Greg is a Personal Lines Account Executive. He has been in the insurance business for twenty years and started at First West in 2005. He enjoys spending his time with his wife Kara and supporting his four kids with their activities. In his spare time, he serves as the board chairperson for Bozeman School District. During the summers you can catch him going on trail runs, biking, and swimming. He loves the insurance business because he enjoys helping his clients establish a comfort level with personal insurance coverage allowing them to focus on their lives while having confidence they are covered when the unexpected happens.

Kevin Babcock is the Loss Control Consultant at First West, Inc. Kevin has been with First West since 2004 and is a shareholder. Prior to joining First West Kevin held the position of safety director/human resources consultant for several firms – Barnard Construction Company, Town Pump and Montana Resources. He has extensive experience and knowledge in all areas of safety and is valuable asset to First West.

Tiffany is a Commercial Account Manager She has been in the insurance business since 2004 and started at First West in 2011. She enjoys spending time with her husband, two boys, and dog named LuLu. In her free time, you can catch her watching her kids participate in sports and music activities, skiing, golfing, and going on road trips. She likes the insurance industry because she loves working with clients and helping them protect what they have worked so hard to create.

Jodi is a Commercial Account Manager. She has been in the insurance business for twenty-five years starting at First West in 1998. She enjoys spending time with her eighteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren. In her free time, you can catch Jodi traveling, doing lots of road trips and kayaking. She loves the insurance business because she enjoys the fact that she can help provide peace of mind and protection of our clients lifestyle and assets.

Alex is a Commercial Lines Account Manager. She has been in the insurance business for nineteen years starting at First West in 2012. She enjoys spending time with her family, and puppy Maizee. In her free time, you can catch her camping, four-wheeling, enjoying the mountain views, and traveling. She likes the insurance business because it is fluid, and the industry ebbs and flows with the ever-changing risks of the environment. It can be technical and complicated and sometimes feels like you have to put together the puzzle pieces to ensure there are good fits and no gaps.

Kemper is a Commercial Account Manager. He has been in the insurance business since 1980 and started at First West in 2014. He enjoys spending time with his wonderful wife, kids, and grandsons. In his free time, you can catch Kemper gardening, hiking, supporting Clemson University athletic & artistic events, beach time at Pawleys Island SC, and playing the role of "Poppa". Kemper likes the insurance business because he enjoys the challenges faced by an ever-evolving industry, and the opportunity to educate and service the businesses that rely upon the insurance industry.

Lisa is our Select Business Unit team leader. She has been in the insurance business for over twenty years starting at First West in 2023. A native of Butte, Montana but has lived all over the state. She has one daughter and two Scottish Terrier fur babies. An outgoing and spontaneous person, she likes to keep busy in her free time. Lisa enjoys going to CA to visit her daughter, camping at the lake, and spending time at home with her dogs. One reason she loves the insurance business is because it is different every day and learning opportunities are abundant.

Kalina is originally from Eastern Montana, graduating from Montana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing. She worked in management consulting prior to joining First West in 2006 and earned the CISR designation in 2009. Outside the office, Kalina enjoys spending time with family, reading, learning new skills, organizing things and people, and gardening (with mixed results). She and her husband have three girls who enjoy camping, rock hunting, and excursions across Montana. 

Nicole is a personal lines account manager. She has been in the insurance business for thirteen years starting at First West in 2010. She loves the insurance business because she likes to provide clients with peace of mind their insurance needs are being met. Outside of work, she enjoys her four amazing children, chef of a husband, and of course her puppy. She loves the outdoors; hiking, gardening, and reading a good book in the sunshine.

Sydney joined First West as a Personal Lines Account Manager Trainee in the summer of 2023. She grew up in Three Forks, MT and attended Montana State University Billings, where she played golf and obtained a BS in Business Management. She spends her free time with her family and dogs in the mountains or on a golf course.

Carla Pfannenstiel, AINS, ARM, CPCU started her insurance career in 2009 and joined First West Insurance in 2022. She enjoys traveling, hiking, volunteering at her local parish and spending time with her 13 grandchildren. 

Heather is a Commercial Line Processor. She has worked in the insurance industry for twenty years. She started at First West in 2014. Moving to Montana in 2001 she enjoys spending time with her adult children and her husband Dave. In her spare time she enjoys tropical trips, evening walks, reading, and shopping. She loves working for a local agency because she can create meaningful relationships with clients and work with them for many years.

Antoinette is a Life & Health Benefits Account Excutive. She has been in the insurance industry since 2007 and started at First West in 2019. She enjoys spending time with her husband and four kids. In her free time, you can catch her driving her kids to their activities, camping, floating, and watching her son play baseball. She likes the insurance business because she gets to help people navigate and understand their benefits.

Suzanne is our Controller and HR Coordinator. She has been in the accounting business for over twenty-five years and holds a PHR Certification. Suzanne started at First West in 2022. She enjoys spending time with her grandkids and dogs. In her free time, you can catch her gardening, and camping. She likes insurance because it protects people and their families and is challenging and ever-changing.

Lilly joined First West in August of 2023. Originally from California, she graduated from Sonoma State University with a BA in Communications and enjoyed her time as Panhellenic President. In her free time, she loves going to MSU football games, golfing, whitewater rafting, and ziplining. She is thrilled to be part of such a wonderful team at First West.