Leadership

The Montana Tree Farm Steering Committee governs the Montana Tree Farm Program. The 2026 members of the Steering Committee are listed below, along with their affiliations:

• Angelo Ververis: Chair, Service Forester - Idaho Forest Group, St. Regis
• Holly McKenzie: Out going Chair, Awards, Recognition, Tree Farmer, Service Forester, DNRC - Columbia Falls 
• Zoe Leake: Vice Chair, Inspector, Resource Forester, Missoula
• Janet Ulrich: Incoming 2026 Treasurer, Kalispell
• Allen Chrisman: Inspector, Policy, Landowner, Kalispell 
• Betty Kuropat: Certification Coordinator, Inspector, Yaak
• Gary Johnson: Inspector, Southwest Regional Certification Manager, Landowner, Missoula
• Mark Boardman: Inspector, Northwest Certification Manager
• Pat Mandzak: Scholarship Chair, Landowner
• Ed Levert: Landowner, Libby
• Allen Chrisman: Inspector, Policy, Landowner, Kalispell 
• Pat McKelvey: Landowner, Helena
• Joe Moran: Landowner, Drummond
• Mark Schiltz: Conservation, MT Land Reliance - Big Fork
• Erik Warrington: Inspector, Service Forester, Landowner, DNRC - Missoula
• Ashley Machus: Outreach Specialist, DNRC - Missoula
• Lexi Brown: Forest Stewardship Coordinator, MSU Extension - Missoula 
• Cindy Peterson: Inspector, Forester - Missoula
• Erin Clark: Strategic Development, Montana Forest Consultants - Missoula 
• Jeffrey Whitlock: Inspector, Service Forester, F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Company - Columbia Falls
• Ardrene Sarracino: Secretary, Admin for MTFS, Polson

If you wish to contact a specific member of the steering committee, please send an email to montanatreefarmsystem@gmail.com to request his or her contact information.

If you are interested in being involved with the Steering Committee, please evaluate the following criteria to see if you are eligible.

Any non-industrial private forest owner whose forest is currently certified by the Montana Tree Farm System, forester, or representative of a state or federal agency directly involved with forestry, is eligible for membership on the Montana Tree Farm Steering Commitee. 

The Steering Committee is comprised of:

• Executive Committee

• Board of Directors

• Advisory Individuals

The Board of Directors is composed of the Executive Committee and any additional members approved by the Executive Committee. To be approved to the Board of Directors an individual needs to:

• Meet the requirements outlined above in line 1.

• Attend at least 3 steering committee meetings per year.

• Actively participate in at least one steering committee sub-committee (click here for sub-committee descriptions).

All members of the Board of Directors have voting privileges. Advisory Individuals may provide input on any issue facing the Steering Committee, but may not vote.

The Board of Directors is responsible for guiding the day to day operations of the Montana Tree Farm System and making decisions in the best interest of the Montana Tree Farm Program.

If you are interested in learning more, please attend a Steering Committee meeting.