Mary Willmarth was raised in the birthplace of MT, Fort Benton, and attended Black Hills State University and University of Providence, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. She is an independent project contractor and business partner of Vision West, Inc., a project planning and business services organization that started in 1997. Mary assists in coordinating and strategizing fundraising & public awareness campaigns, public relations & advertising campaigns, and special projects & events.
Prior to starting her own business, Mary worked at Wendt Advertising, City of Great Falls, KRTV , and the University of Great Falls for 10 years, where she was Assistant Vice-President for Development & Public Information Director.
Mary has been actively involved with her community and many projects and organizations for over 25 yrs. She has served on several boards, including the Upper Missouri River Heritage Area Planning Board, Embark Credit Union, the Lewis & Clark Foundation, the Great Falls Advertising Federation; the Animal Foundation of Great Falls; the Public Access Television Board and others. She helped develop the local charter chapters of the Public Relations Society of America, Women in Communications; and the Friends of the Public Library.
She was on the team for the capital campaign to build the Siebel Soccer Park, the Ursuline Centre preservation campaign, the Great Falls Iceplex, the Animal Foundation's adoption center and dog park, and she coordinated the campaign to raise funds for the statue of Sacajawea at the Federal Court House in Great Falls.
Mary received the highest award given by the American Advertising Federation – the “Silver Medal Award;” the “Distinguished Leadership Award” from the Chamber of Commerce; and the YWCA “Salute to Women Award in Creative Arts & Communication.
She is married to Mark Willmarth and they have one son. Their family enjoys camping, kayaking, hiking and spending time in the great outdoors of Montana.