Damien resides on the Reserve with his family and serves as the lead liaison for APF’s science partners and others who conduct research on the Reserve. He also assists with the maintenance of Reserve infrastructure, bison management, and the planning and execution of Reserve tour and events. Prior to joining APR in 2010, Damien worked as Living Collection Keeper at Zoo Montana in Billings, Montana, and as Research Director at Floating Island international, an invention company specializing in water reclamation. Originally from Billings, Damien grew up with a backyard of sagebrush and grass that looked much like the Reserve. He enjoys living in the familiar prairie ecosystem and appreciates that American Prairie Reserve is a landscape-sized conservation project.

Bryce oversees all operations on the ground of APR lands and works with various agencies as well as APR’s lessees and neighbors. He joined APF and moved to the Reserve with his wife, Christine, APR’s Reserve Coordinator, in 2008. Prior to that, Bryce had a 33-year career with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, through which he worked as a Game Warden, Warden Sergeant and Warden Captain. He completed his career as Regional Supervisor for Region 7 and was responsible for the oversight and administration of all fish, wildlife and park activities in a 30,000 square mile area of southeastern Montana. Originally from Nebraska, he holds a BS in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana and has been a member of Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever for many years. Bryce believes in the long-term vision of APR and is excited to watch the progress of land acquisition as the project grows. He also appreciates working in an environment where teamwork and camaraderie unite all staff members to achieve a common goal.

Stacie leads human resources operations and ensures that APR’s business practices and operations are aligned with our mission and values. She holds an MA in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Montana State University and a BA in Psychology from the University of Arizona. She is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and a certified Professional of Human Resources. Before joining APR in 2011, Stacie worked as Human Resource Director for a Montana-based restaurant management corporation and as Professional Development Coordinator for Zoot Enterprises, a Gallatin Valley technology company. Growing up in Durango, Colorado, Stacie was influenced by her family and surroundings to be active in the outdoors and appreciate her environment. She is excited to be part of a conservation project that ensures that American Prairie Reserve is used in multiple ways—including recreation, science and education—to benefit the land, the wildlife and the people.

Dick’s responsibilities in the overall management of APR include fundraising, strategic planning and supervision of the finance and land acquisition teams. Prior to joining APR in 2007, he worked as an attorney at the Bozeman law firm of Goetz, Gallik, Baldwin and Dolan, where he was a partner for 10 years, and as Program Director for the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. Dick is originally from Billings, Montana. He holds a JD degree from the University of Washington School of Law and a BS in Finance from the University of Oregon. Dick is inspired by APR’s work because it aims to conserve a significant section of the world’s vanishing prairies, at a scale large enough to endure through the ages as a functioning ecosystem.

Siri is a self-described “Jack of all trades” in the APR office. Some of her primary duties are to lead APR’s volunteer and intern programs, assist with technology operations and support APR’s Board of Directors. She is excited by APR’s effort to invite the world to explore the unique environment of Montana’s northern prairie. Originally from Seattle, Washington, Siri holds a BS in Education from Montana State University. She joined APR in 2008.

Alison directs marketing initiatives, oversees and supports institutional partnerships, serves as liaison to APR’s National Council and contributes to development efforts. Before joining APR in 2007, she worked in marketing and communications roles at RightNow Technologies in Bozeman. She holds an MBA from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, where she focused on marketing and nonprofit management, and a BA in History from Dartmouth College. Originally from Vermont, Alison fell in love with the large landscapes of the American West when she worked in Glacier National Park as a college student. She values that American Prairie Reserve creates an opportunity for visitors to experience the awe-inspiring scale and natural beauty of an intact native grassland.

Pete’s responsibilities include strategic leadership, fundraising, and organizational development. Prior to joining APR in 2011, he served as Director of Development and Operations at Property and Environment Research Center (PERC), and as Executive Vice President at the Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment (FREE), both in Bozeman. He has also worked as an instructor with National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Originally from New York state, Pete holds an MS in Resource Conservation from the University of Montana School of Forestry and a BS in Geology from St. Lawrence University. He serves on the Advisory Council of NOLS and is President of the Bozeman Amateur Hockey Association. He believes that the large-scale conservation of wild lands is a uniquely American idea and is excited to be involved with the largest American conservation project in a generation.

Sean Gerrity is the President of American Prairie Reserve. Sean is a co-founder of Catalyst Consulting Team. Begun in 1985, Catalyst continues to specialize in organization alignment, strategy development and implementation. From the original three founders, it grew to employ 35 people with offices in Silicon Valley, San Francisco and Washington, DC. During his sixteen years with Catalyst, Sean worked extensively with clients throughout North America, Europe and Asia. In 1996, Sean returned with his family to his home state of Montana, went half time with Catalyst and began exploring ways to contribute more directly to the efforts of non-profits. He joined APR as its first board member in 2001 and became President of the organization in February 2002. His interest in this project is three fold: one, to help leave a meaningful wildlife legacy for future generations, second, to help secure an enormous intact ecosystem that will hopefully inspire others about the artistic and spiritual nature of natural systems and third, the chance to apply proven business concepts to a very ambitious not-for-profit endeavor. While he has lived many places around the U.S., Sean grew up primarily in Great Falls, Montana, spent summers working in the Paradise Valley south of Livingston, MT and earned his bachelor’s degree from Montana State University. He lives in Bozeman with his wife and two children.

Jennifer manages cash flow, oversees all financial transactions and assists APR’s Executive Team and Board of Directors with financial reports. She grew up south of Helena, Montana, and holds a BA in Organizational Communication from Montana State University-Billings. Prior to joining APR in 2008, she worked as Executive Director of Lincoln County Helpline, a domestic violence helpline, and Habitat for Humanity of Gallatin Valley. Jennifer is very interested in grassland wildlife restoration efforts, especially those to build a black-footed ferret population on lands adjacent to American Prairie Reserve. She looks forward to the time when habitat and prairie dog populations are suitable to sustain a black-footed ferret population on the Reserve.

Jenny was born and raised in Montana. As a Montana native she decided to complete her education at Montana State University. In the spring of 2011, Jenny traveled to Europe to participate in an art based study abroad program in Italy. Since returning, she is in the process of finishing her BFA in Graphic Design, and will graduate in May of 2012.

Janay oversees many development functions, including events, planned giving and stewardship. Prior to joining APR in 2008, she served as Executive Director of the Humane Society of Gallatin Valley and Stafford Animal Shelter in Livingston, Montana. She also worked as Director of Operations at INKspout, a Bozeman software startup, and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Originally from Kansas City, Janay holds a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Kansas. She is excited to be a part of APR’s efforts to help restore prairie wildlife populations to their historical abundance.

Scott leads investigation, negotiation and purchase agreements on all APR land acquisitions. He spends significant time in the project area meeting with landowners, making routine visits, touring properties and investigating leases and other real estate matters. Prior to joining APR in 2004, Scott worked for 14 years with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation as a Regional Field Director, Lands Program Manager and Director of Private Land Stewardship. He also worked as a guide and wildlife technician for Vermejo Park Ranch in New Mexico and as a conservation officer with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Scott holds an MS in Veterinary Parasitology and a BS in Wildlife Ecology from Oklahoma State University. Scott sees APR’s conservation model as unique because of the scope and size of its goals as well as its status as a privately driven conservation project using no state or federal funding. In 2010, he was married in a ceremony at Yurt Camp on American Prairie Reserve.

Dennis serves as Reserve Foreman, “AKA ‘cowhand,’” in his words. A resident of Malta, Montana since 1977, Dennis works on the Reserve maintaining infrastructure like fences and buildings, assisting with tours, capturing photos and videos and working with other Reserve staff in bison herd management. Prior to joining APR in 2007, he worked for over 30 years as Range Management Specialist for the Bureau of Land Management. He also served in the military for 23 years and is a member of the Malta Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and the Malta Dirt Daubers (a local garden club) as well as Vice President of the Phillips County Historical Society. Originally from Devils Lake, North Dakota, Dennis holds a BS in Range Management from Washington State University. He appreciates the view from “his office” on American Prairie Reserve, which he can enjoy by looking out the window of a pick-up, over the handlebars of a 4-wheeler, while walking fence or during a tour of the Reserve with visitors. He enjoys working with bison and loves seeing the excitement in visitors’ eyes when they arrive at the Reserve and the satisfaction that they had a good time when they leave.

Hal assists with management of property and casualty insurance, workers’ compensation, WWF risk liaison and employee benefits. He has been the part-time Risk Manager at APR since 2006 and has worked as Risk Manager for Missoula County, Montana, since 1986. In the past, Hal served as president and a board member of Five Valleys Land Trust in Missoula. Hal was also active in the Cross Creek Protective Society, formed to promote wilderness designation for the Absaroka Beartooth Primitive Area. Originally from Big Timber, Montana, he holds a BA in Anthropology from the University of Montana. Hal has various professional designations including Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter and is on the Board of Directors of the States Self-Insurers Risk Retention Group and the Montana Association of Health Care Purchasers. He finds the opportunity to help build a large-scale grasslands wildlife reserve in Montana a satisfying experience.

Christine assists with Reserve management, operations and visitation and resides on the Reserve with her husband, Bryce, who is Manager of Field Operations for APR. They moved from Miles City to the Reserve to join APR in 2008. In Miles City, Christine worked as Executive Secretary to the President and CEO of Stockman Bank for nine years and then as Human Resources Officer for an additional five years. Christine holds an Associate of Business Administration degree. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and lived on both coasts and in Colorado as she grew up. She enjoys being a part of APR because it is a large-scale conservation project that will last for generations to come.

Dakota joined APR President Sean Gerrity in establishing APR in 2001. She oversees APR operations with an eye for organizational development and capacity. She is also responsible for ensuring APR meets its campaign goals to build America’s Serengeti, which she does through the management of the development and marketing team as it focuses on the expansion of APR’s donor and volunteer network. Prior to her time at APR, Dakota worked with Catalyst Consulting Team, a company co-founded by Sean Gerrity, as well as with Head Start in Great Falls, Montana, and Big Brothers Big Sisters in Bozeman. Originally from rural eastern Montana, where she resided on and around several Indian reservations, she holds an MS in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Montana State University and a BS in Psychology from the University of Montana. She has a passion for the ambitious scale of APR’s goals and is excited by the way APR turns ideas into action and productive, successful results.

Meg manages visitors’ experiences on the Reserve and logistics related to special events. Prior to joining APR in 2006, she traveled around the world putting on sales meetings for Burton Snowboards and produced one of the largest snowboard competitions in the Pacific Northwest. Originally from Chatham, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, Meg holds a BA from Hobart & William Smith Colleges, where she majored in English and Philosophy of Religion, and is certified in Wilderness First Aid. She is also President of her Home Owners’ Association in Big Sky. Meg loves her job because it allows her to do activities she enjoys in her free time, like putting on parties and going camping. She also values APR’s unique business model and appreciates that APR’s efforts will have long-term benefits.

More coming soon.

Shaun manages APR’s Missoula office and land acquisition files. He also makes many types of maps for the organization. In the summer of 2011, he led the building of the first trail on American Prairie Reserve, a ½-mile, multi-use route. Originally from Redmond, Washington, he holds a BS from the University of Montana in Recreation Management with a focus on nature-based tourism. He joined APR in 2008. Shaun is excited by APR’s emphasis on providing public access to the Reserve and appreciates that people are encouraged to visit and experience the prairie.

Susan assists the Finance Manager in day-to-day bookkeeping responsibilities. Originally from New York, New York, she studied Film History and TV Production at Los Angeles Community College and has worked in the finance departments of several large advertising agencies on both coasts. Susan is moved by the scale and vastness of the open land on American Prairie Reserve and appreciates APR’s large-scale conservation efforts for landscape and wildlife. She joined APR in 2010.

Katy’s primary responsibilities are to coordinate marketing projects, work with media and manage development materials and presentations. She joined APR in 2011 with a diverse background in field biology, conservation transactions and nonprofit technology tools. Katy most recently worked in Wyoming, where she was involved in conservation easement acquisition, online communication and developing map products. She has also worked as a grant writer, range ecologist and wilderness canoe guide. Originally from Texas, she holds a BS in Environmental Science and Geography from Queen’s University in Canada and an MS in Geography from Oregon State University. She is attracted to APR’s proactive and holistic approach to achieving conservation goals—land, science, people—and is excited to bring added marketing capacity to the organization.

Joining APR in January 2012, Julia works closely with the development team and our Board of Directors on the campaign to build America’s Serengeti in a supportive capacity. With a completed BS in Equine Business Management from Johnson & Wales University, Julia quickly traded the familiar east coast for the wild, wide-open expanses and mountains of Montana. An avid outdoors enthusiast and expert horsewoman with an interest in agri-tourism, she soon became involved with ranching and incurably attached to Montana. She has worked as a wrangler, personal assistant, and barn manager as well as an executive assistant for two years, helping to expand educational opportunities in Indonesia for low income families with the Putera Sampoerna Foundation. Most exciting for Julia is the opportunity to help keep an entire ecosystem intact and functioning naturally, while also open for the enjoyment and exploration of the public.

Michael supports the development team through grant writing, data management and administrative support. He also manages APR’s newsletter. Originally from Irvine, California, Michael holds a BS in Theological Studies from Concordia University in California. Before joining APR in 2010, he worked for several churches and non-profit organizations in the Bozeman community. He serves on the Gallatin-Broadwater Board of Thrivent, which allocates funds to local charitable projects, and is active in several civic organizations. He sees American Prairie Reserve as an opportunity for the United States to make history as a global leader in the large-scale conservation of grasslands.