Board of Directors
The Board of Directors includes no less than nine and no more than 13 individuals from as diverse a representation of the stakeholder groups as possible from the following: Agricultural producers, irrigators, non-governmental organizations, watershed groups, recreationists, local government, natural resource managers, business, other.
Tom Hinz, Chair. Tom serves as the coordinator for the Montana Wetlands Legacy Partnership, and is the recipient of the 2005 Wetland Stewardship Award presented by Governor Brian Schweitzer. Since 2001, he has worked with rural landowners, City of Bozeman and others in the valley to conserve wetlands and address non-point source pollution. Tom has over 30 years experience in natural resources including working for the National Park Service, MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and others. He first became a resident and student in Bozeman in 1968. He received both a B.S. and an M.S. degree from MSU in the 1970s. Tom and his wife stay active in the community with two children enrolled at Bozeman High School and another daughter who is a teacher at Lamotte School.
Kathleen Williams. Kathleen moved to Montana from Oregon in 1995. She spent four years on the water, mining, and recreation policy staff at the Montana Legislature, then five years managing the statewide Water Resources Program at the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks. She is currently author and publisher of natural history guides for airline travelers and serves as the Executive Director for the U.S./Canadian Instream Flow Council. In addition to GGWC, Kathleen is active with the League of Women Voters, the Intermountain Opera and the Montana Watershed Coordination Council. She enjoys travel, hiking, fishing, bird-hunting, music, canoeing, mountain-biking, a good two-step, and helping to enhance citizen interest in and access to public decision-making. She lives in the Rocky Creek sub-watershed with husband Tom, and a new lab (Lizzie).
Candace Hamlin, Treasurer. Candace partners with her husband in a general aircraft engines and parts business. She has worked as an avionics specialist, repairing and maintaining flights systems for commercial jets. She holds an aeronautical avionics degree and a degree in international interdisciplinary arts and sciences. However, her passions center around nature, wildlife, ecosystems and environmental education. She studied water ecology, watershed management and stream restoration at the University of Washington and she also helped manage a Class A water company as part of a community well in Washington state. She has recruited some of her neighbors and friends to help care for the creeks in Bridger Canyon, where she now lives with her family.
Karin Boyd, Vice-Chair. Karin is a registered professional geologist with 20 years experience in applied fluvial geomorphology. As a principal geomorphologist for Applied Geomorphology, Inc., she specializes in geomorphic assessment and development of process-based strategies for stream and watershed restoration. Karin's professional experience includes work on stream stability and aquatic habitat evaluations, channel design and restoration planning. She has performed assessments on a watershed scale to determine channel response to human impacts, develop sediment TMDLs and generate restoration strategies. Karin lives with her husband and daughter in Bozeman.
Susan Duncan. Since 1976, Susan and her husband 
have built a 76-acre irrigated farm in the Gallatin Valley from bare ground, raising registered Targhee sheep and now, Dexter cattle, a rare miniature breed from Ireland. Susan is a University of Montana forestry graduate and a certified teacher. She has worked for the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, and the California State Parks where she taught in nontraditional education programs for youth and adults. In 2004, she retired from the U.S. Postal Service after 24 years as a rural route mail carrier. Susan writes news articles for the on-line publication, "NewWest.net". She is also active on the boards for the Association of Gallatin Agricultural Irrigators and READI Workforce Training Systems, Inc.
Tammy Crone. Tammy is a watershed and water resource specialist with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Since 2000, she has been working on Gallatin watershed issues as the Water Quality Specialist with the Gallatin Local Water Quality District. Prior to moving to Montana, she conducted water quality assessments with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. In addition to GGWC, Tammy serves on several statewide councils, is past-president of the Montana Section-American Water Resources Association, and past-president of GGWC. Tammy lives in the East Gallatin watershed with her husband and they enjoy the wonderful outdoor activities the Gallatin and other Montana watersheds have to offer.
Bart Manion. Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Bart has called the Gallatin watershed his home for many years. He has worked for the United States Geological Service and was a small business owner of Manion Construction, Inc. He now works as a hydrologist for Confluence, Inc. Bart lives along Bozeman Creek and when he is not volunteering his time on the GGWC Board, he enjoys the great outdoors with his wife and two boys (who, by the way, love to fish in Bozeman Creek).
Mary Jane McGarity. A native of Billings, Mary Jane is glad to be back in Montana after living in the Seattle area for more than 20 years. A graduate of Environmental Engineering from Montana Tech, Mary Jane ran operations for an engineering consulting firm in Seattle and supported a broad variety of industrial clients in the areas of regulatory permitting, air and waste pollution control, and project management. Mary Jane is currently the Executive Director of the Big Sky Owner’s Association and serves as Vice Chair of the Blue Water Task Force in the Upper Gallatin. Mary Jane and her family make the most of living in beautiful Gallatin County and hike our local mountains and rivers whenever possible.
Tom Milesnick. Tom is the third generation of Milesnicks to be involved in agriculture on the "MZ-" Ranch north of Belgrade. Since 1936, his family has had the good fortune to be involved in raising cattle and producing hay and grain in the beautiful Gallatin Valley. The family's ranching practices have always emphasized preserving the integrity of the highly productive land, water, fisheries and wildlife, while producing quality cattle, grain and hay. Tom, and his wife, Mary Kay, formed Milesnick Recreation Company with the objective of insuring the resources of the ranch are well-managed and protected, while providing an excellent fishing experience for sportsmen. Working to improve and maintain the integrity of Thompson Creek, Tom is a member of the Thompson Creek Watershed Group. Tom is also an Associate Supervisor for the Gallatin Conservation District.
Steve Toohey. Steve is a fourth generation farmer/rancher in the Gallatin valley on a ranch established in 1876. He and his family farm in the Springhill to north Belgrade area and raise predominately wheat, barley, hay and cows. Steve is a graduate of MSU with a degree in animal science and he completed post-graduate work in agronomy. He farms using precision agriculture and keeps well informed of the latest technology in chemicals, fertilizers and sustainable agricultural techniques. He and his wife, Debbie, of 25 years have three daughters and two grandsons.
AGAI Representative. The GGWC has a seat on the Board of Directors that is reserved for an appointed member of the Association of Gallatin Agricultural Irrigators (AGAI). A representative will be appointed in early 2008 to complete the final one-year office term recently vacated by Patrick Underwood.
Director. Open slot.
Director. Open slot.
Watershed Coordinator:
Sharlyn Izurieta. The GGWC welcomes Sharlyn as our coordinator to the organization in February 2008.
Elections
Directors are elected for 3 years. Elections are held at the Annual Meeting in January.
Board Meetings
Board business meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month, 7:30 a.m. at the Country Kitchen restaurant in Belgrade. All are welcome.