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Our Board

The control and management of the affairs of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Foundation is vested solely in the Board of Directors. Board members support the Foundation financially, give freely of their time to help with fundraising activities, and formally hold quarterly meetings. They all have a passion for the natural, cultural and recreational resources of Montana, and have a deep desire to protect and enhance those resources that Montanans and our guests treasure and enjoy. Members serve with no compensation. Board members are from Montana as well as other areas of the U.S. The Board of Directors takes a leadership role promoting the work of the Foundation and its mission.

Dennis Konopatzke, Chair,  (Columbia Falls, MT) Dennis chairs the Executive Committee  and is an attorney and businessman from Columbia Falls, Montana.  In addition to his work in Montana, Dennis spends part of his time working out his Dallas, Texas, office.

Earl Sherron,  (Missoula, MT) Earl is a retired Missoula businessman and former President of Earl’s Distributing, Missoula, Montana. In addition to his work for the Foundation, Earl is a very active supporter of the University of Montana and it’s athletic programs. Earl is a regular member of the Boone and Crockett Club and serves as the Club’s Vice President-Administration Liaison and its Physical Assets Committee chair. Earl also served the State of Montana as a member of the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission.

William (Bill) Cady, (Great Falls, MT) Bill is the Chair of the Foundation’s Development Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee. Bill owns Advanced Litho Printing in Great Falls, Montana. He has contributed significantly to the Foundation’s publications program as well as it’s Foundation Art Series.

Gary B. Carlson, CPA, Secretary/Treasurer (Clancy, MT)  Gary chairs the Finance Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee.   Gary grew up on a Montana cattle ranch and is a life-long Montanan having been born and educated in our state. He is a CPA, a shareholder and the Chief Operating Officer for Anderson ZurMuehlen Company with 35+ years of consulting experience with the accounting firm. Gary’s not-for-profit experience includes his active participation in the Montana Society of CPA’s, Montana Council of Economic Education and Montana Ambassadors.

 

Gordon Haugen, (Bozeman, MT) Gordon chairs the Projects/Programs Committee.  He recently retired as the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program Manager for the U.S. Forest Service Regions 1,4 and 6.  Gordon has  extensive leaderhship experience with Ducks Unlimited (Gallatin/Madison Chapter, Board and State committee member), Pheasants Forever (State Board and Grass Roots committee member),  Montana Trout Foundation, Trout Unlimited, Montana Wildlife Federation, North American Game Bird Association and Headwaters Sportsmen Association (Board of Directors). 

Keith I. Ward, (Huson, MT) Keith chairs the Board Development committee.  He is the President and CEO of Bob Ward & Sons Sporting Goods. Keith served 15 years on the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Board and is currently serving another 3-year term. Keith is a former RMEF Board Chair and chaired the RMEF Building Committee which provided the oversight for the new RMEF headquarters in Missoula, Montana. Keith is also a regular member of the Boone and Crockett Club. Keith is from Huson, Montana.

Honorary Directors

Jack Hanna, (Columbus, Ohio)  Jack is a well-known television personality and  Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.   Jack’s media appearances have made him one of the most notable animal experts in the United States. He is well-known throughout Montana where he and his wife, Suzi, have a summer home near Big Fork, Montana, on Flathead Lake.  Jack is known in Montana for his generosity in assisting many different organizations  in raising funds for charitable causes.

Associate Directors

Patrick Toalson, (Carmel, Indiana) Pat is a pharmaceutical executive from Carmel, Indiana with a passion for the landscape of Montana. He has a part time home overlooking the Madison River and considers the Madison Valley home. He is an avid flyfisherman and outdoor photographer. Pat came to the Foundation through his photographic work on Montana landscapes.

Ex-Officio Directors

Jeff Hagener, (Helena, MT) is the Director of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Helena, Montana.  Jeff was reappointed as the Director by Montana Governor, Steve Bullock in February, 2013.  Jeff served as the Director of MFWP for eight years, previously under Governors Judy Martz and Brian Schweitzer.  Hagener has over 30 years experience working in land, fish and wildlife management, and conservation. His experience ranges from being a packer and guide in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, to conducting range and wildlife inventories for the BLM, to mine reclamation and state land management at the MT Dept. of State Lands and Natural Resources and Conservation, to eight years as Director of MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks, two years as a Managing Director for the American Prairie Foundation and most recently,   as the Director of Development for the Montana Wildlife Federation.  Jeff holds degrees from both the University of Montana and Montana State University in Wildlife Biology and Agriculture/Range Science.   Over the years Jeff has received numerous awards for his leadership and accomplishments.

Mike Volseky, (Helena, MT) is the Deputy Director for Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks and is the Foundation Liaison, Helena, Montana.   Mike Volesky served as Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer’s Natural Resource Policy Advisor for over seven years.  Prior to working for the Schweitzer administration, he was operations manager for a Montana-based natural beef company for three years, executive director of the Montana Agricultural Heritage Commission for two years, and executive director of the Montana Association of Conservation Districts for seven years.  Mike and his wife Sarah live in Helena with their three boys, Colin, 16; Alex, 14; and Thomas, 13.

 Matt Tourlotte, (Billings, MT) was appointed to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission on March 17, 2013 and represents the Commission on the Foundation Board.   Matt is a partner at Brown Law Firm in Billings.  He is a graduate of Gonzaga University and earned his Law Degree from the University of Montana Law School. 

Matt is admitted to practice within the State and Federal Courts of Montana and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the DRI and ABA. Presently, Matt enjoys balancing his time between his growing practice and his family. Matt’s interests outside the law include hunting, fishing, camping, rafting, and spending time with his family.

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and help us preserve the magic that is Montana!
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Foundation
P.O. Box 200701 • Helena, MT 59620-0701
406.444.6759
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