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KACY HOWARDEXECUTIVE DIRECTORKacy Howard was born and raised in the Flathead Valley. After attending University in Oregon, Kacy taught English internationally in South Africa before returning to the Flathead. She has a formal education as a Secondary English teacher, but found her true passion working in community mental health. After 10 years working in the children’s mental health system, Kacy transitioned to Executive Director at the Nate Chute Foundation in 2017. Kacy is a certified QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) instructor and is a nationally certified school suicide prevention specialist through the American Association of Suicidology.
In her free time, Kacy enjoys skiing, rafting, and traveling with her family. |
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Nicci Schellinger Daniher, MSW, MAS-IFPDEVELOPMENT DirectorNicci has deep roots in the Whitefish community and is so grateful to be back in her hometown after 3+ years living and working as a mental health therapist in Australia. After taking a professional break to start her family, she joins the team with a Master's Degree in Advanced Clinical Social Work from Columbia University, as well as a Master's in Infant Family Practice from Arizona State University. She is a certified QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) instructor.
Nicci spends most of her free time hanging out with her husband and two young daughters exploring outside. Her favorite season in Montana is summer when she and many of her extended family live together on Flathead lake playing on the water. |
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Jenny Cloutier
Program DIRECTORJenny was born and raised in the Flathead Valley. After graduating from the University of Montana she worked as a Montessori Instructress in Bozeman before returning home. She has employed her Masters of Education and Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership in support of a variety of local and regional organizations. She is a certified QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) instructor.
In her free time Jenny loves teaching about avalanches, sliding on snow, and paddling the rivers and lakes of her homeland. Ann Marie BowlusEducation & Outreach ManagerSimply put, Ann Marie loves experiential education! Since 2016, Ann Marie has worked within the field of conservation and youth development in the Flathead Valley. With a passion for empowering young people, Ann Marie is eager to support the Nate Chute Foundation in suicide prevention. Ann Marie grew up in Central California with a desire to build strong, sustainable communities. She graduated with a BA in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz and invested time post-college finding her path to resiliency skill building with youth. Ann Marie is a certified Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) instructor.
When Ann Marie isn't working she often bakes bread, eats tacos, and continues to explore all that Northwest Montana has to offer with her friends, family and Dexter the dog. |
OUR BOARD
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Sara StrakaEDWARD JONES INVESTMENTS | board CHAIRA born and raised local, Sara Straka, finds herself happiest hanging out with her partner and their two dogs out in the woods or floating a river. The 2020 Whitefish Winter Carnival Duchess of Lark, she finds that volunteering and serving as an ambassador to Whitefish comes as second nature. During the day you’ll find her working at Edward Jones Investments and at night she’s the bright smile greeting you as front-of-the-house manager at Last Chair. She would love to gift the world patience, both for others and one’s self, and would like to someday see all seven new Wonders of the World.
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terry chuteSWCA CONSULTING | outgoing BOARD CHAIRTerry Chute started the NCF 21 years ago, after his son died by suicide, with the intent of reducing suicide in our community. He serves as the board chair, and ensuring the long-term viability of the Foundation is at the top of his bucket list. Semi-retired, he spends his time between Whitefish, Helena and Green Valley, AZ and loves spending his free-time gardening, camping and hanging out with family and friends. If he could grant the world one gift it would be compassion -- specifically the ability to see things from another’s perspective.
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Devin Robinson, NP-CLogan Health WHitefish BEHAVIORAL HEALTH | Vice ChairDevin Robinson is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and Montana native who finds being involved with NCF a no brainer—his professional skills combined with a deep seeded desire to increase suicide prevention, makes it a perfect match. His friends would likely describe him as a bit of a workout fanatic who is happiest when he can spend time socializing while simultaneously being active outside mountain biking, running or boating. If Deven could wave a magic wand and give a gift to the world it would be the power of resilience.
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JANE KOLLMEYERRETIRED FOREST SERVICE | BOARD SECRETARYJane Kollmeyer, the board’s secretary, founded the NCF with her husband Terry as a way to channel her grief in the wake of losing her step-son. Although she’s retired from the U.S. Forest Service, you will still find her recreating in the great outdoors camping, hiking and bird watching. In addition to the NCF, Jane serves on a number of other boards and fills her cup by offering a helping hand. She is thankful for her good health, her friends and family. She values equanimity in tackling life’s problems.
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Danelle reischretired | BOARD TREASURERDanelle Reisch was the business manager for the Whitefish School District for 25 years and is a graduate of Whitefish High School. With time on her hands following retirement, she determined the Nate Chute Foundation would be a good organization to support with her time and energy. In her spare time she knits, sews, gardens and spends time with her recently retired husband, Jack, skiing, hiking, camping and doing what retired people do.
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LAUREN ELLINGSONNOTICE CUSTOM BOARDS | NCF BOARD MEMBER Lauren Ellingson is a Whitefish native who went to high school with Nate. Lauren joined the board in early 2018 and she is enjoying contributing in a deeper and more meaningful way. Lauren and her husband spend most of their time raising their two children and crafting custom snow, surf, and wakeboards with their business, Notice Custom Boards. When life gives her a spare moment, you’ll likely find her getting back to her roots and enjoying the outdoors with her own children.
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Mike McCrackenPin & Cue | NCF Board MemberMike McCracken comes to the NCF board with a desire to make the Flathead Valley safer for future generations. When he’s not working as a financial advisor or running the Pin & Cue, you will find Mike hanging out with his two young boys, Sean and Weston, and his wife Holley, who is expecting a baby girl in November 2020. While skiing Switzerland is high on his bucket list, he is currently happy skiing at the Whitefish Mountain Resort, which is where he heads when he needs a pick me up. His tenacity to never give up, along with his fierce loyalty to people and causes that are meaningful to him, will serve the NCF board well into its future.
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NIKKI REEDLIBRARIAN, WHS | NCF BOARD MEMBERNikki Reed is a passionate learner and eternal seeker, which fits well with her work as a high school Language Arts teacher, a mother of two teens, and a human on this planet. When she’s not in the fresh air with family and friends, she’s reading, taking classes, collaborating with groups, listening to podcasts, and buying too many books. She is continually awed by all the inspiration in our world that is often right under her nose! Her interest in the NCF is based on her personal experience with depression, addiction, and recovery. She firmly believes people can change when they feel a sense of belonging and connection. She senses that NCF provides this space for many in our community and beyond, and she’s thankful to be involved.
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SUSAN SHERMANCOUnSELOR, KMS | NCF BOARD MEMBERSusan Sherman is a school counselor at KMS, and is passionate about helping students learn healthy skills to cope with the stressors that can come along with adolescence, including learning, relationships, navigating emotions, family, and growing up. Suicide prevention is one of the areas that she feels particularly dedicated to. When she’s not helping shape the minds of tomorrow, Susan can be found mountain biking, rock climbing, nordic skiing, or hanging with her husband, adult children, and friends. She also enjoys doing art! Susan is inspired by young leaders such as Malala Yousafszi, Greta Thunberg, and Emma Gonzalez, and if she could give the gift of one value to the world, it would be empathy.
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