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 rafting 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 for the state, its wildlife, rich history, and outdoor adventures. Her true passion lies in creating opportunities for others, especially children and individuals in the disability community, to have meaningful outdoor experiences. Megan holds a Master's degree in Education from Montana State University and spent ten years as an educator in the Big Sky School District and MSU. Her non-profit experience began at the Arts Council of Big Sky as the Public Art, Education, and Outreach Director, where she managed significant public art installations, curated exhibits and auctions, and launched Montana’s only pay-what-you-can art education program. Megan's summer jobs during her teaching years and volunteer work showcased her love for introducing people to the outdoors. This included roles as a backpacking guide for teen girls, camp counselor, and volunteering with at-risk youth at Big Sky Youth Empowerment, the Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance, and various conservation projects in Gallatin County. She currently serves on the board of the historic Willing Workers Ladies Aid group and the Gallatin Valley Land Trust's NextGen Advisory Board.
Megan resides in Gallatin Gateway where she loves 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.
Zac Weinberg was raised in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Northern California. He earned a degree in Recreation and Tourism Management from Colorado State University. He later returned to school and earned an MBA from St. Mary’s College. Professionally, He has worked in recreation, tourism and hospitality. His work includes golf course management, hotel ownership and management, as well as property management.
Zac has participated in the work of several non-profit organizations including the ACLU of Northern California, Point Reyes National Seashore Association and Stay Sonoma Valley. Most recently, Zac served as Board President of North Valley Food Bank in Whitefish. He is also an active participant in his family’s foundation.
He lives in Whitefish with his wife, son and two dogs. Besides frequent dog walks around Whitefish Lake State Park, they enjoy any activity that gets them outside and immersed in our beautiful state.
Zac Weinberg
SECRETARY
Whitefish, Montana
Doug Stock
Treasurer
Bozeman, Montana
Douglas Stock brings extensive financial leadership experience to his role as Treasurer of the Montana State Parks Foundation. With a strong background in accounting and executive management, he provides strategic oversight of the Foundation’s fiscal operations and ensures responsible stewardship of donor funds.
Douglas currently serves as Acting CEO of SharBert Enterprises Inc., where he has also held leadership roles in finance and operations. He holds a Master’s degree in Accounting and has built a career marked by integrity, precision, and a commitment to organizational sustainability.
His diverse professional experience and passion for community-driven work make him a valuable member of the Foundation’s board, helping to advance its mission of enhancing and protecting Montana’s state parks for all to enjoy.
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. Noah is the State Policy serves as political & state policy director and lobbyist for Wild Montana, 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 Missoula and spends his free time rowing rivers across the west, fly fishing, backcountry skiing, and camping in Montana's spectacular State Parks.
Noah Marion
BOARD MEMBER
Missoula, Montana
Tim Christianson
Board Member
Glendive, Montana
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.
Based in Helena, Montana, Gina Lytle is a dedicated advocate for accessibility and inclusion in outdoor recreation. She serves as the Accessibility Committee Chair for the Montana State Parks Foundation, where she helps guide efforts to make parks welcoming and usable for visitors of all abilities.
Gina also serves on the Montana Statewide Independent Living Council, where she advocates for the rights and independence of people with disabilities through statewide planning and policy development. In addition, she is an active member of the Cohesion Dance Project Board and is an active participant and partner with DREAM Adaptive Recreation, Eagle Mount, and MonTECH, organizations that promote inclusive recreation and assistive technology access across Montana.
Her connections and lived experience help bridge the Foundation’s work with the broader disability community. As Gina shares, “Appreciating opportunities to experience parks like everyone else is why park accessibility is important. I love finding new ways to access nature. Growing up in Montana, the mountains have always been my source of inspiration and healing.”
Gina Lytle
BOARD MEMBER
Helena, Montana
Billings Area Vacancy
Board Member
Billings, Montana
We're currently seeking a board member to represent Billings and beyond. Please contact [email protected] if you are passionate about your local state parks and interested in learning more about this position.
We're currently seeking a board member to represent Lewistown, central Montana and beyond. Please contact [email protected] if you are passionate about your local state parks and interested in learning more about this position!
Lewistown/ Central MT Vacancy
BOARD MEMBER
Lewistown, Montana
Flathead Area Vacancy
Board Member
Flathead Lake, Montana
We're currently seeking a board member to represent Flathead Lake and beyond. Please contact [email protected] if you are passionate about your local state parks and interested in learning more about this position!
