Amber Sherrill, Vice President – Amber Sherrill was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. She graduated from Ball State University with a degree in Business and Psychology. She is a strong advocate of protecting open space for wildlife habitat and low-impact recreational use. She has experience in wildlife research focusing on behavioral tendencies. Her professional experience includes many years of marketing and risk management. Amber is on the board of the Missoula International School. She enjoys skiing, backpacking, and mountain biking.

Julie Gardner, Secretary – Originally from Indiana, Julie attended Indiana University where she earned a B.A. in Economics and Spanish, a Masters of Public Affairs, and a J.D. from the I.U. School of Law. Julie's work as a real estate attorney and, more recently an agent at Lambros Real Estate, affords her countless opportunities to work with others who care deeply about our precious open spaces. Julie is an avid and devoted volunteer within the Missoula community. In addition to serving on the board of Five Valleys Land Trust, Julie is a volunteer for the Missoula International School, where she served on the Board for five years. Julie and her husband Phil are outdoors enthusiasts, and love spending time with their three daughters biking, hiking, rafting and skiing in this magnificent Five Valleys region.

Kathy McAllister, Treasurer – Kathy grew up in Tucson, Arizona. She earned her degree in Forest Management at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. She spent 33 years working for the US Forest Service in a variety of locations across the country, serving in many capacities. Kathy moved to Missoula in 1996 where she served as the Deputy Regional Forester for the Northern Region, until her retirement in 2008. Kathy is learning how to be retired with the able assistance of her husband Martin, an archaeologist, and their three black labs, Misty, Lola and Bella.

Mary Babson – Mary is originally from Denver, Colorado. Mary spent most of her professional career associated with Arthur Andersen & Co. She began her career in the Denver office as a Certified Public Accountant and later moved to World Headquarters in Chicago. She had a number of positions within the firm including Worldwide Director of Communications. She now devotes full time to nonprofit causes, including currently serving on the boards of the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, the Board of Regents at the University of the South, and the Alliance Francaise de Chicago. She is past president of the Boards of the Association of Junior Leagues, International, the Hadley School for the Blind, and The Jane Addams Hull House Association. Mary and her husband, Nick, are avid outdoors people and have a passion for land conservation and protection of wildlife habitat. She holds a B.A. and M.B.A.

Lucy Beighle – Lucy has worked in public relations, marketing and communication for 12 years. She has been involved in public relations campaigns for clients in the hospitality business, the arts, healthcare, and high tech industry. She is also the production manager of Six Minute Style (sixminutestyle.com), and has taught Public Relations, Public Speaking and Interpersonal Communication at the University of Montana. Lucy recently joined the board of directors after helping to organize the annual fundraising banquet for several years. She currently chairs the Banquet Committee and is on the Board Effectiveness Committee.

Sean Benton – Sean and his wife Jennifer moved to Missoula in 1995, and have had front-row seats for the continuing growth and development of the area. Sean joined the Five Valleys board because he believes it’s possible to balance growth and open lands, to protect the intrinsic values that drew him to Missoula in the first place. A part owner in a Missoula-based advertising agency, Sean has worked on campaigns to remove Milltown Dam, prevent noxious weed spread and maintain the ban on cyanide heap-leach mining in Montana. He chairs the Education and Outreach Committee.

Jim Brown – Jim spent his early years growing up in Kansas, New Mexico, Utah and Minnesota. He pursued a career in Forestry obtaining degrees from the University of Minnesota, Yale University and University of Michigan. In 1965, he came to Missoula where he worked as a Forest Scientist and Project Leader at the U.S. Forest Service, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Since retiring it 1996, he consulted wildland fire problems and works with Montana Audubon and the Five Valleys Audubon Societies, where he is past president of the boards, to pursue conservation of important bird habitats.

Jim Cusker – Jim ranches just west of Missoula on the place his parents bought in 1937. He placed a conservation easement on his land in 1998 and was “so impressed with the staff and mission of FVLT,” that he became a volunteer and then joined the board. Jim earned his MS from Montana State University, and taught high school biology for years before turning to ranching full time. He is a past chairman of the Missoula Farmers’ Market board, the Missoula 4H Council, and the MT Science Teachers Association. Jim wants to “preserve farm land and open space wherever possible to leave a trace of the beauty . . . that I enjoyed in my youth.”

Mary Lynn Eiseman – As a 5th generation Montanan Mary Lynn grew up in the mountains, lakes and rivers of western Montana. Guided by her parents and maternal grandmother her early years were shaped by the great outdoors. She and her husband Charlie are the parents of two grown children. A retired dental hygienist she is presently a partner in the PEAK Health and Wellness Center. Mary Lynn and Charlie placed a conservation easement on their Pattee Canyon property in 2001. She is excited to work with FVLT to continue the legacy of conservation that has shaped her life.

Dennis Iverson – Born on a farm in Minnesota, Denny moved to Potomac with his parents and brother in 1975 to farm and ranch. After attending college at Montana State University, Denny returned to the ranch and started a logging business with his brother Les. Together they bought the ranch from their parents in 1991 and continue to log and ranch with their families. In 2006 the Iverson family worked with Five Valleys to put a conservation easement on their ranch. Denny is a current member of the Blackfoot Challenge and a past member of the Open Lands Committee for Missoula County. Denny and his wife Charlotte raised two daughters, Courtney and Ashley, and are proud grandparents of a baby boy. Denny considers his kids to be his greatest accomplishment.

Jeffrey Roth – As someone who grew up in Missoula, Jeff recognizes the changes in the local landscape and values the importance of stewardship. He is an attorney with Garlington, Lohn, & Robinson. Prior to entering private practice, he worked for the Honorable Donald W. Molloy, the chief federal judge in Montana. Jeff attended college at the United States Naval Academy and law school at the University of Montana. He served as a commander and naval aviator in the Navy. He currently is a commissioner with the Missoula County Airport Authority.

Don Sokoloski – Don is a native Missoulian. He graduated from Montana State University with a B.S. in Agricultural Business. Since then he has been actively involved in the real estate industry, both as an appraiser specializing in farm and ranch and recreational lands, and currently as a Broker/Owner of Properties 2000. Passionate about wild places, Don is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School and spends quality time enjoying Montana's last best places. His involvement with Five Valley Land Trust rooted in his desire to preserve these places.

John Talbot – John is retired from a 30-year career with Lee Newspapers, ending as publisher of the Missoulian and as a VP with Lee. He also taught a media management course at the University of Montana School of Journalism for 20 years. In the 1950’s he was with the CIA in Washington and Europe, and later with Trans World Airlines (TWA). He has been active with the Missoula Symphony Association, the Symphony Chorale, the International Choral Festival and the Missoula Chamber of Commerce.

Charles Tribe – Chuck, a graduate of the University Of Montana School Of Forestry, retired from the US Forest Service after 31 years where he worked in a variety of resource management positions in N. Idaho and Western Montana. Chuck has a strong commitment to the protection of our open lands, intact ecosystems and clean waters. He was one of the early members of Missoula’s Open Space Advisory Committee as well as a founding Board member for FVLT. Chuck is a sailor, canoeist and fresh water “sea” kayaker. He enjoys building and using boats that are both beautiful and functional, and traveling with his wife, Virginia.

Pam Volkmann – Pam is on her second “tour of duty” as a Five Valleys board member, having previously served from 1996 to 2001. A graduate of Stanford University, Pam first visited Montana during one of her college summers and fell in love with western Montana’s mountains, lakes, and rivers. She moved to Missoula about thirty years ago. Pam worked for many years as a registered nurse and a full-time mom of two. She and her husband, Sandy, have been long-time supporters of Five Valleys Land Trust and are active with numerous non-profit organizations throughout the community.