Board of Trustees

Emily works as a consultant for Warm Springs Productions.  She and her husband, a TV Producer and co-owner of Warm Springs Productions, enjoy family travel adventures and fly fishing. Emily has a background in sales, management, and project management.  She is an entrepreneur and founder of several small businesses.  Emily serves her community as a volunteer for the Missoula Art Museum, the Poverello Center, and Montana People’s Action.  Her three children attend MIS, where her dream for them is to become lifelong learners who are always willing to be risk-takers.  Emily contributes her time and talent to MIS through her work on the School’s facilities projects.

Erik lived in Missoula for a dozen years before meeting his wife, Jennifer, and moving to Seattle so she could attend medical school. While in Seattle, Erik coached college soccer, started a farming business and raised their daughter, Grace. Upon returning to Missoula five years ago Erik has become a full-time dad and volunteer at MIS, the Poverello Center and coach with the Missoula Strikers. Together, the Gibson-Snyders enjoy cycling, camping and traveling with friends.

Erik is also the reigning Iguana Lounge Poker champion.

Norm is a certified public accountant, financial planner with his own firm, Norm Williamson, CPA.  Norm moved from Georgia to Missoula in 1996, where he met his wife Jennifer.  They have two students who attended MIS.  You will likely find Norm coaching or watching soccer games on the weekends.  He received a Master of Accountancy/Tax at Gonzaga University and then returned to Missoula in 1998, where he runs his own CPA firm.  Norm served MIS as treasurer for several years and hopes his work on the Board contributes to the long term financial stability of MIS.

Rob grew up in Missoula where he attended public school. He is a graduate of the University of Montana, with a Business Administration degree in Finance and Marketing. Rob has been a mortgage banker in Missoula since 1995. A lifelong outdoorsman, Rob enjoys all aspects of living in the Missoula area, including mountain biking, fly fishing, and snowboarding. Rob has a passion for international travel, especially in Mexico and Central America. In addition to an active lifestyle, Rob devotes a portion of his time volunteering for the University of Montana Excellence Fund, as a board member for Habitat for Humanity, and has served on the MIS Board of Trustees since 2007. He is the proud parent of two MIS alumnae. He hopes his service on the Board contributes to the qualities that make MIS great- the incredible teachers, outstanding educational program, and welcoming community.

Jason transitioned from a career in community organizing to conservation work when he moved from Chicago to Missoula in 2003. In 2008, he co-founded a clean technology start up with his father and developed the company for a decade. In 2017, he began to direct a homeownership program for a local community development financial institution. He and his wife, Gita, have two middle-schoolers at MIS: a son in 8th grade and a daughter in 6th . Jason served on the Board of Montana Conservation Voters from 2007-2010 as both chair and co-chair. He also co-founded the 2nd Street Community Garden in 2005. Jason volunteers his time for MIS as chair of the Finance Committee. He is excited to work with a committee and talented staff to improve and ensure the financial sustainability of MIS as it grows. If you can’t find him, Jason is probably out riding his mountain bike, hunting or skiing.

Julie is the mother two MIS students and serves as President of the Parent Council. She and her husband Scott live in the Rattlesnake where they enjoy playing in the creek, raising chickens and bees, and riding bikes in the woods. Together, they co-founded and direct Ecology Project International (EPI), which partners students and scientists on conservation projects in five countries. She has been fortunate to live internationally through her work and studies, most recently in La Paz, Mexico. Prior to EPI, she worked as an environmental scientist and energy policy analyst, and completed her graduate studies at Stanford. Outside of MIS and EPI, you can find Julie volunteering in the community and adventuring with her children and husband, preferably on or near a river.

Ray is a lifelong learner, having devoted his life to education and research at the middle school, high school and collegiate levels in science and math. Ray received a Ph.D. from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cincinnati. He then became a post-doctoral fellow at Yale University’s School of Medicine and went on to work as a research scientist for thirty years studying reproductive biology. After leaving Yale, Ray taught middle school and high school math and science. In Missoula with his wife Cyndy, Ray spends his time working with a number of community organizations. His volunteer experience includes working with Mended Hearts, the Experimental Aircraft Association, and Chimney Corners YMCA. Ray enjoys flying, carpentry, kayaking, and traveling. As the the proud grandfather of three MIS students, Ray would like to assure that the educational program MIS provides is available for his grandchildren’s grandchildren.

Originally from Northern California, Susan and her husband Carter moved to Missoula in 2000, to follow his career as a physician and a passion for river rafting. After graduating with a BA in Political Science from UCLA, Susan worked for various companies in advertising and marketing, most recently Adobe Systems, Inc. In addition to being a full-time Mom to Oliver, who started preschool at MIS in 2006, Susan keeps busy by volunteering. She spent 6 years as a room parent at MIS and served as a member of other nonprofit boards, including the Missoula Symphony Association, the Montana Neuroscience Institute Foundation, and the St. Patrick Hospital Foundation. Susan and her family enjoy traveling and participating in the many activities that Montana’s seasons have to offer.

Betsy is a consultant for fundraising and marketing working with both for profit and nonprofit clients in western Montana. Betsy served as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, and as Class Dean in 1996. She was the Charter School Coordinator for the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, where she developed a plan for an elementary charter school, including a grant for state funding, and charter school education research. Betsy also worked as the Development Director for the Montana Natural History Museum where she was responsible for individual, corporate and foundation fundraising. She is a founder and steering committee member of the Missoula Nonprofit Network. Betsy is very dedicated to independent education in Missoula. She and her husband, Peter Bensen, have a son and daughter in college.

Jenn is an accountant at WORD, Women’s Opportunity Resource Development. Her previous positions in Missoula include tax accounting, Good Food Store Deli Manager, and restaurant owner. Before moving to Missoula, she was Accreditation Coordinator at John Hopkins School for Continuing Medical Education. Jenn volunteered as a chair for Threads for Humanity and led fundraising efforts for women affected by Hurricane Katrina. She and her husband are the proud parents of an MIS student, who Jenn hopes will continue to love school and attain all the qualities of the IB Learner Profile. They enjoy camping and travel and their two dogs and four chickens. As chair of the Fund Development Committee at MIS, Jenn hopes to build participation in fundraising and develop a culture of philanthropy in the MIS community.

Dave has worked in the Missoula Valley as a financial advisor for Edward Jones for over fourteen years.  He has served as volunteer with the Lion’s Club and as a tutor for MCPS. He lives in Lolo, MT with his wife, Audrey and their son, Noah, who attended MIS through 2014.    Dave enjoys running, fishing, and hiking.  He hopes his work as a Board member for MIS will support preparing children with the tools to think through the increasingly complex problems the next generation will have to face.

Gabriel grew up admiring shiny things like fire trucks and aluminum foil. As a child trapped in an adult’s body, he brings a unique perspective to the MIS board and probably won’t be asked to serve a second term. (Ha-ha!) When he’s not reading children’s stories to himself, he reads them to his 3 boys, the oldest of which is a pre-schooler at MIS. He races catamarans, rides mountain bikes, skis and plays hockey when he’s not slaving away at the marketing firm he started, Gecko Designs.

Melissa moved in 2009 to Missoula from Chicago in hopes of creating a more active and
adventurous outdoor lifestyle with her husband, Gabriel. Together, along with their 3
sons, they achieved what they set out to do by spending their time riding bikes, adventuring in the woods, and exploring Montana. Melissa is a medical-based speech pathologist that specializes in neurological and swallowing disorders. She also is the co-owner of Gecko Designs, a graphic design and marketing firm that her husband founded in 1997. During her free time, Melissa enjoys reading books, doing puzzles, brewing beer, cooking/baking, and listening to podcasts. She is currently serving as President of the Parent Association Council where she loves to create meaningful relationships with other parents.

Mary has been an active volunteer for MIS since her two sons arrived at school, serving as President of the PA Council and chair of the Event Committee. A current member of the Board’s Finance Committee, Mary has worked for over fifteen years with JP Morgan Asset Management, where her focus is mutual funds, business strategy, and providing leadership to a team of salespeople. Mary serves her alma mater, Harpeth Hall School in Nashville, Tennessee, as a National Advisory Council Member and spearheaded their fundraising efforts as part of a $32 million dollar capital campaign for the school’s Health and Wellness Center. Mary also served on the board of Clark Fork School in Missoula. She and her husband Will, a Missoula physician, enjoy skiing, running, hiking, and spending time with family at Flathead Lake. She hopes her involvement on the MIS Board of Trustees will contribute to the school’s greater financial stability and provide a strong academic foundation for her children.

Mike Vetter is Senior Resource Forester with Plum Creek, where he has worked for the last 35 years. Mike has a B. S. in forest management from The University of Montana. In the middle of his forestry career, he took a 5 year hiatus to work as an Industrial Analyst at Plum Creek’s regional office in Columbia Falls as well as Shift Supervisor at Evergreen Sawmill in Kalispell, MT. He lives in Missoula with his wife, Julie, and two younger boys who attended MIS, Ben and Liam. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce’s Forest Resource Committee that organizes Forest Discovery days for 500 5th grade school children as well as a Forest Resource Tour in the fall. During the off season, Mike coaches soccer and Nordic skiing for two Missoula youth programs. He began serving on the MIS Board of Trustees in 2012.

Doug is a native of Berkeley, CA, where he attended public schools before receiving his undergraduate degree in History from Dartmouth. He went on to complete his medical degree from the University of California and finished his residency in Family Practice from the University of Utah. In 1976, Doug moved to Missoula where he practiced primarily emergency medicine at St. Patrick’s Hospital until 2008. He taught students at the U of M School of Law and Pharmacy, and was staff physician at Planned Parenthood and Blue Mountain Clinic. He serves his community as a volunteer and supporter of Five Valleys Land Trust, the Montana Natural History Center, Montana ACLU, and the Blackfoot Challenge. Doug is a dedicated outdoorsman and tennis player who lives in the Rattlesnake with his wife, Nancy, and their identical twin daughters who attend MIS. He is passionate about supporting education in Montana.