Julie oversees the retail operations of all Park Stores and the warehouse. The Glacier Conservancy’s retail operations, includes three in-park stores, the Belton Depot store and the warehouse in West Glacier.  Prior to her arrival, she spent five seasons in Yellowstone and one season in Glacier leading Xanterra’s retail operations. Julie grew up in North Dakota and graduated from the University of Minnesota. She has been visiting Glacier National Park with her husband Patrick since their college days. They lived in Pennsylvania and New Jersey where Patrick was raised before heading west to fulfill a dream of working in national parks. They are delighted to make their home in Columbia Falls, and are exploring as many cross country ski and hiking trails as they can.

Stacy joined the Conservancy team in January 2022. Like many of us, Stacy felt the overwhelming majesty of Glacier National Park on her first visit years ago. Soon after that, she became a “Guardian of Glacier” and a loyal supporter of the Conservancy. She is thrilled to be a member of the staff and that she can call our beloved park her backyard. Prior to joining the Conservancy, Stacy lived in California where she had 20+ years of non-profit fundraising experience. She most recently served as the Vice President of Development for The SPCA for Monterey County and prior to that worked for a regional land trust focused on protecting and preserving the Big Sur coast. She enjoys learning about a donor’s interests and further connecting them with the mission and programs they love and support. She received her B.A. in Geography from Sonoma State University. Outside of work, Stacy enjoys hiking and exploring new areas. She lives in Columbia Falls with her 10-year old boxer Chillee.

Originally from Illinois, Kaylee joined the Conservancy in 2022 as the Buyer Lead. An avid traveler, her love for Glacier National Park began in 2012 when her partner proposed during a sudden snowstorm on the Dawson-Pitamaken trail. In 2016 Kaylee left behind the Midwestern life and moved to Montana permanently. After several years working around the park as the Retail Operations Manager for Pursuit, she felt a calling to join the Conservancy. Her work day is spent building spreadsheets and doing statistical analysis which is, weirdly, very exciting for her. When not buying the product for our retail locations, Kaylee enjoys reading, cycling, kayaking, and being a doting cat parent.

West supports IT needs at the West Glacier and Columbia Falls offices, as well as the Conservancy Park Store locations during the busy summer season. He grew up in Bigfork, Montana and has continued to call Bigfork his home. West enjoys spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, and hiking. West and his wife, Molly, enjoy camping and spending time with their three dogs and two horses. They will be expecting their first child in July 2021.

Originally from New Jersey, Grace set out for Montana after graduating from Loyola University Maryland to explore and work in Glacier Park. During her time working as a seasonal member of the Conservancy’s retail team, Grace fell in love with Glacier, making lifelong friends and unforgettable memories along the way. The following summer, she settled in Montana and is delighted to call the Flathead Valley home. As the Program Coordinator, Grace enjoys the Conservancy’s dynamic and collaborative work environment and is proud to have a hand in working to preserve Glacier Park. In her free time, you can find her getting overly competitive at her local trivia night or singing off-key karaoke at the bowling alley.

Lacy collaborates with park leadership and community partners to identify and facilitate meaningful projects that preserve and protect Glacier for future generations. She believes that sharing the value of our public lands with the next generation of stewards is more critical now than ever before. Lacy has over 15 years of experience in the public and nonprofit sectors. She is a graduate of Leadership Flathead, Montana Nonprofit Association’s Catalyst program, and the Effective Natural Resource Collaboration program through Wallace Stegner Center at the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Mountain Health CO-OP and People and Carnivores, a nonprofit working to restore native carnivore populations in the Northern Rockies through prevention of human-carnivore conflicts.

Lacy holds a Masters of Public Administration from Montana State University with a focus on public lands partnerships. When she is not strategizing project ideas, you will find her exploring public lands or satisfying her green thumb through curated plant chaos.

Shannon grew up in Whitefish, Montana and has spent countless hours adventuring in Glacier since she was a young child. She graduated from Whitefish High School and earned a degree in Fashion Design from The Art Institute of Seattle. After spending some time in Seattle post-college working as a merchandising assistant, Montana was calling and Shannon decided it was time to leave the city and return to her roots. She spent seven years working at Montana Shirt Company doing a little bit of everything and is excited to be part of the Conservancy team. In her free time, Shannon enjoys skiing, hiking and backpacking, paddle boarding, painting and photography and spending time with her two dogs.

Ryvers first began working with the Conservancy in 2019. Originally a Kentucky native, she has called the western mountains home for the last several years. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University in 2018, she had her sights set on Montana and made the move to work seasonally at the Conservancy. Over the years, Ryvers has worked in the retail stores, the warehouse, and more recently transitioning into her full time role as eCommerce and Content Coordinator. Because of her deep passion for the outdoors, specifically Glacier National Park, Ryvers makes an excellent addition to the Conservancy team. In her free time, you can find Ryvers exploring the outdoors – usually with her camera in hand. 

Amy enthusiastically engages with donors to enhance their connection to the park and the Glacier Conservancy. A Missoula native, Amy was enamored with Glacier at a young age. It just felt magical and still does. In college, she had her first real Glacier experience while backpacking in Many Glacier. An unexpected August snowstorm on Redgap Pass exposed her group to some harsh elements. Amy was struck by the wildness of the park and Glacier instantly became her favorite place to adventure. Working to protect and preserve the adventure for future generations is an absolute privilege. She received her B.S. in Business Marketing and Management from The University of Montana and has extensive experience in marketing, events and donor/sponsor relations after working for 15 years in college admissions and corporate events. When not at work, Amy enjoys hiking, skiing and all things on the water. She lives on a little lake, just north of Bigfork with her husband Nate, a Bigfork native, and her two kids, Jack and Alix.

Kristine maintains the integrity of the database. Kristine was born and raised in Northern New Jersey. After a short stint in Pennsylvania,​ an opportunity arose to move to Martin City,​ Montana. Unable to pass up the chance,​ she and her husband, Andy, packed up their lives and drove across the country in 2013. Once in Montana she started working for Swan Mountain Outfitters. She managed all of the reservations, helped with accounting and managed the Crown of the Continent Discovery Center. While riding horses in Glacier Park is hard to beat, Glacier National Park Conservancy came knocking on her door. Once again, ​there was an opportunity she had to pursue. The Conservancy fulfills her dream of helping to preserve our cherished backyard. During her free time Kristine enjoys telemark skiing, hiking with her dog, Tucker, and exploring the wonderful p​ark we all love. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. She and her husband currently reside in Columbia Falls, MT and are proud to call Montana and Glacier National Park their home.

As Executive Director, Doug supports the Conservancy’s dynamic and experienced team in their shared work to help preserve one of America’s greatest natural treasures for generations. Beginning his sixth year as Executive Director, Doug describes his role as a “dream job” and has brought to the Conservancy a diverse skill set developed through leadership roles in government, private enterprise and non-profit work in Montana. Doug joined the Conservancy from the Montana Department of Commerce where he served as Deputy Director from 2013 to 2017. Prior to that, he held leadership positions in Montana as a Managing Director for the Montana Land Reliance, as Montana Chief of Staff for former U.S. Senator Max Baucus, and as Montana’s Chief Deputy Secretary of State. Doug also owned his own government affairs consulting company in Helena for 10 years.  He and his wife Julie, a Kalispell native, are both graduates of Stanford University and spend as much time as they can hiking in the park.

Originally from Butte, Montana, Sean received his Bachelor’s of Science in Business & Information Technology from Montana Tech University. Sean previously worked for several years in Title Insurance for a family-owned business in Butte where he managed their database as well as worked as a Title Officer. Sean made several yearly trips to Glacier National Park throughout the years and decided he needed to change career paths to get him closer to his passions of hiking, backpacking, being outdoors, skiing and photography. He firmly believes in the notion of “finding a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” That led him to Glacier National Park Conservancy as a way to be closer to a place he loves while working to ensure that Glacier National Park continues to be a place that inspires others.

Marianne is responsible for helping oversee the accounting department at the Glacier Conservancy. She has over 25 years of accounting experience working in medium and small business both locally and remotely on the east coast. Fortunately for Marianne on a whim and a prayer in 1983, she moved to Montana with her then husband to be from Jackson, WY on the advice of a friend working backcountry trail crew in the Belly River area of Glacier National Park. He told them “you”ll love it.” Upon arrival and seeing Glacier for the first time they knew they would never leave and haven’t. Marianne found her way west via the Adirondack Mountains of New York where she grew up hiking and backpacking. She finds there is no better place to be right now then supporting the vision of the conservancy and knowing the park is still being looked after and supported by those who share that passion.

Barbara oversees all of the Conservancy’s daily financial operations and first came to Glacier National Park on a high school science trip. She hiked the Highline Trail, drove across Going to the Sun Road, and was astounded by the grandeur and wilderness she saw. She returned after high school to study Zoology at the University of Montana, and after graduation she relocated but promised herself she would one day return and stay permanently, which she eventually did when she joined the Conservancy. Barb is thrilled to be a part of an organization that shares her love and passion for Glacier and works towards maintaining this incredible wilderness. She loves all the seasons of Glacier but winter is a special time to her. She is an avid cross country skier and loves to be in Glacier in the winter when the crowds thin and snow buries the park. If she’s not in the park, you can find Barb exploring the Flathead Valley birding, skiing, hiking or just hanging out in the woods with her dogs.

Andrew joined the Conservancy team in 2022, and oversees communications. He first came to Glacier as a ranger for the National Park Service and immediately fell in love. He received his BA from Middlebury College, during which time he started as an NPS intern at Fort Scott National Historic Site. After a season there, he moved to Glacier National Park where he spent 6 years in various roles as an interpretive park ranger, designer, podcaster, and naturalist. He is thrilled to now be part of the Conservancy team and continue the important work of preserving the park for future generations. Andrew loves hiking, climbing, and especially looking for wildflowers.

As the Community Partnerships Lead, Geneva helps steward the Conservancy’s relationships with its business partners and inspire support for park projects and programs. Geneva first visited Glacier National Park with her parents at 3 weeks old and has since held a lifelong love for the park and a growing passion for public lands. Growing up in a military family, Geneva spent time all over the U.S., but returned to Montana regularly to visit family and spend time in Glacier. In her college years, Geneva worked several summer seasons in and around Glacier, including hosting guests at Sperry Chalet, guiding trail rides with Swan Mountain Outfitters, and conducting surveys in Flathead National Forest. She made the Flathead Valley her permanent home in 2018 and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Geography shortly after. Geneva loves sharing the park and the great outdoors with others and is beyond excited to be a part of the Conservancy team helping to give back to Glacier!

Chris is an integral part of the Glacier Conservancy team. He is responsible for the entire warehouse operation. He keeps the stores well stocked and our fleet of vehicles on the road. Chris is originally from Puyallup, Washington, but now lives in Columbia Falls. On his days off you’ll find him puttering around his house and yard or, if he’s lucky, fishing.

As the creative lead, Becca creates and manages print and digital marketing projects for the Glacier Conservancy. Becca moved to Montana in 2007 to do trail work. She spent two seasons with the Montana Conservation Corps, and four summers working for the Forest Service on trail crew and as a wilderness ranger in the Great Bear Wilderness. After six summers of chopping trees and eating dirt, she decided to become a web and graphic designer. When she isn’t making magic on the computer, Becca enjoys roaming in the mountains and searching for wolverines.

Jade joined the Conservancy team in January 2023. She is currently working on a project that includes interviewing different people around the Blackfeet reservation and also off the reservation about the park and what it means to them. She educates many about her knowledge of the park and what the Conservancy does to keep the park a beautiful place for future generations. Jade’s goal for her internship is to create an inspiring video of the people she has interviewed and their take on the park, and also to  share the importance of the Conservancy’s partnership with the park. She hopes you are able to visit Glacier National Park and see the beauty for yourself.

Jade plans to attend Montana State University- Bozeman in the fall of 23’ to continue her education journey and study Criminology. When Jade is not working she enjoys hiking, spending time with family and her dog, Belle. She also spends her time riding horses and doing the ladies race in Indian relay.

Raised in California, Margaret Notley now lives on Flathead Lake in Bigfork, Montana. She received her B.A. in History and M.A. in English Literature, and moved to Montana after spending 12 years in the U.K. Her interests include travel and visiting museums; natural history and anthropology; European and Western American history and art; conservation issues; environmental education; gardening; and current events. She joined the Glacier Natural History Association board in 2008 and transitioned onto the GNPC Board in January, 2013.

Zak Andersen grew up in Helena, Montana and received his B.A. in Political Science at the University of Montana. He spent 15 years in Washington, D.C. and now resides in Fort Worth, Texas where he is the VP of Corporate Relations for BNSF Railway and is the BNSF Foundation President. Zak is responsible for all internal and external communication for the railroad, ranging from employees to media to communities, and manages the annual $12 million foundation spend in the railroad service territory of 28 western states. He and his wife Susie have one son. Although the time for hobbies and interests are limited, he manages to find time for fly fishing, hiking, gardening, reading, politics, and elections. Zak joined the Glacier Fund Board in July 2012 and transitioned onto the GNPC Board in January 2013.

Lana R. Batts has almost four decades of experience in the trucking industry. She is widely quoted in the trade press and is a sought after public speaker, known for her sharp insights and quick wit on the state of the trucking industry. Currently, she is the co-President of Driver iQ, a full-service background screening company the specializes in the trucking industry.

Rick Bennet grew up in St. Louis, Missouri where he still currently resides with a second residence in Whitefish. He received his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, where he has also served as an adjunct professor. Rick is a 40-year retail industry veteran and the former Vice Chairman of Macy Department Stores. He is currently the CEO of CCA Global Partners, a cooperative of 3000 independent retailers and also serves on the Board of Directors for Ace Hardware. Rick is the Grand National President of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and has served on their Board of Directors for 12 years. He and his wife Lavonne have three children and two grandchildren. His hobbies include skiing, fly fishing and golf. Rick joined the Glacier Fund Board in 2002, and transitioned onto the GNPC Board in January, 2013.

Susan Kirby Brooke was raised on a cattle ranch in the upper Madison Valley near Yellowstone National Park but shortly after obtaining her driver’s license began driving north to hike and enjoy her favorite park, Glacier National Park.  She and her husband Will, purchased the St. Mary – Glacier Park KOA campground in St. Mary in 1996 and raised their 3 children there. They both continue to manage and develop the business just 1 mile from the entrance to the Going-to-the-Sun Road.  Susan worked for Congress in Washington DC and also served as a natural resource advisor to a US Senator in Montana. Prior to purchasing the campground, she lobbied the Montana Legislature for the Montana Stockgrowers and Woolgrowers. She was appointed to the Montana Board of Environmental Review by Governor Racicot and the Montana Water Compact Commission by Governor Stan Stephens and has fundraised and campaigned for federal, state and local candidates. Currently, Susan is serving as the Region 3 Commissioner for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Karen Chickering grew up in Sacramento, California spending summers at The Cedars, near Soda Springs, California in the Sierra Nevada. She received her B.S. at University of California at Berkeley and M.S. in Nursing at Yale University, and is now a retired Pediatric and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. It was her husband, Nick, who inspired their move to Whitefish, MT in 2009. She is actively involved in the Citizen Science program in Glacier National Park, and volunteers as a nurse at Shepherd’s Hand Clinic in Whitefish. Karen served as the chairperson of Glacier National Park Fund during the merger with Glacier Natural History Association to form the Glacier Conservancy. She has three grown children and one grandchild. Her hobbies include hiking, biking, all kinds of skiing, travel, birding and photography. She joined the Glacier Fund Board in 2008 and transitioned onto the GNPC Board in January, 2013.

Cheryle “Cookie” Cobell Zwang is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet (Amskapi Pikuni) Nation. Cookie loves to hike and do evening scenic drives in Glacier. It is her homeland and has always been an important part of her life. When she was a child, she would pick berries and fish the rivers and lakes on the adjacent Blackfeet reservation with her family. She and her husband Brian have made it an important part of the lives of their children and grandchildren as well. Cookie joined the Board of the Glacier National Park Conservancy to help connect the park and the Blackfeet for their mutual benefit and that of the lands and resources.

Cookie graduated from Montana State University and started her career with the USDA Forest Service and continued it with the USDI Bureau of Land Management. She provided leadership in media, Tribal and Congressional relations, as well as videography, social media, environmental education and interpretation. Cookie also was the Partnerships Lead for Idaho BLM where she assisted in establishing a Friends group and partnered with numerous private and non-profit entities to assist sage grouse and other species habitat restoration and research efforts. She is proud of the projects funded by the partners of the Glacier Conservancy and so excited to be involved in this important work.

John Donovan received his A.B. degree from Harvard, and his J.D. from Fordham. He spent his career as a trial lawyer, handling major domestic and international cases. He was a partner in Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where he was the head of the West Coast Litigation Department. At the end of 2011, he retired from Skadden and continued practice on his own on a somewhat reduced scale. Although born and raised in New York City and later a resident of Southern California, John eventually succumbed to the call of the wilderness and moved to Essex, Montana with his wife Dana. They have three children (a doctor, a lawyer and an engineer), two grandchildren and a third on the way. John has served on a number of charitable boards. He has an abiding interest in supporting wilderness education, in the hope that we can raise the next generation of committed stewards for our special wild places. For the past 12 years, John and Dana have run a Wilderness Leadership Program for high school seniors out of their Montana home. His hobbies include wildlife photography, hiking and road biking. John is excited to be a part of the Conservancy as it transforms its ability to support Glacier National Park and expands its partnership with park management. John joined the board of directors in January, 2013.

Susan Hay Patrick is a visionary leader and accomplished executive with national reputation for outstanding leadership and achievements; creative thinker; effective strategist; superior communicator. As CEO of the United Way of Missoula County she restructured and strengthened grantmaking, and internal/external programming to maximize effectiveness in improving community outcomes in the areas of education, family financial stability, and health. Susan transformed the organization’s public image: United Way of Missoula County is now viewed as the most influential, effective and far-reaching health and human-service nonprofit in two counties. United Way was voted “Missoula’s Best Nonprofit” by Missoulian readers in 2014 and 2015. Susan began her service on the GNPC Board in January, 2017.

Born and raised in Missoula, Montana and a graduate of the University of Montana, Jeanette McKee has lived in Hamilton, Montana since 1972, with a home on Finley Point on Flathead Lake since 1970. A Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Montana and a former member of the Montana House of Representatives, her Board service includes the Montana Board of Housing, the Daly Mansion Preservation Trust and the Virginia City Heritage Commission. Jeanette has also served as Development Director, Montana History Foundation and as the University of Montana Events Coordinator/Museum of Fine Arts. She and her husband Mike have three adult children and four grandchildren. Her interests include hiking, skiing, golf, tennis and travel. Jeanette joined the Glacier Natural History Association Board in 2007 and transitioned on the GNPC Board in January, 2013.

Richard Miles grew up in England and Washington, D.C. before moving to California for college. Extensive backcountry travels ultimately brought him to Montana, where he has developed a decades-long appreciation for the beauty, majesty, and fragility of the northern Rockies. Richard received his B.S. in Physics and Ph.D. in Applied Physics, from Caltech. He has held a variety of research and leadership positions in academia and industry, specializing in novel semiconductor devices and advanced telecommunications networks. In 2015 he joined Facebook, where he is currently Vice President of Infrastructure. His outdoor interests include hiking, backpacking, cycling, and skiing. He currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a second home near Whitefish.

For almost 20 years, Gayle and her husband have been part time Columbia Falls residents, and try to spend as much time as possible in the Flathead Valley. Glacier National Park has played  an oversized role in their lives, including their marriage at Big Prairie. Gayle’s background is a mix of Fortune 200 and small business experience, combined with Not-For-Profit Board service. She is active in teenage financial literacy programs in Chicago through her Board work with Cents Ability, Inc. She is also a Board member of Natural Connections Academy, Inc. an Idaho outdoor school fostering academic success and stewardship of nature. She previously served on the Board of the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, the largest public school of the arts in the U.S. Gayle’s expertise includes generating growth and profitability for consumer brands, innovation through new product development and customer segmentation, and improving results by focusing on the customer experience and leveraging Agile principles.

Greg Olson has served on the Glacier Conservancy Board since 2013. He grew up in Fargo, North Dakota and during two summer seasons in college he had the opportunity to work at Lake McDonald Lodge in Glacier National Park. Those experiences formed the foundation for a long and sustained respect and admiration for the natural and cultural treasures that exist in this magnificent park. After many summer visits to northwest Montana, he and his wife Cyndi moved to the Flathead Valley in 2007. They currently reside in the Whitefish area with their dog, Charley. Greg has a B.S. in Chemistry from North Dakota State University (1972) and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry, from the University of Colorado (1977). Prior to his retirement in 2006, he was a Principal Research Scientist at HRL Laboratories (formerly Hughes Research Laboratories) in Malibu, California. He currently serves as a consultant to the U.S. Department of Energy in the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program. His outdoor interests include hiking, mountaineering, backpacking, cycling, and downhill and backcountry skiing. Greg joined the Glacier Natural History Association Board in 2009 and transitioned onto the GNPC Board in January, 2013.

Joe Raudabaugh was reared in Northern Virginia and received his B.S. in Economics from North Carolina State University ’78, and his MBA in Marketing and Finance at the University of Chicago ’80. He advised Fortune 500 multi-national firms on complex strategy, supply chain and performance issues for over 34 years. Joe joined A.T. Kearney in 1984, and built practices in Japan and North America, and launched their Procurement and Advanced Analytics Practice in 2002. He founded and developed the A.T. Kearney Student Lab program which brings experiential learning opportunities to many of the top ranked business schools in North American and Europe. Joe continues to advise organizations selectively as Partner Emeritus with the Firm. He splits his time between Lake Forest, Illinois and Whitefish with his wife Beverly. His hobbies include backpacking, hiking, skiing, gardening, spending time in Montana and taking on new missions and building organizations. Joe joined the Glacier Fund Board in 2011 and transitioned onto the GNPC Board in January, 2013. He serves as the GNPC treasurer as well as chair of the Conservancy’s finance committee.

Cathy Stein grew up in Chicago and attended the University of Wyoming. She currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona and Montana (near Lake Blaine) and is the President of Concorde Travel Management, specializing in sports travel. She is married to her husband, Mo, and has one adult daughter, Alexandra “Alix” Christine. Hobbies include travel, shopping, food (both cooking and consuming), classical violin, DIY craft projects, and sleeping. She also enjoys baseball, event planning for non-profits, and giving back to the communities where she and Mo live. Cathy joined the Glacier Fund Board in 2012 and transitioned onto the GNPC Board in January, 2013.

Mo Stein, FAIA, FACHA, is a Principal at HKS Architects, an international practice ranked among the top firms in the world. Mo directs the Phoenix office, is appointed to the Management Council for the Firm and directs the Strategic Plan. Mo is also heavily involved with designing for sports, a personal passion, specifically focused with Major League Baseball. Mo is a native of Phoenix. He and Cathy completed their home in the Flathead Valley in 1997 and support many local organizations.

Courtney Stone has one foot on each side of Glacier National Park, but her heart resides on the east side, and has since 1989. As a young woman, Courtney made fudge at the St. Mary Resort, served gorgeous steaks at the Cattle Baron Babb Bar Supper Club, and pumped gas, changed sheets, and sold groceries at Thronson’s, all on the park’s eastern border, where she lived for many happy years. Along the way, Courtney received degrees from the University of Georgia and the Appalachian School of Law, but the best education she’s had was in building and selling a beekeeping business located near Babb. Currently, Courtney serves Flathead Electric Cooperative in the public affairs arena. Previously, Courtney helped to lead Glacier Guides and Montana Raft, a Glacier National Park concession partner, as its Communications Director. She also practiced law in Missoula and Cut Bank. With her partner, Jim Deraleau, Courtney delights in raising four children in Columbia Falls, on the Flathead River, and in and around Glacier National Park.

Tom Walker has been helping entrepreneurs build great companies for most of his career. He’s formed multiple venture capital funds, founded angel groups, and is an active angel investor. As the CEO of Rev1 Ventures, Tom has designed a business model that has invested in more than 90 startups and added more than $90M in capital under management. This business model has had a $1.5B impact on the Columbus region in under 5 years and has helped Columbus to be named one of the fastest-growing startup cities in the US according to the Kauffman Foundation and Rev1 the Most Active VC in the Great Lakes region, according to Pitchbook. Tom’s spent much of his career focused on innovation, startups, and early-stage capital, building innovation and startup support systems in Oklahoma, Ohio and advising several regions of the United States. He feels that in order to fuel startups, you must connect the assets in your own back yard. This includes corporations, service providers, academic and research institutions, and public sector entities. Tom has a BS in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering and an MBA. He’s the author The Entrepreneur’s Path: A Handbook for High-Growth Companies.

Germaine White was born on the Flathead Indian Reservation and raised by the Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness, and is an enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. She is the Native American Engagement Director for the Mansfield Center at the University of Montana, and formerly served as the Information and Education Program Manager for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ Natural Resources Department. She has experience managing large scale outdoor environmental education events, developing educational materials, and implementing outreach programs for a diverse audience. These multimedia interactive educational materials integrate the wisdom inherited from our elders and ancestors — our traditional ways of knowing and understanding (Native Science) — with the best available western science. Such exchange and dialog are crucially important in our region, and throughout the ancestral territories of Indigenous peoples. Germaine is passionate about the work of cultural bridge-building and bringing people together to protect the places that sustain us all. She looks forward to bringing her perspective and experience to the Glacier Conservancy.

Orrin began his love of the outdoors attending the Taylor Statten Camps in Algonquin Park in Ontario, Canada in 1966 at the age of 9. He continued his camping experience with the camps as an employed canoe tripping guide until graduation from the University of Montana. Graduating in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics & Political Science. In 1980, he began his career in the insurance and investment business. Working with IDS “Investors Diversified Services”.

Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Darrell Worm mostly grew up in the Midwest and moved to California while in high school. He graduated with his B.A. from San Diego State University in 1970, and J.D. from the University of California at Davis Law School ’77. He moved to Montana two years after graduating from law school where he worked for Legal Services in Cut Bank and Kalispell, with offices in Browning (Blackfeet Reservation) and Pablo (Flathead Reservation). Since 1985, Darrell has been in private practice in Kalispell. His hobbies include hiking, wood working and gardening. Fly fishing is more than a hobby – it is a passion. He joined the Glacier Natural History Association Board in 1993 and transitioned onto the GNPC Board in January, 2013 as its first Board Chair.