10/14/2026
Introducing our October Employee Highlight, Jeff Roberts! 🌟
Jeff Roberts is an outdoorsman through and through, and that lifelong connection to the outdoors is ultimately what brought him to Montana.
Born and raised in Yakima, Washington, Jeff grew up hunting and fishing. In high school, he also developed an interest in leatherwork and woodworking, a hobby that would stay with him throughout his life. After graduation, he joined the military and served as a bomb loader in the Air Force, stationed in Spokane. Although Washington treated him well, he knew Montana was where he was meant to be from the moment he first visited in the late ’90s. When I asked what drew him to the state, he laughed and said, “The hunting regulations aren’t as complicated or confusing here.”
After moving to Montana, Jeff worked for a roofing company before beginning a career in fiber optics that spanned more than two decades. The work took him from the heat of Texas through the Midwest and all the way to Alaska’s Dalton Highway. After retiring, Jeff’s daughter-who was working in the press room at the time-encouraged him to apply at Montana Silversmiths.
Five years later, Jeff has worked in figure casting, the press room, and griding, and says he enjoys the variety each area brings. His strong work ethic has been a constant throughout his career, and it’s something he takes great pride in.
When he’s not at work, Jeff is likely camping with his wife Kimberli and their dogs, finding a good fishing spot, or heading into the mountains in pursuit of big game. Some of his favorite memories come from fishing trips with his parents and sister when he was young, while others are more recent-like harvesting 12 elk with family and neighbors in the Snowy Mountains of central Montana in 2023.
If he could make more time for one thing, it would be exploring with his wife of 20 years. She attended culinary school in Arizona, and the old saying that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach certainly holds true in Jeff’s case. He raved about her cooking, explaining that recipes are merely a loose guideline when she is in the kitchen. Together, they have six children and 17 grandchildren, though Jeff admits with a laugh that he can’t keep everyone’s birthdays straight.
Jeff says he wishes he saw more of the strong work ethic he values in the younger generation. He plans to work until he turns 72, but probably not a day past his birthday. Until then, you may spot him on the factory floor, jamming to classical music or perhaps a little rock and roll.
His love of the outdoors, commitment to his craft, and appreciation for hard work make him a valued part of the Montana Silversmiths family.