Megan Buecking
Executive Director
Gallatin Gateway, Montana
Megan Buecking is the Executive Director of the Montana State Parks Foundation. Megan’s passion for outdoor recreation, conservation, and advocacy began during her upbringing between the Adirondack State Park and the Saint Lawrence River in upstate New York. With dreams of skiing, hiking, and shooting the chutes on the Gallatin, Megan and her now husband Alex moved to Montana on New Year's Day in 2008 with little more than $1000, a red jeep, and a golden retriever.
In Montana, Megan has built a life around her love of this magical place, its wildlife, amazing history and all the adventures to be had outdoors. Her truest passion is creating opportunities for others, especially young and disadvantaged people, to have experiences in the outdoors. Her professional experience has focused on Education and Project Management, including a Master's degree in Education from Montana State University, teaching in the Education Department at MSU and in the Big Sky School District. Her experience in non-profits began at the Arts Council of Big Sky where she managed the public art program and launched Montana’s only-pay-what-you-can art education program. With a teacher’s schedule, Megan’s summer jobs and volunteerism reflected her love of introducing people to the outdoors and include working as a backpacking guide, camp counselor, and volunteering at Big Sky Youth Empowerment, Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance, and on conservation projects in Gallatin County.
Megan now resides in Gallatin Gateway where she does indeed get to ski, hike and spend time on the river with her husband, young son, and beloved pets.
Angie has lived in Montana since 1980 when she attended Carroll College and fell in love with this great state. She worked 28 years (retiring in 2012) for the Montana Legislative Auditor’s Office doing performance audits of a wide variety of state programs. Several of the audits and special projects focused on state parks operations. That’s where her passion for our great park system began! Although she lives in Helena, she spends a fair amount of time exploring the state and all it offers. Angie is an avid hiker, bird watcher, biker, bird hunter and skier who has done all those activities in our state parks!
Angie has also served on several boards such as the Prickly Pear Land Trust, Last Chance Nordic Ski Club, the FWP State Trails Advisory Committee, the Ten-Mile Collaborative for the City of Helena, and last but certainly not least-the Montana State Parks and Recreation Board. For the last three years, she served as the chair for the State Parks Board and was closely involved on several key projects and park developments. She also served on Governor Bullock’s Parks in Focus Commission in 2018 to develop a strategic roadmap to build and support the parks system that Montana deserves.
Angie Grove
BOARD PRESIDENT
Helena, Montana
Chris smith
BOARD VICE PRESIDENT
Helena, Montana
Chris, originally from Pittsburg, PA, made his way west as soon as he could to begin a long career in public lands and wildlife management from Alaska to Montana.
Chris has over 34 years experience in planning, management, research, supervision and administration of resource conservation programs throughout Alaska and Montana. He has extensive involvement with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and inter-agency teams.
Chris has specialized training and experience in wildlife policy and law, public involvement, conflict resolution, personnel management, and strategic planning. Chris served as Deputy Director for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks for 11years. Prior to working in Montana, Chris worked for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
In his 23 years working for Alaska, he rose from Fisheries Technician to Assistant Director of the Division of Wildlife Conservation. Chris holds a B.S. Degree in Wildlife Management from the University of Alaska and a M.S. Degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of British Columbia.
Christine is a lifelong resident of Montana, raised in the South Eastern Corner of the State south of Wibaux in the farming community of St. Phillips. Access to State Parks has been an integral part of raising two daughters and three sons during the past 30 years of marriage to Bob, and she looks forward to sharing these treasures with her grandchildren. Currently she is the full time instructor at City College/MSU Billings.
Christine has worked for years advocating for stewardship, investment and access to Montana State Parks, trails and water access sites. We have a legacy in Montana that must be preserved for future generations. She was the past chair of the Makoshika Potable Water and Campground work group, served on the Visit Southeast Montana board, serves as an Ambassador for the Montana Outdoor Heritage Project and most recently has been supporting community outreach for the Yellowstone River Coalition. Her most unique role in Eastern Montana involved managing the Yellowstone Paddlefish Caviar Program for the Glendive Chamber of Commerce in partnership with FWP.
Christine Whitlatch
SECRETARY
Billings, Montana
Diane Conradi
FORMER BOARD PRESIDENT
Whitefish, Montana
Diane's law practice focuses on real estate, business, water, and environmental law. She uses her wide-ranging skills to guide individuals and businesses through the complexities of residential, commercial and conservation real estate transactions.
A founder of Whitefish Legacy Partners, Diane's vision helped this nonprofit conserve over 2,000 acres of public and private land and build over 30 miles of recreational trails on the outskirts of Whitefish. This $14 million, 10-year project has resulted in an internationally recognized mountain bike trail system and thousands of acres of land to roam only a few short miles from town.
Diane is also the founder and owner of Montana Access Project. MAP brings their expertise to work with community-based organizations, businesses and public agencies to create, protect and enhance frontcountry outdoor recreation opportunities at the heart of Montana's way of life. From thinking to doing, from simple to complex, they know what it takes to get nature based recreation on the ground that is built to last.
Eric Siegfried is the Founder of onX, the first land data company of its kind designed to provide comprehensive maps to hunters, fishermen, and anyone else who recreates outside.
Eric Siegfried
BOARD MEMBER
Missoula, Montana
Noah Marion
Board Member
Bozeman, Montana
Noah Marion was raised in the foothills of Colorado's Rocky Mountains and spent his youth visiting parks and hiking trails across the western US. After receiving his B.A. in Political Science from Montana State University, Noah has worked for Montana Wilderness Association for the past five years. Currently, Noah is the State Policy Director and lobbyist for MWA where he develops state-level policy solutions, political and lobbying strategies, and campaigns aimed at protecting, and expanding, and properly funding state parks, trails, public access, wildlife habitat, and conservation values in Montana. Noah is inspired by a love of free-flowing rivers, exploring Montana's wildlands, and developing legislative strategies that protect these places for generations to come.
Noah lives in Bozeman with his wife and two dogs. They spend their free time rowing rivers across the west, fly fishing, backcountry skiing, and camping in Montana's spectacular State Parks.
Tim was raised in North Dakota in a small community in the Northwest part of the state where volunteering and hard work weren’t an option. After high school, he attended NDSCS in Wahpeton, ND. After that, he started his electrical apprenticeship in Williston, ND where he attended NJATC for 4 years and earned his state journeyman license. He then went on to earn his Master Electrical license/contracting license.
He then spent 8 years in the Army National Guard. He did a career move and joined BNSF Railway as an Electrical/Facilities Supervisor for 32 years retiring in 2019. During that time, he was on several local and regional boards along with supervision of several large-scale projects for BNSF.
After retirement, he started TAC Consulting which has taken him to several parts of Canada and the US. While he's away, he has a passion for hiking and walking and always finds a park or recreation area to do so. None as unique as Makoshika State Park.
Currently, he serves as President of Friends of Makoshika state park and coaches his grandson in Babe Ruth Baseball. His wife Monica of 45 years and their grandchildren have adopted a trail in Makoshika Park and call it Papas Pride.
Tim Christianson
BOARD MEMBER
Glendive, Montana
Kelly Buchanan Ewing
Board Member
Billings, Montana
Kelly Buchanan Ewing was born in Helena and raised in Billings after the age of 5. Growing up in a family that loves the outdoors, Kelly spent many summers backpacking and most winters skiing all over Montana. After attending Oregon State University, the mountains called, and she found her way back to Montana. She began her career as an Interior Designer in Bozeman MT in 2003 where she owned and operated a full-service interior design firm for over 10 years. While serving clients in Montana all over the United States she decided to bring her business back to Billings in 2014. While she still loves interior design, she followed her heart and joined her family at Buchanan Capital in 2016. Kelly just wrapped up a congressional campaign “project” with her dad and is currently co-chairing the campaign leadership team for Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter.
When not in the office, you will find Kelly and her husband Brian either chasing their two teenage daughters all over the state with their extracurricular activities or exploring the numerous adventures Montana has to offer.
