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Montana

Troy Downing

Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, Montana State Auditor

Western Zone

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Troy Downing was elected Montana State Auditor in November 2020. As the State Auditor and Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, Downing oversees the criminal justice agency protecting Montana’s consumers by ensuring fairness, transparency, and access for two of the state’s largest industries—securities and insurance. As Commissioner, Downing is committed to consumer education and advocacy, holding bad actors accountable, lowering insurance costs, and reducing unnecessary regulations for Montana businesses. Due to its favorable regulatory environment overseen by Downing, Montana is one of the largest captive domiciles in the United States.

As State Auditor, Downing also serves on the Montana Board of Land Commissioners overseeing management and stewardship of state trust lands for the primary benefit of funding Montana’s public education system.

Downing began his career in education as a research scientist and educator at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University. In the 1990s, he founded a technology startup company that he successfully merged with Yahoo! Inc. Downing then went on to help other startup companies succeed through seed funding and mentorship. After his career in the tech industry, Downing founded a nationwide commercial insurance company and a nationwide real estate firm that creates, sells, and manages real estate investment securities.

Downing’s strong sense of public service led him to enlist after 9/11 in the U.S. Air Force/Air National Guard, serving eight years in a Combat Search and Rescue squadron and serving two tours of duty in Afghanistan. Today, he continues his service to veterans as an advisory board member to and volunteer for the Warriors and Quiet Waters Foundation, a Montana-based organization that uses fly fishing and Montana’s natural beauty as a simple, but powerfully effective, healing therapy for post-9/11 combat veterans and their families. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and as a Montana distillery co-owner, he produced and distributed millions of hand sanitizer bottles across the nation.

Downing and his wife, Heather, have four children and currently live in Helena, MT.

Office Information
Main

Office of the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Montana State Auditor
840 Helena Ave.
Helena, MT 59601
United States

Primary Phone Number:

Primary Fax Number:

  • Department

    Category

    Contact

    Phone

    Email

  • Montana

    Troy Downing
    Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, Montana State Auditor

    (406) 444-9222

    Troy.Downing@mt.gov

  • Montana

    Mary Belcher
    Deputy State Auditor

    (406) 444-5789

    Mary.Belcher@MT.gov

  • Montana

    Molly Plummer
    Chief of Staff

    (406) 444-2042

    Molly.Plummer@MT.gov

  • Montana

    Amber Thorvilson
    Chief Financial Officer

    (406) 444-1867

    athorvilson@mt.gov

  • Montana

    Kate Ellis
    Interim Chief Legal Counsel

    406-444-5223

    Cya56@mt.gov

  • Montana

    Consumer Complaints and Inquiries

    Ted Bidon
    Insurance Consumer Services Bureau Chief & Investigations

    (404) 444-0385

    tbidon@mt.gov

  • Montana

    Investigations

    Ted Bidon
    Insurance Consumer Services Bureau Chief & Investigations

    (404) 444-0385

    tbidon@mt.gov

  • Montana

    Accounting Services

    Karen Pocha-Melby
    Accountant

    (406) 444-2041

    karen.pochamelby2@mt.gov

  • Montana

    Examinations - Financial

    Kari Leonard
    Examinations Bureau Chief

    (404) 444-2895

    kleonard2@mt.gov

  • Montana

    Vacant

  • Montana

    Human Resources

    Michelle Flynn
    Human Resources Generalist

    (404) 444-5221

    michelle.flynn@mt.gov

  • Montana

    Communications

    Laura Shirtliff
    Communications, Digital & Creative Services Director

    (406) 444-0903

    Laura.Shirtliff@mt.gov

  • Montana

    Media Relations/Public Information

    Laura Shirtliff
    Communications, Digital & Creative Services Director

    (406) 444-0903

    Laura.Shirtliff@mt.gov

  • Montana

    Government Affairs & Communication

    Frank Cote
    Interim Deputy Insurance Commissioner & Government Affairs Director

    (406) 444-3412

    frank.cote@mt.gov

  • Montana

    InsurTech

    Frank Cote
    Interim Deputy Insurance Commissioner & Government Affairs Director

    (406) 444-3412

    frank.cote@mt.gov

  • Montana

    NAIC Liaison

    Frank Cote
    Interim Deputy Insurance Commissioner & Government Affairs Director

    (406) 444-3412

    frank.cote@mt.gov

  • Montana

    Market Conduct

    David Dachs
    Bureau Chief of Insurance Services- Forms, Licensing & Market Conduct

    (406) 444-9722

    ddachs@mt.gov

  • Montana

    Policy and Form Filing

    David Dachs
    Bureau Chief of Insurance Services- Forms, Licensing & Market Conduct

    (406) 444-9722

    ddachs@mt.gov

  • Montana

    Annual Statements and Company Licensing

    Tavin Mogus
    Exams Compliance Technician

    (404) 444-3469

    tmogus@mt.gov

  • Montana

    Premium Tax

    Tavin Mogus
    Exams Compliance Technician

    (404) 444-3469

    tmogus@mt.gov

  • Montana

    Rate Filing - Life & Health

    Mari L. Kindberg
    Rate Bureau Chief - Property and Casualty, Life and Health

    (406) 444-5220

    mkindberg@mt.gov

  • Montana

    Rate Filing - Property & Casualty

    Mari L. Kindberg
    Rate Bureau Chief - Property and Casualty, Life and Health

    (406) 444-5220

    mkindberg@mt.gov

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