Clayton Barnes is a proud fourth-generation Billingsite who has dedicated his life to both personal achievement and community service. His educational journey began with a Bachelor’s in Business Management from Montana State University (Go Cats!) and continued with an MBA from the University of Montana (Go Griz!), symbolizing his deep roots in the state. But his commitment to learning didn’t stop there—he went on to earn his Chartered Financial Consultant certification from the American College of Finance. If that wasn’t enough, Clayton holds a PhD, earned with high honors, from the esteemed School of Hard Knocks University (SOHKU).
Clayton’s professional and personal life has taken him all across North America. His passion for travel has granted him the privilege of working and experiencing much of the United States and Canada, as well as several international destinations. In his free time, Clayton is an avid reader, a cycling enthusiast, and a lover of the outdoors.
Despite his many accomplishments, Clayton has always believed in giving back to his community. For the past two years, he has served as a dedicated board member for CASA of Yellowstone County. He didn’t just join because of a passion for helping children; his personal history has shaped his unwavering commitment to CASA’s mission. As a young child, Clayton experienced the heart-wrenching loss of both his parents. Without the support of his extended family—his grandparents, great-grandmother, and uncle—Clayton’s path to adulthood might have been drastically different. He could have very easily found himself in the very foster care system he now supports, but through the guidance and care of his family, he was able to navigate those difficult years and emerge stronger.
Having experienced firsthand the importance of having a strong support system, Clayton found CASA of Yellowstone County in 2015, and it was a revelation. He was particularly drawn to CASA’s ability to step in and provide the much-needed advocacy for children who often find themselves in difficult and vulnerable situations. Having once volunteered as a CASA Advocate himself, Clayton worked on a particularly challenging case involving a child whose father was abusive and whose mother had passed away. This experience stayed with him, and when time constraints prevented him from being as hands-on as he had hoped, he turned to the board to continue supporting CASA’s mission.
With a talent for discerning facts amidst the noise, Clayton became an invaluable asset to CASA. His ability to take information from various sources, analyze it critically, and create an accurate picture of a situation made him a natural advocate. Over the years, he’s learned that the most gratifying part of his involvement is knowing that his contributions, even if indirect, have had a positive impact on a child’s life.
For Clayton, CASA is more than just an organization—it’s a chance to make a difference in ways that may seem small on the surface but are monumental in the lives of the children they serve. His advice to new CASA Advocates is simple yet profound: “Take the classes seriously, learn from your mentor, and be mindful of how you define success.” He emphasizes that the system has many moving parts, and not everything will go as hoped. However, the true measure of success lies in one question: “Is the child better off for having me involved in their life than not?”
Being an Advocate is not a sprint, but a marathon. Clayton reminds his fellow board members and Advocates that setbacks are inevitable, but it’s important to keep the big picture in view. The work is ongoing, and every step forward, no matter how small, is progress toward a better future for a child in need.
To Clayton Barnes, CASA represents a chance to give back in the most meaningful way possible. His personal experience of losing his parents at a young age makes him deeply empathetic toward children who face similar hardships. Although he was fortunate to have family to help him through, he knows that not every child has that luxury. For him, being part of CASA is not just a way to help—it’s a way to ensure that children who aren’t as lucky get the opportunity to have the same chance at a brighter future.
