Shayla Crandell
Shayla Crandell is an Area Director with Sevita, where she provides oversight across two locations in Helena and Missoula, Montana. In this role, she indirectly leads approximately 28 staff members and three direct managers, ensuring strong compliance with billing regulations, quality of care standards, and person-centered service delivery. She is responsible for supporting intake and onboarding of new individuals within the community, strengthening service coordination, and ensuring that each person receives individualized, compassionate care. She also collaborates under the supervision of a BCBA and incorporates applied behavior analysis practices into her work, while currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Special Education with an emphasis in ABA.
Shayla’s path into the field of developmental disabilities was deeply personal and not initially planned. After the passing of her sister in 2014, she took in her sister’s two children, including a niece with developmental disabilities. This experience revealed significant gaps in her understanding of developmental needs and sparked a strong commitment to learning and advocacy. Navigating grief, caregiving, and her niece’s complex needs motivated her to pursue opportunities in the field, eventually leading her to Bridges of Montana and Sevita Health, where she has continued to grow her career in meaningful ways.
Before entering healthcare leadership, Shayla began her career in food service, working her way from server to dining room manager. She later transitioned into healthcare roles at Touchmark, serving as both Resident Relations Manager and Health Services Director. She holds both an Associate of Arts and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and continues to build on her expertise through graduate studies. Having overcome significant educational challenges early in life, she is passionate about growth, mentorship, and leadership development. Today, she is driven by a commitment to helping others reach their potential while building systems that empower individuals with developmental disabilities to live with dignity, independence, and support.
• Building Business Relationships
• Critical Thinking
• Communicating with Emotional Intelligence
• Associate of Arts in Psychology
• University of Montana - BA, Psych
• National Honor Society for Psychology
• National Society for Leadership and Success (NSLS) through ASU
• Legislative Committee
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to myself and my kids. I knew that I always wanted to learn, and then when I had my daughter, who's almost [AGE], I knew that you have to be educated in this world to be able to raise a successful human being. I wanted her to see that just because life is hard sometimes, doesn't mean that you can't achieve absolutely anything. She's definitely seen me grow up with her. I didn't have the strongest childhood and had a really poor education, so being where I am today as the area director of two flourishing locations has been a really good blessing for me. I love the leadership aspect of things, where you can really mentor people into being bigger than they thought they could be.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was to treat everybody like they're on the same level as you. I was told that by a boss many years ago who was just so down-to-earth and treated everybody like they were, you know, a server, and jumped in and helped when they could, and just an overall amazing guy. I work with individuals with developmental disabilities, and one thing that I focus on is that if it wasn't for my staff, none of us would be here. I currently work part-time at a bar at nighttime, and my manager there is very barky - nobody ever gets praise or thanks for coming in, and it makes me really sad to see that.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life center on respect, humility, and treating others with genuine dignity. Early in my career, a supervisor who was deeply grounded and approachable left a lasting impression on me by consistently treating everyone as equals, regardless of role or title. That experience shaped how I lead and interact with others today. I strive to approach every situation with empathy, integrity, and a commitment to seeing people as individuals first. I believe strong relationships are built through kindness, consistency, and respect, and I carry those principles into both my professional responsibilities and personal interactions.