Denny Iverson grew up on a farm in Minnesota, moving to Potomac with his parents in 1975. The Iversons bought a ranch there that Denny, his wife Charlotte, his brother Les and sister-in-law Sue, operate today. The next generation of Iversons are now making a living on the ranch, too: Denny's daughter, Courtney, son-in-law Jeff, and Les’ son Justin and his wife Jennifer, are now also living and working on the ranch. Denny is a past board member and is also a board member of the Blackfoot Challenge. The Iversons placed an easement on their ranch some years ago and in 2016, Denny and Char placed an easement on some of their own farmland that the ranch operates along with the home ranch. Denny spent 30 years working as a logger to support his ranching habit before selling the business three years ago to ranch full time.
Allan realized his appreciation of western Montana, and the importance of open space, at a young age while growing up on a cattle ranch in the Flint Creek valley near Philipsburg. In 1996, Allan Graduated from Montana State University with a BS degree in Engineering. Since graduation, he has worked for Dick Anderson Construction. Through his participation in several nonprofit boards over his career, he has realized the importance of giving back to the community. Upon understanding the vision of Five Valleys Land Trust, he recognized one way to give back is to protect and preserve parts of Montana for future generations, while finding a balance with responsible development and growth. Along with spending as much time as possible with his six year old daughter, he enjoys rock climbing, mountaineering, backpacking, skiing, hunting and fishing.
Julie began her relationship with the landscapes of western Montana while completing an internship on Flathead Lake as she worked towards a BS in Resource Ecology and Management from the University of Michigan, 24 years ago. This inspired her to graduate early in order to move to Montana full-time. Her next years were spent in the field, working intimately with the plants, wildlife and landscapes of the region. While completing her MS at the University of Idaho, she focused her studies and research on the impact landscape changes and habitat fragmentation has on wildlife and plant populations. Sixteen years ago, upon graduation, Julie began volunteering with Five Valleys, recognizing the influence that Five Valleys’ work would have on shaping the region as growth and development pressure expanded. For the past 10 years Julie has worked in Missoula as an RN while raising her three children, but stays grounded through her connections to, and almost daily use of, the open spaces and wild places throughout the five valleys. As her kids grow older, she is ready to begin putting energy directly back into the exciting work of Five Valleys in an effort to give back to the surrounding natural world that sustains her.
Growing up on the doorstep of Glacier National Park, Rachel gained a deep appreciation for wild and protected spaces. Preserving and protecting landscapes for this generation and the next ensures that the wild stays wild. Rachel is a University of Montana alum with a degree in Accounting and Finance and is also a Certified Public Accountant. Rachel spends her days as the Director of Finance for MoFi and her nights and weekends exploring trails, mountains, and rivers with her husband Dame and dog Asher.
A midwestern transplant, Mike moved to Missoula from Ohio in 2004 to complete a bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Montana. In the following years he developed a strong relationship with the landscape of western Montana through his work as an outdoor educator, running event organizer, and most recently, as a professional mountain runner. Mike has found joy, challenge, empowerment, beauty, solitude and community among the open spaces he has spent so much time in over the last decade. He hopes to do his part to preserve this landscape so others may develop their own personal relationship with these special places.
Rick co-founded both Rocky Mountain Development Group and Wishrock Housing Partners and as President and member of Wishrock’s Executive Committee, Rick is responsible for business development and formulation of the company’s investment and development strategies. In his twelve years in the real estate development business Rick has completed numerous projects in a variety of areas of the industry from land development projects to commercial real estate and, since 2008, focused on the acquisition and redevelopment of affordable housing cross the country.
Prior to working in the field of real estate development, Rick taught entrepreneurship and strategic management at the University of Montana School of Business. He currently serves on the boards of several Missoula nonprofit organizations, including the Mayor’s Council on Affordable Housing, where he most recently led a successful funding campaign to build a new homeless shelter for the city.
Rick holds a Master’s in Business from The University of Montana, a Master’s in Fine Arts from New England College, and a bachelor’s degree in human ecology from the College of the Atlantic. Rick has received a certificate in Advanced Development Management from Harvard University Graduate School of Design.
Jen grew up in Polson, Montana with a family that hiked, backpacked and hunted in the Mission and Pintler mountains, played on Flathead Lake, and fished, kayaked and rafted rivers all over Montana. Her love of Montana open spaces is deeply ingrained in who she is. After finishing graduate school in Minneapolis, she methodically worked her way back to Missoula. She is a Nurse Anesthesiologist that was worked all over Western Montana but now stays closer to home and works only in Missoula. Sharing her love of Big Sky Country with her husband, son, and friends brings her the most joy.
Tyler grew up on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Saint Ignatius, Montana as a direct descendant of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. In many ways, it was in leaving Montana that it became clear how integral the lands, rivers, wildlife and wild spaces of this place shaped his early life. Tyler received his bachelor’s degree in Mathematical and Computational Science at Stanford University and currently works as a Consultant for the Bridgespan Group, a non-profit advisory firm that helps nonprofits, philanthropists and social change leaders solve problems to address the economic, social and organizational barriers that make their work challenging. Tyler has supported a range of clients across issues such as workforce development for formerly incarcerated individuals, youth mentoring, public health, and climate change.
Elizabeth grew up in both the mountains and the coastline of North Carolina and moved to Montana in 1999. Her background is grounded mostly in outdoor education working for various places including the North Carolina Outward Bound School, the National Outdoor Leadership School and the Chadwick School. She got her undergrad at Appalachian State University in Recreation Management and her Master's Degree in Educational Leadership at the University of Montana. Currently, she directs the University of Montana’s Outdoor Program and has been in that position since 2004. She teaches courses annually for the American Mountain Guide Association, Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and the Western Montana Avalanche Center. She is passionate about wild places and loves adventuring with her husband and two daughters any time of the year.
Addrien learned to value community and collaborative efforts while teaching in Shelby and Seeley Lake after college. Her long-time career was owning and operating Rovero’s in Seeley Lake for twenty-one years and raising four children. Addrien later became Founding Director and President of the Seeley Lake Historical Museum and Visitor Center, Seeley Lake Community Council Chair, a board member the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula Board, a member of Missoula County’s Open Lands Advisory Committee, a Missoula County School Board trustee, and a member of the FVLT Stewardship and Conservation Committee.
Recently retired after serving two years on the Montana Wilderness Association’s Board of Directors as State President, Addrien is eager to now assist in promoting and representing the critical values and lands surrounding Missoula. Addrien and her husband Jim focus on family, back-county backpacking, day hikes, skiing, and discovering other world cultures while on long-distance trails abroad.
Dan grew up in Minnesota where he spent many hours fishing with his dad and grandpa. He graduated with degrees from the University of Minnesota (B.S.), Kansas State (M.S.), and from Yale (Ph.D.) in wildlife conservation. He taught at the University of California for a short time as a sabbatical replacement, then took a faculty position at the University of Montana in the Wildlife Biology Program in 1984. He served as director of that program for 20 years before he retired. Dan and his graduate students worked primarily on endangered species in Montana and in Asia. He served on several boards through his career, including the Montana Chapter of The Nature Conservancy where he served as board chair for four years. Conservation of wildlife and wild places continues to be one of his highest priorities.
Shaun grew up playing in the open spaces of the Cascade Mountains in Washington. He moved to Missoula to attend the University of Montana, earning a degree in Recreation Management with a focus on Nature Based Tourism. Currently, Shaun runs his own business, MTCX, which hosts races, and provides retail outdoor products. Shaun has a diverse professional background in recreation and natural resources. He stared at Adventure Cycling Association in 2003 and helped with bike tours and planning. He also spent five years working at The American Prairie Resource in the lands and real estate department. Most recently, Shaun worked at The Cycling House planning bike tours and running the human resources.
John is the publisher at Mountain Press Publishing, an independent press that has achieved national recognition for its books for both young and old on natural history and history, located in Missoula. He served as president of the Rocky Mountain Book Publishers Association and as a board member of the Publisher's Association of the West. A native Montanan, John is active locally, serving as a trustee of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, on the Missoula County Weed Board and formerly on the Missoula County Open Lands Committee. John was a member of the original Open Lands Working Group that presented the county commissioners with a report in June 2006 which resulted in the Open Space Bond being placed on the ballot later that year. In 2007, the Rimel family placed their ranch under a conservation easement with Five Valleys Land Trust. In his spare time, he lives to sail on Flathead Lake, horseback ride, run rivers, take off in his sea kayak or motorcycle, or ski when there’s snow. With John’s daughter and son both out of the house, he and his wife Karen are left to do the chores themselves on the family ranch in the foothills of the Sapphire Mountains, south of Missoula.
As someone who grew up in Missoula, Jeff recognizes the changes in the local landscape and values the importance of stewardship. He is an attorney with Crowley Fleck PLLP. Prior to entering private practice, he worked for the Honorable Donald W. Molloy, the chief federal judge in Montana. Jeff attended college at the United States Naval Academy and law school at the University of Montana. He served as a commander and naval aviator in the Navy. He currently is a commissioner with the Missoula County Airport Authority.
Stan was born and raised in Kansas, but has lived all over the United States, including nearly 25 years in Alaska. He currently is Vice President for Bird Conservation at the National Audubon Society, for which he has worked for 20 years, including 10 years as state director in Alaska. Stan represented The Wilderness Society in Alaska during passage of the Alaska Lands Act, worked on the professional staff of a committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, and coordinated restoration and science programs for the joint federal-state trustee council administering the billion-dollar settlement following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. He has a M.S. degree in biology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and wide experience in applying science to public policy and natural resources conservation. His passion is birds and bird conservation. Stan and his wife raised three sons (now adults) and are thrilled to now make their home in Missoula.
Jessica is one of the co-founders of the Mothers' Milk Bank of Montana. In 2011, Jessica completed a doctorate in Perinatal Psychology at the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute with a focus on the psychological impact of donating milk following a perinatal loss. She wrote a toolkit based on her dissertation that provides healthcare professionals with information about how to address lactation with bereaved mothers. Jessica also worked for two years as the Donor Coordinator at the Mothers Milk Bank in San Jose, CA from 2009-2011. In her spare time, Jessica loves cooking, running, and exploring the beauty of Montana with her husband and three kids.
Sophie joined the Five Valleys staff in 2023 as the organization’s Development Coordinator. In this role, Sophie helps to organize fundraising, community and volunteering events, and communications. Sophie grew up in Bozeman and graduated from the University of Montana with a BA in Communication Studies. Previously, Sophie worked as a Development Coordinator supporting the Planned Giving and Prospect Research Departments at the University of Montana Foundation for four years, furthering her expertise in philanthropy and stewardship. Montana’s landscapes have fueled Sophie’s passion for year-round recreation. Sophie can often be found hiking, trail running, camping, and fly fishing.
Linden (she/her/hers) grew up in Dillon, Montana. She received a BS in Wildlife Biology and works at the Rocky Mountain Research Station as an Ecology Research Assistant. She spends her field seasons collecting data on local grasslands to better understand the wealth of the systems that surround us. Becoming a caretaker of the Rock Creek Confluence in 2022 with her partner, Jackson, and wild pup, Eddy, has been a dream come true for this enthusiastic outdoorswoman. She plans to use her restoration skill set to be a good steward of native plant communities at the Confluence Property. You can find her enjoying time off climbing beautiful Montana rock, cross-country skiing near Rock Creek, and trying to catch spectacular alpine blooms.
Kit joined Five Valleys in 2024, bringing with him nearly two decades of conservation experience. Kit grew up in Missoula in a family steeped in conservation and connection to the land and rivers. He left Montana for a brief stint to earn his B.A. from Colorado College and then served in the Peace Corps in Zambia. Early career paths also led him to the Bahamas and Mongolia, but ultimately, he found himself back where it all started. Prior to Five Valleys, Kit worked for the National Wildlife Federation for 14 years, directing their wildlife programs and working on a range of issues including livestock/wildlife conflict, bison restoration, and wildlife connectivity. Rivers have also played a central role in Kit’s life, and he is the author of the guidebook, “Paddling Montana.” Having such a deep connection to Missoula, he is thrilled to be working to protect the places that he loves. Kit enjoys hiking, hunting, fishing and exploring Montana with his wife and two daughters.
Julie grew up in Idaho where skiing, backpacking, and fishing were family activities most weekends. She was always in awe of the mountains in central Idaho, and was excited to move to Montana in 2000 when she and her husband purchased a guest ranch in the Blackfoot Valley. She graduated from Idaho State University with a BA in Political Science and Mass Communications. Julie joined the Five Valleys staff in 2024, bringing with her 10 years of administrative experience for non-profits in Missoula. As our Office and Events Administrator, Julie supports our Operations and Development teams, helping our organization run smoothly, both inside and outside of the office. When she's not working, you can find Julie in the mountains, hosting gatherings, gardening, and cooking.
Derek joined the Five Valleys team in 2023, bringing with him over a decade of community involvement in Missoula. With a five-year career as a hydrogeologist at an environmental consulting firm, Derek now serves as a Conservation Project Manager, working closely with private landowners in Missoula County to establish new conservation easements. Outside of work, Derek explores the outdoor wonders of western Montana. You’ll often find him skiing, trail running, floating down rivers, and exploring alongside his wife, children, and their Newfoundland, Tonka.
Ben joined the Five Valleys Land Trust team in 2021. He found his way to Missoula in 2004 to earn a BS in Geology with an emphasis in Groundwater Hydrology from the University of Montana, and assisted with the groundwater modeling efforts around the Milltown Dam removal. After a season or two chasing powder turns he immersed himself in water rights work, first as a hydrogeologist and consultant, and eventually as a restoration specialist with the Clark Fork Coalition. Ben joins the Five Valleys team after four years as the Executive Director of MTB Missoula, where he embraced the collaborative problem solving at the heart of community open space conservation in western Montana. He spends his time away from work in the kitchen or on the trails with his partner, Kiley, and two dogs, Franklin and Gonzo.
Mari joined the Five Valleys team in 2023 as the organization's Land Steward. In this role, Mari helps steward both the publicly accessible properties that Five Valleys owns or manages as well as some of the private properties on which Five Valleys holds conservation easements. Mari grew up in Delaware and graduated from the University of Vermont with a BS in Parks, Recreation and Tourism. She worked as a Backcountry Park Ranger in Yellowstone National Park for six years, spending her days clearing trail and patrolling via horseback. Most recently, she has worked at several Missoula based non-profits including Missoula Urban Demonstration Project and Ecology Project International. Mari likes to spend her free time putzing in her yard and garden, reading, doing chores, hiking, backpacking, and generally wandering around outside. Say hello if you see her on the trail!
Minette joined Five Valleys staff in 2023 as the organization’s Planned Giving Officer, where she has the opportunity to meet with our dedicated supporters to talk about simple estate planning tools, like leaving a gift to Five Valleys in your will. These gifts will ensure that Five Valleys can continue to steward the lands and waters under our care in perpetuity. Minette grew up in New England, catching frogs and watching fireflies. She discovered the wonders of Montana while researching coyotes in Yellowstone National Park. She then spent the next several years figuring out how to get back to Montana while working in Washington, DC to protect endangered species for the Ocean Conservancy and the National Audubon Society. After moving to Missoula to earn her Masters in Environmental Studies at the University of Montana, she spent fifteen years with Defenders of Wildlife conserving and restoring grizzly bears, swift foxes, wolverines, buffalo, and black-footed ferrets. Having explored and enjoyed Missoula’s open spaces for decades, Minette feels privileged to join the team at Five Valleys to help protect the places that make our community so special. In her spare time, Minette enjoys hiking, biking, and skiing with her wonderful daughters, riding her horse, and appreciating the view of undeveloped hillsides.
Ramey oversees the year round fundraising efforts of Five Valleys and brings a passion for development to the organization's team. She grew up in the Bitterroot Valley where the importance of having access to open space was something her parents instilled in her at a young age. Ramey has BA in Journalism from the University of Montana, Missoula. She, her husband Jesse, and sons Evan and Olin love getting outside to enjoy all the fun activities western Montana's open spaces offer year-round.
Jackson (he/him/his) joined Five Valleys from Washington State where, aside from a hiatus on the Pacific Crest Trail, he has spent the past decade planning and leading stewardship programs on public lands. He received a degree in Environmental Education from Western Washington University and has worked as a crew leader for Washington Trails Association, a stewardship coordinator for Kitsap County Parks, and now as a project manager for Missoula County’s Parks, Trails and Open Lands Program. Jackson joined the Five Valleys team in 2022 and is excited to continue interacting with neighbors, visitors and partner organizations as a caretaker at the Confluence. He feels fortunate to be living at the property with his partner, Linden, and dog, Eddy. Jackson splits his leisure hours between attempting to perfect dessert recipes, speculating about next year’s morel foraging prospects, and helping Eddy figure out where she lost her frisbee.
Whitney brings a passion for conservation and over 20 years of experience in nonprofit development and organizational management to her role as Executive Director. Previous to her role as Executive Director, Whitney served as Five Valleys’ Philanthropy Director for five years, where she played a key role in community conservation efforts in the Flint Creek Valley and on Mount Dean Stone. Whitney holds an MS in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, and a BS in Natural Resources Recreation Management from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Having grown up on six acres that backed up to protected open space, Whitney holds the mission of Five Valleys close to her heart. She is pleased to be able to have recreated that childhood connection by living at the base of Mount Jumbo, and having daily access to some of Missoula’s best open space. Whitney spends her time running, biking, skiing, and playing with her son, Lander, and husband, Nate, in Montana’s open spaces near and far.
Ryan joined Five Valleys in 2020, as part of the stewardship team. His focus is on conservation easement monitoring and building lasting relationships with landowners. Ryan grew up on the Missouri River between Great Falls and Helena and he received a BS in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana. After growing up thinking he’d never leave Montana, an MS in Applied Ecology carried him to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Soon, what was supposed to be a short two-year absence turned into eight years away as he worked as a private lands biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Before joining Five Valleys, Ryan worked as an independent consultant conducting conservation easement baseline surveys across Montana for both NGOs and government agencies. He is thrilled to be back in Montana where he and his partner, Naomi, can be found catching concerts and Griz games or chasing trout, upland birds, and sunsets with their dogs, Barley and Olive.
Jenny joined the Five Valleys staff in 2011. She monitors conservation easements, works with landowners on restoration and management projects, and coordinates educational programs and partnerships. Jenny grew up in western Washington and fell in love with Montana while spending summers with extended family on Swan Lake. Jenny holds a MS in Botany from the University of Vermont and has over 20 years experience in ecology, conservation, and environmental education. She enjoys gardening, camping, skiing, and reading books with her husband Winsor and two children, Will and Iris.
Lena joined the Five Valleys staff in 2015. As the Conservation and Communications Manager, Lena manages Five Valleys' communications and publications, supports fundraising efforts, and assists with conservation easement monitoring. A fifth generation Montanan, she grew up on a farm on the Yellowstone River, north of Miles City. Her upbringing instilled in her a deep love for Montana’s open spaces and rural traditions. Lena holds a BA in English-Creative Writing from the University of Montana and feels incredibly lucky to be tasked with telling Five Valleys' story. On her way to Five Valleys, she wrote freelance for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's Bugle magazine and other regional publications, and worked for the Montana Natural History Center. She can often be found outside enjoying Montana's landscape with her husband, Erik, and son, Leif.
Boston Wakeham joined Five Valleys in 2021 to help keep the administrative wheels of the organization greased and maintain the organization’s operational success. Boston received a BS in Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Management from the University of Montana. After several years of boots-on-the-ground conservation work with the Montana Conservation Corps and the National Park Service, he decided to lean into his coordination and organization strengths by working in between HR and Operations at onXmaps. Boston brings a passion for structure and efficiency that will help strengthen the already impressive foundation at Five Valleys. Outside of work, when Boston, his partner, Lisa, and their dog Cholla aren’t floating rivers or exploring new trails, he is likely hosting potlucks or board game nights.
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