Montana Audubon - who we are
Montana Audubon Staff
Steve Hoffman, Executive Director, has 28 years of professional experience in wildlife conservation and nonprofit administration. Steve earned a Master’s degree in Wildlife Ecology from Utah State University (1979). After 10 years of government service (US Bureau of Land Management & US Fish & Wildlife Service) as a wildlife biologist in the Southwest, Steve founded HawkWatch International (HWI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to raptor conservation. After 12 years as Executive Director of HWI, Steve became the State Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon Pennsylvania. In 2004 Steve moved to Bozeman, Montana, to serve as the Executive Director of Predator Conservation Alliance. Steve was hired by Montana Audubon in December 2006.
Larissa Berry, Office Manager joined the Helena office in July 2010. For the previous twelve years, Larissa has worked as either a project manager or head of production for small to mid-sized publishers. The scope of work included hands-on, nuts-and-bolts book production and editing to supervision, quality control, job tracking, and printer, client, and interdepartmental relations. Returning to Helena was always a top priority after ten years away, in Berkeley, for two years, and then Seattle. After moving back a year ago, she worked a short stint at The Nature Conservancy’s Pine Butte Guest Ranch in 2009, which refueled her strong feelings on environmental issues and passion for Montana’s rich and diverse habitat and wildlife. She found a mentor and volunteer work in nonprofit, which led to her first nonprofit position here at Montana Audubon, a new venture and important mission she is very excited to be a part of.
Amy Cilimburg, Director of Conservation and Climate Policy, began with Montana Audubon in August 2007. She works to educate and inspire action around issues related to climate change, birds, wildlife, and energy both here in Montana and nationally, working closely with Janet Ellis on these policy issues. Beginning in 2008, Amy spearheads our Important Bird Areas (IBA) Program and collaborates with other key biologists and conservationists to protect Montana's birds and their habitat. Prior to coming to Audubon, Amy was the Assistant Director of the University of Montana's Avian Science Center. She received a M.S. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana in 2001. Prior to this she spent 10 years teaching with the National Outdoor Leadership School both around the west and internationally. She lives and strives to reduce her carbon footprint in Missoula with her husband and daughter.
Janet Ellis, Program Director, has coordinated Montana Audubon’s legislative and public policy work on behalf of Montana’s wildlife and wildlife habitat since 1983. She became Program Director when the office opened on a full-time, year-round basis in 1989. Previously, Janet was a ranger and naturalist for Yellowstone and Zion National Parks, Cedar Breaks National Monument, and Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park. She has received several awards for her work, including “Conservationist of the Year” from the Montana Environmental Information Center, Montana Wildlife Federation, and Montana Audubon. She holds a degree in biology from the University of Montana. Janet lives in Helena with her husband and son.
Norane Freistad, Development Director, joined the Montana Audubon team in September 2010. She comes to us with a strong fundraising background, tremendous passion for our work, and diverse life experiences. She has lived in the Helena area for 3 decades. During that time, she ran Days of Yore, a retail antique shop, for 20 years. In the last decade, she has become increasingly involved in community groups that better fit her life-long passion for land conservation and “smart growth” issues. She is a founding member of Prickly Pear Land Trust, where she worked as Development Director before moving to the Montana Wilderness Association, where she also served in that position. She holds a degree in Anthropology from the Washington State University. Norane and her husband Rob have three adult children.
Heather Ristow, Education Director, Audubon Conservation Education Center, began working with Montana Audubon in Billings in August of 2008. She previously taught natural history and outdoor education during a yearlong graduate residency in environmental education at the Teton Science Schools in Wyoming. Prior to that experience, she spent several seasons studying the ecology of forest carnivores and birds in Yellowstone National Park, the Beartooth Mountains, Lochsa River Valley, and elsewhere around the west. Heather received a B.A. in Biology with a concentration in environmental studies from Carleton College, and recently earned her teaching license for 6 – 12 biology. She is currently completing her Master of Education degree at Montana State University in Billings, while pursuing her life-long love of the natural world and desire to share it with students of all ages. Heather devotes her free time to exploring Montana’s diverse ecosystems by foot, bike, and ski, and also enjoys growing, harvesting, and cooking her own food.
Darcie Vallant, Center Director, Audubon Conservation Education Center, began working for Montana Audubon in April of 2010. She comes to us with extensive experience in environmental education and conservation. Darcie studied Wildlife Conservation as an undergraduate and then received a Master’s in Conservation and Biodiversity Biology from the University of Leeds, England. She taught 8th-12th grade science in a suburb of Boston. Realizing that she belonged in an outdoor classroom, she joined Columbus Parks and Recreation in Ohio as a Center Director, and over five years she developed and implemented environmental and adventure programming for the community. Her next adventure lead her to Nantucket, MA to work as the Education Director for a science and education non-profit, the Maria Mitchell Association. There she once again developed a slew of successful hands-on and place based science educational programs. New to the West, Darcie spends her time exploring Montana and surrounding states hiking, camping and birding.
Mihail Kennedy, Land Stewardship Coordinator, Audubon Conservation Education Center, is our newest full time staff member, beginning July 2011. Mihail is responsible for managing all restoration efforts on the 54 acres of land located at the Center. In addition, he works closely with Education Director Heather to develop stewardship projects for all ages. He coordinates, trains and recruits the restoration volunteers, is responsible for equipment maintenance and repair, oversees the restoration budget and maintains the irrigation system. Born and raised in Billings, Mihail graduated with honors from Montana State University with a BA in Environmental Studies and spent the past 9 years working for Zoo Montana.
Courtney Jones, Communications Intern, is a junior at Carroll College, majoring in communications and public relations. She is the Editor in Chief of Carroll's newspaper, The Prospector and hosts a weekly television program. Courtney has a deep-rooted interest in birds and wildlife conservation, which was instilled at a young age from her father, a wildlife sculptor in Bozeman. Courtney is anxious to help and learn from Audubon during her semester long internship.
PAST STAFF
Kathy Martin, former Administrative Officer. Kathy has taken a new job at the Carroll College library. We'll miss her at Montana Audubon and appreciate all her hard work and dedication especially for our annual festival. Thank you Kathy!
Paul Belanger, former Director of Education, has decided to move on from Audubon and remain in the Bitterroot Valley in Western Montana (dec 2009). He has found new employment closer to home, and we wish him well. Paul will be missed at Montana Audubon.
Loreene Reid, former Administrative Officer. If you are looking for Loreene, she is back at home in Bozeman. We thank her for her enthusiastic service to Audubon and wish her the best!