Get to Know
Get to Know
Jennifer Owen was born and raised in Billings, a fifth-generation resident committed to her community and its future. Jennifer is a mom first, and has a long history of advocating for vulnerable children in Billings and Yellowstone County. After graduating Skyview High School, Jennifer headed off to Concordia College and, later, George Washington University Law School. After working in Washington DC for over a decade, Jennifer came home to raise a family and invest in her beloved hometown.
Community-Minded from an Early Age
Growing up in Billings, Jennifer started her community service early – mowing lawns during the summer to donate money to the fledgling ZooMontana, leading a school petition drive to change playground rules, and running for student government in both middle and high school. Jennifer comes from a family of small businesses owners and understands both the risk and reward of launching your dreams right here in Billings. As a new mom, Jennifer saw the lack of play spaces for very young children and in 2015, joined with two partners to open The Art of Play, an indoor play space for children 5 and under.
Committed to Bettering Lives
Driving change through smart public policy has been Jennifer’s lifelong passion and has given her the opportunity to work in education reform, energy policy, agriculture, tribal affairs, child welfare, early childhood issues, and workforce development. In 2021, Jennifer beat out an incumbent to win a seat on the Billings City Council, representing the Heights neighborhood. Since that time, she has dedicated herself to working on public safety, controlling spending and prioritizing funding, and building better relationships among the City, County and School Board. Jennfer served as the first chair of the newly established Council Budget Committee and has led numerous policy initiatives to strengthen the community and promote a safer Billings.
For Jennifer, Billings is Personal …
My great, great grandmother, Rose Glock, emigrated to the U.S. in the early 1900s, arriving first in Canada before finally settling in Billings. Rose was raised in an upper-class family, but arrived in the U.S. with minimal resources in a time when women couldn’t even cast a vote. Even so, Rose believed deeply that “a woman should always own a little bit of land”. Upon arriving in Billings, Rose purchased a few acres of her own in the burgeoning town of Billings, separate from the family homestead.
Rose Park
As the years passed, Rose understood that her grown children were not interested in farming as their future. She decided to gift the land that she personally owned to the City of BIllings to develop a park. Approximately eight acres in size, the parcel was large enough to develop either a park or a swimming pool, but not both. Rose convinced the neighboring landowner to donate a similar size parcel to the city as well. Together, the two land gifts were developed into a sizeable neighborhood park and the city’s largest public pool. In honor of her vision and generosity, the city named the land Rose Park.
My great, great grandmother’s story doesn’t end there. Rose’s strength of character has been passed down through five generations. Today, that same visionary spirit and can-do attitude hallmarks my commitment to serving you, the citizens of Billings.
PAID FOR BY OWEN FOR BILLINGS, MIKE MAYOTT, TREASURER. PO BOX 1112, BILLINGS, MT, 59103.