The Montana Meth Project announced the appointment of John Parker, Cascade County Attorney; Bill Foley, chairman of the board of directors for Fidelity National Financial; and Sherry Cladouhos, president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, to its board of directors. Parker, Foley, and Cladouhos join a group of distinguished Montanans who assist and guide the Montana Meth Project, including Chairman Mike Gulledge, vice president of Lee Enterprises (see also Montana Meth Project).

"We are honored to have these accomplished people lend their talents in guiding the Montana Meth Project," Gulledge said. "Leaders like these have seen first-hand the effects of Meth addiction on our state, our communities, and our families. Their experience and insight will help us continue our proven strategy for preventing Meth use in Montana."

As Cascade County Attorney in Great Falls, John Parker brings intricate knowledge of Montana's criminal justice system to the Meth Project. He served three terms in the Montana House of Representatives, including posts as House minority leader and chairman of the Law and Justice Interim Committee. He helped pass legislation that increased penalties for Meth lab operators and established a jurisdictional basis for drug treatment courts.

Parker cites Meth as one of the greatest risks to today's teens. He has been a vocal advocate for the education and prevention programs that keep teens safe and away from the drug. "It is an honor to serve on the Montana Meth Project's board of directors," said Parker. "We need to continue providing leadership in eradicating this horrible drug from our state."

As chairman of the board of directors for Fidelity National Financial, a Fortune 500 company, Foley is a successful business leader uniquely positioned to help guide the Meth Project's prevention campaign. Under Foley's leadership, Fidelity National Financial was selected in 2004 by Forbes as one of the "26 Best Managed Companies in the U.S." He will bring that management expertise to his position on the Meth Project board. "I am proud to stand behind the Montana Meth Project's powerful prevention campaign, one that is educating our youth and reducing demand for this highly addictive drug," said Foley.

Cladouhos, president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, which sponsored the Project's Paint the State contest in 2006, has been a longtime supporter of the Montana Meth Project. As a fourth-generation Montanan, she is well aware how the state has changed since the dramatic rise in Meth abuse in the early part of the decade, and how Meth has impacted the total cost of health care for all Montanans.

"This ground-breaking program has made a significant impact in the fight against this highly addictive and socially destructive drug," said Cladouhos. "I am committed to the project and its continued efforts to educate Montana's youth so they have the information they need to make smart choices about their lives and their health."