Meet the Board and Staff of the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation
We have a diverse team of staff, board members, and volunteers who respond to community opportunities and needs. Together we work for a common purpose, to help our nonprofits thrive, ensure our community members have their needs met, and to help meet the needs of our community.
Chris Lorash
Chair of the Board of Directors
Board member since 2021; term ends in 2027.
“I am excited with the direction of the RLACF and have enjoyed my association with them. I hope that my contributions have been meaningful in furthering its mission and mandate. I look forward to serving in my capacity as a board member for another term with energy and enthusiasm as the Foundation moves forward.”
In his efforts to remain community-focused, Chris is a member of the Laurel School Board. It’s a position that has helped him have a meaningful impact on the Laurel Community and demonstrates his commitment to education and those who help shape young minds. He is also very involved in his church organization and works with the youth and those who lead the youth in his church. These positions have helped him develop a professional understanding of the needs in our communities. As a banker, he finds great joy in facilitating programs and lending solutions to first-time buyers and folks in the community who have a focus on those in need. Chris has had the opportunity to fund projects in the Red Lodge area through his work as a lender, and he looks forward to that opportunity in the future.
Merv Coleman
Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors
Board member since 2003; term ends in 2028.
“We’ve gone from a Fun Run committee to a full-fledged organization that’s fully engaged in the community in the short time of about 20 years. Great organizations don’t just happen. It takes time, vision, leadership, and willing people to serve. We have all of that energy and then some, with Tracy and Jo Ann, board members, staff, and a host of volunteers. I am especially proud of the Fun Run but also that we are involved with youth, poverty, veterans, affordable housing, the Roosevelt Center project, swimming pool, and other aspects of community, interacting with many nonprofits. I always tell people that when I go to a board meeting, I have to take a seat belt along to stay in my chair because there are so many good things happening.”
Merv decided to be a full-time photographer more than 45 years ago working as a range conservationist for the Bureau of Land Management. Lucky for us, he chose Red Lodge for his home and gallery. Among his many professional honors was the 2001 London Museum of Natural History / BBC award for wildlife portrait photography. Merv was named 1986 Red Lodge Citizen of the Year, was a founding member of both the Beartooth Front Community Forum and RLACF, and is a Lions Club Melvin Jones Fellow. In addition to his effort and leadership, he has often donated his photography expertise to bolster community projects. Merv and his wife, Lynette, have two daughters and three grandchildren.
Affiliations
Local: Red Lodge Lions Club, Red Lodge Chamber of Commerce, United Church of Christ.
Professional: Montana Professional Photographers Association, former aviator with U.S. Marine Corps.
Mark Schubert
Co-Treasurer of the Board of Directors
Board member since 2003; term ends in 2026.
“Being an RLACF board member gives me an opportunity to serve our nonprofit sector in what I call a broad manner. We strive to help each group succeed and build its impact.”
In addition to running his accounting firm, Mark can be counted on to lend his expertise and enthusiasm throughout the community. He was instrumental to launching the Fun Run for Charities and was a founding board member of RLACF as well as the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary (then Beartooth Nature Center) and the Red Lodge Public School Foundation. Mark helped build the original Nature Center site and local baseball / softball parks, and he raised funds to complete the new high school gym. He also raises funds for and participates in awarding local scholarships. Mark has three children and two grandchildren, and he loves the outdoors.
Affiliations
Nonprofit: Beartooth Elks Lodge, Red Lodge Community Church, Red Lodge Area Chamber of Commerce, Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary, Red Lodge Public School Foundation, Beartooth Little League Board. Professional: Montana Society of Certified Public Accountants, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
William (Bill) Foisy
Secretary of the Board of Directors
Board member from 2012-2020 and since 2025; term ends in 2028.
“RLACF continues to be a reliable and resourceful organization that identifies and addresses community issues and needs in cooperation with multiple countywide nonprofits and local governments. I am honored to be considered to participate again as a board director and am confident I can make meaningful contributions.”
Bill’s willingness to rejoin our board is a demonstration of his overall commitment to the Red Lodge community and his passion for volunteer service. During his previous time on the RLACF board, he made significant contributions on multiple committees including the Finance Committee, Governance Committee (Chair), and the Roosevelt Center Steering Committee. He continues to serve on the Transit and Housing subcommittees. He enjoys helping during the Fun Run and between 2011-2023 served in a variety of roles including on the steering committee, as race director, setting up the finish line, and as drink/food coordinator representing the Beartooth Recreational Trails Association. Bill’s background in community and regional planning continues to be an asset in our community.
Affiliations
Beartooth Recreational Trails Association 2011-2023 with last five years as treasurer; Red Lodge Lions Club 2011-2024 to include president and treasurer; Red Lodge City Council 2012-2016 to include chair of public works committee; Red Lodge Parks and Recreation Board 2012-2016 as council representative; Recycle Electronic Waste Into New Devices (annual event coordinator) 2012-2020; Red Lodge Climb for Cancer Steering Committee 2014-2017 to include responsibility for memorial flags; Beartooth Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc. 2014-2021 including secretary and chairman. Red Lodge Citizen of the Year 2015. Current technical advisor to the Red Lodge Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Red Lodge regarding Montana Mainstreet Program and wayfinding/gateway signage
Jo Ann Eder
First Past President of the Board of Directors
Board member since 2007; term ends in 2028.
“RLACF is involved with so many projects that make our community such a vital, resilient place. We want to invest in people who are building interconnections for the long term.”
When asked to list special projects during her lifetime, Jo Ann, a retired astronomer, answers modestly “mapping the universe.” After earning her Ph.D. in astronomy from Yale University, Jo Ann was a career research scientist at the world-renowned Arecibo Radio Observatory in Puerto Rico. She also has a master’s degree in cross-cultural education from the University of New Mexico. In addition to serving as a past RLACF board chair, she is Treasurer of the O. P. and W. E. Edwards Foundation. Edwards is a family foundation, which grants to organizations serving youth at risk primarily in Montana and Indian Country. Jo Ann was the Red Lodge Citizen of the Year in 2011. She was married to the late Bert P. Eder, Sr.
Affiliations
Current board service with the Montana Community Foundation, Trust Montana; past board service with Philanthropy Northwest, Baretooth Cupboards, Montana Children’s Trust Fund, Yellowstone Public Radio; member of Leadership Montana
Kathleen Delahanty
Board member since 2011; term ends 2027.
“Being a member of the RLACF Board is an honor, and I am grateful for the opportunity it gives me to serve our community. It amazes me that what began as a local Fun Run for nonprofits has grown into a big, beautiful, innovative organization that enriches and supports the people and the place of Red Lodge and the surrounding area.”
I moved to Red Lodge over 35 years ago for a summer job and have worked and played here ever since. And why not? It’s such a fun and dynamic place! Over the years, I have worked with for-profit businesses and entrepreneurs in office management, human resources, and administration. In addition, I have done volunteer work for many committees and boards in Red Lodge and hope to continue to do so.
Affiliations
Red Lodge – Roberts Ambulance District Board
Janet Peterson
Board member since 2019; term ends 2028.
“RLACF is a leader in our community and sets a commendable example for local organizations. I greatly admire the passion, energy, and commitment of RLACF Board and staff and appreciate that RLACF includes a diverse group of individuals at the Board table. Our community is very fortunate to have this group support our nonprofit and, sometimes, for-profit efforts.”
Janet Peterson worked for many years in for-profit businesses, focusing on management and accounting. She enjoys brainstorming ideas, seeing the bigger picture, and connecting with people with similar interests.
The wild and beautiful mountain environment near Red Lodge continues to inspire. She believes in the power of nature to restore an individual’s spirit. Grateful for the amazing community in which she lives, Janet completes her lifestyle with fulfilling volunteer work.
Affiliations
Carbon County Resource Council, Kids’ Corner
Stephanie Baldwin
Board member since 2020; term ends in 2026.
“The Red Lodge Area Community Foundation is essential to building a thriving community. I am thankful for the opportunity to help support Red Lodge’s important initiatives and be a part of the Foundation’s impactful vision.”
Stephanie Baldwin is a Carbon County native and is the Director of Human Resources, Quality, and Compliance at Beartooth Billings Clinic. Her primary responsibilities include employment practices, policy and procedure, legal compliance, and quality improvement. She sits on a wide array of committees such as Compliance, Risk/Safety, Policy, and Infection Prevention. Stephanie is also responsible for other initiatives at Beartooth Billings Clinic, such as leadership development, customer services, and employee education.
Her experience at Beartooth Billings Clinic, combined with past experience managing a small, family-owned local business, brings a uniquely-positioned perspective on the wants and needs of our community.
Affiliations
Society for Human Resource Management, American Society for Health Care Human Resources Administration.
Jackie Ogg
Board member since 2021; term ending in 2027.
Like many part-time residents, we come to Red Lodge to “unplug,” but we also realize that creating and sustaining such a vibrant community doesn’t happen by itself. I’m honored to join the RLACF and support their work to ensure the Red Lodge community spirit stays as strong and valued as its mountains, ski slopes, rivers, and fishing holes.
Jackie is a social worker by training and spent a decade working at the Greater Washington Community Foundation in DC. During that time she developed an understanding of – and appreciation for – some of the opportunities and challenges community foundations face. She welcomes the chance to be part of the RLACF’s exciting work.
Affiliations
Professional: University of Maryland School of Social Work, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, Southern Maryland Continuum of Care
Nonprofit: Board of Trustees CaringMatters, Former Board Chair for the Smith Center for Healing and the Arts
Connie Baehr
Board member since 2024; term ends in 2027.
“I’ve been impressed with the impact that the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation has on our community since I first moved back to Montana. Serving on the Board of Directors and in other capacities is a way for me to become more involved with our community and is an exciting prospect for me.”
Connie received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. She worked in public accounting as a Certified Public Accountant in Florida and Montana doing audit and tax preparation and was Chief Financial Officer for a company in Anchorage, Alaska, for 15 years. Since moving back to Montana in 2021, she and her husband, Ted, built a house here in Red Lodge and have enjoyed becoming more involved in our community.
Affiliations
Red Lodge Area Community Foundation Finance and Governance Committees, DSVS Help Line Volunteer and Mentor, Soroptimist International of Cascadia On-line Club, Soroptimist International of the Americas
Richard Nolan
Board member since 2024; term ends in 2027.
Richard (Dick) Nolan spent 24 years with the U.S. Navy as a logistics officer followed by two decades working for a management consulting firm helping federal organizations improve. He and his wife, Gretchen, moved in 2003 from Northern Virginia to Red Lodge in search of much bigger mountains and far less traffic. For the next seven years, Dick commuted back east helping the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and the Department of Agriculture in Maryland deal with the threat of bioterrorism. After retiring in 2010, Dick joined the board of Beartooth Electric Coop during a period of severe financial stress. When he left in 2022, BEC was healthy and thriving. In the same period, Dick started the monthly Forum for Provocative Issues. Since its first meeting in 2012 when 10 attended, the forum has grown dramatically. Seventy routinely attend, and some forums have attracted well over 100. Recently, Dick joined the board of the Red Lodge Senior and Community Center.
Rod Fordahl
Board member since 2025; term ends in 2028.
“The importance of serving your community cannot be overstated.”
Rod Fordahl earned a bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in construction management from Mankato University in Minnesota. He put the degree to good use throughout his 31-year career, owning and operating Fry Construction in Sheridan, WY, which did a lot of commercial work, building hospitals, college buildings, schools, and some custom housing. His knowledge will be an asset to RLACF, particularly for workforce housing projects. While he lived in Sheridan, Wyoming, he was a member of the Rotary for many years and helped with Christmas in April for about a decade in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Current Affiliations
Red Lodge Parks and Recreation Board since 2023
Past Affiliations
Rotary Club of Sheridan, Wyoming
Marc Geraci
Board member since 2025; term ends in 2028.
“We very much enjoy being a part of this little town. Red Lodge is full of people with an incredible sense of community. RLACF serves these people and the organizations they support. It is a privilege to be part of that service and grow it.”
Marc became an important part of RLACF in 2024 when he became an initial member of the newly launched Investment Committee. His experience as the treasurer of a small public company that grew into a multibillion-dollar company, small business owner and operator for many years, and licensed CPA in Illinois are valuable assets to our financial team. His education includes post-graduate study in Taxation at DePaul University. Marc’s wife, Sally, grew up in Billings, and they have been visiting Red Lodge almost every summer for the past forty years. When they purchased their home in Red Lodge in 2012, they began spending summers and part of the winter here as well. They support a variety of local organizations including Beartooth Clinic, Carbon County Resource Council, Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Foundation and the pool. Marc and Sally enjoy working with RLACF’s workforce housing initiative and are willing to do what it takes to advance the program. He is a Master BBQ Judge, having judged over 80 contests in the United States and Europe.
Current Affiliations
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Past Affiliations
Board Member of Chi Delta Tau Alumni Association at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas; Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Member of the Illinois CPA Society; Registered Broker-Dealer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and California Securities Commission
Max Maynard
Board member since 2025; term ends in 2028.
“I have been lucky enough to witness and be a beneficiary of the great work the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation takes part in. Their efforts with the Roosevelt Center, CART, the Fun Run, and affordable housing are just a few examples of how they’ve positively affected our community. I look forward to working with the amazing people who have given so much to this town!”
Max Maynard brings his youth, connection to the working class, and experience as a well-traveled military kid to our board to diversify its membership and add perspective to how we approach issues in our area. After attending multiple high schools, as a military kid might do, he graduated from Patch American High School in Stuttgart, Germany. He came to Red Lodge in 2016 when Red Lodge Mountain was the only ski area to offer both him and a friend a job. He now works as a teacher aide and cook at Mountain Bluebells Preschool and Nursery Center. After Max ran for city council in 2024 and lost by a narrow margin, he was approached by RLACF board member Steve Hanson (2017-2025) at a Home Brewed Harmony rehearsal about serving on the board of the community foundation. Max is a huge advocate of expanding active transportation and walkability in Red Lodge, a few concepts he came to love and appreciate during his travels to Europe.
Affiliations
Maxwell and the Headchange – Local band, Bassist; Homebrewed Harmony – Barbershop Group, Tenor; Red Lodge Disc Golf, Member
Jese Stetson
Board member since 2025; term ends in 2028.
““My exposure to the RLACF was through a fundraiser that I drove for the Ag community in Carbon County during the historic flooding. I couldn’t have accomplished what we as a community were able to without the phenomenal help of the RLACF.”
Living in Fromberg and ranching from Red Lodge to Silesia, rancher and custom knife-maker Jese Stetson has a unique opportunity to see and address needs in corners of the community that might otherwise be overlooked. RLACF and Jese made their acquaintance after the historic flooding in 2022 when he fundraised for the Ag community of Carbon County (One Valley Relief Fund) and the money he raised flowed through RLACF as one of their field of interest funds. Jese graduated from Earlham College with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. He is passionate about building a strong future for our community by creating safe places for families to flourish and grow. Educational opportunities, play areas for children, and community gardens are just a few ways for this to be done. He is especially passionate about getting young people excited about agriculture, sustainability practices, as well as the trades.
Affiliations
District 4 Director for the Montana Farm Bureau Federation State Board since 2024; Carbon/Stillwater County Farm Bureau Vice President since 2023
Kirstin Sweet
Board member since 2025; term ends in 2028.
“I feel that Red Lodge Area Community Foundation is doing a great job supporting their community and county, and I would like to be a part of those efforts going forward.”
Kirstin Sweet is the city clerk in Bridger and is passionate about her community. She’s lived in Bridger over twenty years, the longest she’s lived in a place in her life, and loves the town. It is home for her and always will be. She holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and is an EMT with the Clarks Fork Valley Ambulance in Bridger, volunteering with them since 2009. Her three children are the center of her world and the reason she volunteers in her community. She wants to make the world a better place for them and show them that volunteering is the best way to have an impact on the community around us.
Affiliations
Bridger School Board trustee since 2023; Bridger Schools Facilities/Planning Committee (2015-2022)
Tracy Timmons, Executive Director
“RLACF is doing so much to help our community, by convening, incubating, and directly serving community initiatives. I’m proud to be part of this dynamic and impactful organization.”
Tracy Timmons is a Montana native. She pursued a corporate career in Spokane, WA, serving in every operational capacity before being selected to facilitate cross-functional management training to teamsters, managers, and support staff in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. When she and her husband Dustin started a family, she transferred back to Montana, where she was promoted into sales and successfully developed four new company territories in Billings, Great Falls, Cheyenne, and Casper.
On her oldest daughter’s first day of school, she left her corporate position and joined the Parent Teachers Association. Twenty-five years later, nonprofit work is still her passion. Tracy served on the Roberts School board, Roberts Community Foundation, established the Roberts Community Council, and expanded the Rock Creek Ranchers 4-H club by creating the club’s first youth leadership team, which is still going strong 17 years later.
In 2001, realizing that the greatest need in her unincorporated rural community was funding, she took classes and certified in grant writing and management, successfully generating $1.5 million in grants for the school playground, library, fire hall, and the community’s wastewater treatment system. Tracy was hired as one of the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation’s first staff to further develop the annual Fun Run for Charities, which generated over $2.6 million for over 60 charities in its first 15 years. She soon became the Executive Director. Immediately, she successfully requested to have a $340,000 building donated to the Foundation. It is now called the Nonprofit Shared Services Center, which operates as a meeting, staffing, and back-office services center for over 55 local nonprofits.
She’s worked within the community to grow the Foundation’s balance sheet from $80K to $1.9M in under 10 years. She loves to serve others and leading the Foundation allows her to do so in many facets of the community. The largest project, the Roosevelt Center, has well-developed plans of creating a $15M, indoor/outdoor facility renovation for an Arts and Culture, Conference, Reception, and Education Center that strives to deepen the community’s cultural roots while providing significant economic opportunities for arts, main street, and the community.
Luke Doucette, Associate Director
“I feel fortunate to work at the Foundation and to have met so many people who are passionate about the good work they are doing in our community.”
Luke is originally from New Hampshire and received a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and English at the University of New Hampshire. For 16 years, he worked for a Massachusetts-based software company that created technology to improve the reading experience for people of all ages. In 2013, he was offered the opportunity to move to Montana and continue to work remotely, and he and his wife Melissa came to Red Lodge.
Luke began working at the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation in 2017 as the part-time Information Technology Support person, and has since grown into other supporting roles in marketing, accounting, and fundraising. He enjoys working in Red Lodge, and being part of a team that works so closely with the community to provide programs and services that strengthen connections and improve lives.
Luke and Melissa have two young daughters. He loves to camp, fish, hike, and explore Montana; and is grateful for the opportunity to raise his children in the extraordinary community of Red Lodge.
Kat Healy, Roosevelt Center Director
“In the very short time I’ve been here, I’ve been able to see the Foundation’s mission at work— connecting people and building community. From the new CART van, to the community firewood donations, to the new pool, and the amazing response to our annual appeal after a rough year… I can’t wait to see what happens in the next few years seeing how much has been accomplished in just a few short weeks.”
Kathleen Healy is a Montana native with a passion for local arts, businesses, and nonprofits. She worked as a Program Manager at First Interstate Foundation for the past 4 ½ years — but gave it up to live closer to the mountains.
She has strong ties to Red Ants Pants Music Festival and was one of the mentors for the inaugural Girls Leadership Program through the Red Ants Pants Foundation. She worked as the Events Coordinator for the Yellowstone Art Museum and launched the annual Masquerade Party at the YAM. Before that she was an Educational Therapist, specializing in helping kids with pervasive developmental disorders. She served on the Board of Yellowstone Public Radio, the Art Auction Committee for the Yellowstone Art Museum, and the Programming Committee for the Alberta Bair Theater.
Brad Caton, Resilient Community and Connected Youth Programs Director
“The Red Lodge Area Community Foundation is simply essential across a wide variety of efforts in the area and does amazing work to promote a thriving, connected and vibrant region.”
Brad grew up in southeastern Montana and graduated from the University of Montana. Before joining the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation, he completed a career in the United States Army with service in Infantry, Recruiting, Financial Management, and Legislative Liaison positions. His international experience included assignments in Iraq, Kuwait, Republic of Korea, Jordan, and Germany. Since 2023, Brad has focused on sustaining and enhancing opportunities related to attainable housing, transportation, early childhood and connected youth, resilient community, and aging in place.
Megan Strong, Meadlowlark Children’s Center Director
“If we want a garden, we’re gonna have to sow the seeds.”
Megan moved to Montana in 2016 and has since fallen in love with the mountains and people that are Montana. Since being here, she’s met her partner, adopted a dog and cat, and began building her career in early childhood education. In her free time, she can be found reading, baking, or sitting by any creek, river, or lake she can find. Megan is excited in her new role at the foundation and looks forward to working together with their community resources to expand childcare for families in Carbon County.
Maryvette Labrie, Grant Manager
“The Red Lodge Area Community Foundation gives everyone a connection to the community. I love the creative ways the staff at the Foundation has managed to address the needs of the underserved, and how it creates a ripple effect of good that grows stronger. “
Maryvette Labrie is a Certified Grant Writer and Grant Manager for the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation in Red Lodge, Montana. A graduate of the University of Montana, she has spent over 20 years contributing to non-profit work in Red Lodge. Maryvette served 9 ½ years on the Red Lodge City Council from 2008-2018. She is an active community member, currently serving on the County Historic Preservation Commission, and volunteers for other nonprofit groups when their need arises. A life-long learner, Maryvette enjoys reading, exploring, and spending time with her dogs.
David Kallenbach, CART Transportation Manager
David has enjoyed living in Red Lodge for over 20 years after he came to work here leading backpacking trips in the Beartooths for the Voyageur Outward Bound School in 1996. It’s hard to imagine a more appealing place to live for an outdoorsperson like David, but what has further kept him here has hands-down been the exceptional community of talented and generous people that purposefully choose to live here. Since living in Red Lodge, David has been a substitute teacher in the public schools, served for 13 years as a field instructor & Program Director of Outward Bound in Montana, spent five years as a part-time lifty at Red Lodge Mountain, sold gear and clothing at Sylvan Peak Enterprises, and helped build the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Foundation from the ground up, serving as its first Director and leading volunteer stewardship work for the benefit of the A-B Wilderness
Affiliations: Former Peace Corps Volunteer, former member of Carbon County Search and Rescue, and the Board of the Boys and Girls Club of Carbon Country. Currently a Board member for the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance (NWSA), and Jane Ferguson Wilderness Adventures. Member of Carbon County Resource Council.
Angela Getchell, Workforce Housing Manager
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” ~Helen Keller
I was fortunate enough to grow up and go to school in Red Lodge….. yes, I attended kindergarten at the Roosevelt School. After spending 18 years in the Helena area working as a Mortgage Underwriter, I returned back “home” to be closer to my family and enjoy the outdoor adventures that Red Lodge provides. I am married, have two wonderful grown boys, a sweet daughter-in-law and two grandkids that bring me lots of happiness.
I began working for the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation in July of 2022 as the Workforce Housing Manager. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of an amazing team that continues to make a difference in the lives of many people in and around our community. I look forward to this next journey and working with people that are passionate about what they do for others.
Laura McHugh, Thriving Nonprofits Manager
“I’m thrilled to grow my passion for mountains and community service as the Captain Multitasker for the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation.”
Laura supports a mixture of program and administrative tasks. She enjoys finding efficient ways to operate and make more resources available for the community. She also administers the grantmaking funds. One of her favorite roles at the Community Foundation is putting on the Fun Run for Charities, which is perfect for her drive to streamline operations and passion for collaborating with many different people.
Jennifer Drinkwalter, Roosevelt Center Event Manager
“Make It happen!”
Jennifer has been involved in nonprofit management and events for Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Billings Clinic, YMCA, Montana Women’s Run, past Beartooth Trails board member and president, and currently operates Montana Tour.
Jennifer Drinkwalter founded Montana Tour, a nonprofit with a mission to help communities support non-motorized tourism. Montana Tour is primarily funded by events including Big Sky Gravel, Beartooth La Femme, donations, and grants. Proceeds support the Red Lodge Community Bike Center which re-homes used bikes by reusing parts and purchasing new parts; the endeavor is completely accomplished by volunteer work. She has been an event director of large cycling events, triathlons, running races, Big Sky State Games, served on the board of directors for Beartooth Trails, Pedal United, Montana Women’s Run, and others. She continues to partner with Red Lodge Events for 24 Hours of Elk Basin and other outdoor events.
Affiliations: Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Billings Clinic, YMCA, Montana Women’s Run, Beartooth Trails, Montana Tour
Alexis Gora
“It is incredible and inspiring to see how involved the RLACF is with the community. I am grateful to be part of this experience and to watch the community flourish.”
Alexis grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. She later moved to Montana in 2020 and has lived in this quaint little town, Red Lodge, for 3 years.
She graduated from Montana State University – Bozeman with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics- statistics in 2022. After graduation, she worked with a few local businesses in the Red Lodge area until she became employed with the Academy of Veterinary Imaging in an Administrative and Education Coordinator role. During this time, she was also a volleyball C-Squad coach at the Red Lodge High School for two years.
She now is part of RLACF as the Connected Youth Program Manager and is excited to grow with the community by striving to help understand the community’s and youths’ relationship with each other. She is also the head coach for the Beartooth Rangers Volleyball Club in Red Lodge.
Schyler Allyn, Photographer and Videographer
“Being able to work for the Foundation has helped cultivate my aspirations for not only my career but also who I want to be as a person.”
Schyler Allyn attended two years at Northwest College in Powell Wyoming, garnering multiple awards, and was published in DieselTech Magazine. He became the photo editor of the Northwest Trail for one semester and graduated with his AAS degree in photography. Schyler moved to Bellingham, Washington, for almost a year, where he worked for a video production company for 5 months before moving back to Wyoming. Shortly after he moved to Red Lodge, he met Tracy Timmons and spoke of photography aspirations. Starting as a part-time photographer, he’s grown into a communication/photography role at the Foundation. Schyler, with over seven years of photography and video experience, can be seen around Red Lodge walking his dog Po or working on his business Greys River Photography.
Affiliations: Northwest College, Greys River Photography
Coy Snyder, Information Technology Specialist
“It is truly amazing to see the passion and drive from the foundation and the impact it has on Red Lodge. I am honored to work with such great people.”
Coy Snyder has brought a wealth of experience to the foundation, having served previously as a District Manager for a large international security company. His background as a Military Police Officer in the United States Army provided him with a strong foundation in security management, which he leveraged to excel within the industry.
After being promoted to Services Manager for the Las Vegas Mobile Division, Coy’s leadership and strategic insights were pivotal in his transition to District Manager in Salt Lake City, where he lived with his wife Melody and their two children. During this period, he honed his skills in forecasting, statistics, data analytics, and management.
In 2020, Coy made a significant career shift, moving to the Red Lodge area to be closer to family. Since then, he has expanded his expertise into data analytics, where he applies sophisticated analytical techniques to drive strategic decisions. His role has also evolved to include information technology, where he manages IT infrastructure to enhance operational efficiency. Additionally, Coy now oversees facility management, ensuring that the foundation is maintained to the highest standards, integrating security measures with facility operations for optimal performance.
Coy’s diverse skill set, combining military precision with modern industry practices, continues to benefit the foundation immensely.
Patty Cooper, Accountant
“I am amazed at all that this organization accomplishes and feel that I am truly blessed in being chosen for their good work.”
Patty Cooper joined the RLACF team in September 2021, after a brief interlude with retirement. She works remotely ten to twenty hours a week, bringing ten years of non-profit social services finance and accounting experience with her.
Her kitchen home office in Newark, Ohio, is a busy place at 3:00 P.M. MT, because it is dinner time for the farmhands, eight in all. Farm animals include: Coco the horse, 10 chickens, 5 dogs, 5 cats, 2 birds, a chinchilla, and a rabbit.
Patty is a homebody and considers her family one of her greatest strengths, but she also enjoys picking up her laptop and traveling the country in the RV with her husband. 2023 goal: 3-month road trip to Montana via South Dakota and home by way of the gulf coast.
Mitch Lagge, Roosevelt Center Building Coordinator and Sound Engineer
“As a new member to the Red Lodge community, I’m excited to dive headfirst into forging connections and making a difference as a part of the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation. I’m also happy to get back to my creative roots, helping promote arts, culture and events at Roosevelt Center. I hope to spend plenty of days in the Beartooth Mountains, camping, hiking and skiing while continuing to flex my photo, video and communications skills. If you have an event, there’s a great chance us Roosevelt Center staff can help you make it one to remember.”
Born and raised in Billings, Mitch is a fourth-generation Montanan who moved to Red Lodge in April 2022 to become building coordinator and sound engineer for the Roosevelt Center.
Red Lodge and the Roosevelt Center flooded a few months later in June, and Mitch worked with building staff and countless volunteers to muck out the building and watched as contractors worked on restoration.
Mitch has helped hundreds of clients see their events come to fruition at the Roosevelt Center, helping organize everything from live theater, music festivals, and corporate events to birthday parties and funerals.
Mitch has set up and operated front-of-house sound at the Roosevelt Center and other Red Lodge venues for artists like: Woodbelly, Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs, Brian Bowers, The Local Honeys, The Fireside Collective, Futurebirds, Jeffrey Foucault, Jalan Crossland, and Summer Dean.
Mitch also serves as location sound engineer for Big Sky Bonus Tracks, a Red Lodge-based video production team that records live sessions with local and nationally-touring musicians.
Before Red Lodge, Mitch spent his time working up the ladder at KTVQ Q2 News in Billings. He started out as a newscast assistant in 2017 working behind the scenes to help produce the 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. broadcasts. He was promoted and served as a multimedia journalist from 2019 to 2022, covering daily news stories that ran on-air and online.
Mitch received his higher education at Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming. There, he earned two associate degrees: one in broadcast journalism and the other in music technology.
Affiliations: Roosevelt Center, KTVQ, Northwest College, Big Sky Bonus Tracks
Kendall Ard, Grant Associate
“I never realized how much people care about their community until I began working with the amazing people at the Foundation. The Foundation gives me hope that we will continue to find solutions to challenges no matter the circumstances. I am honored to work with such compassionate and driven people.”
Kendall is a Montana native and earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and environmental studies summa cum laude from Rocky Mountain College. She worked for several nonprofits in small roles before joining the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation in 2023. As the Grant Associate, she has been developing her grant writing skills and administering the Foundation’s first federal subgrant program. In her spare time, she loves to hike and ski, read a good book, or spend time with her dog, Roscoe, and does volunteer trail work in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.
Laura Ymker, Strategic Assistant
“I am excited to be part of an organization that spends its energy making the community a better part of the world. RLACF is invested in creating a good today and even brighter tomorrow for Red Lodge and the surrounding area.”
Laura Ymker began her career as a project director for a nonprofit in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. She has a diversity of experience and interests in the business, nonprofit, and religious sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science from Dakota Wesleyan University and a Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. Her primary interests are research, writing, and community development.
In her role at RLACF, she does board support, human resources, website support, and other tasks as needed. As the second Laura in the office and sharing desk space with Laura McHugh, she’s taken on her middle name as part of her first to lower the confusion. If you need to speak with her, call and ask for Laura Kae.