Gavin Ricklefs

Executive Director

Gavin has been a Hamilton resident for nearly 20 years and with BRLT, in various capacities, since 2006 – initially, as a member of the Board, eventually becoming Executive Director in 2008. He is a graduate of Whitman College and earned his J.D. at the University of Montana. A passion for cooperative, landowner-driven approaches to conservation, a fascination with the details of complex land transactions, and above all else a love for the Bitterroot Valley have been the forces driving Gavin’s work at BRLT.

Gavin and his wife, Stacy, are the proud parents of three Montana natives: Andrew, Tatum, and Cate who have the great fortune to grow up in our incredible community.

Contact Gavin
gavin.ricklefs@bitterrootlandtrust.org
406.375.0956

Kori Anderson

Operations Director

Kori joined the BRLT staff in 2019. She is a lifelong Montanan, raised on her family’s ranch in the heart of the Ruby Valley. A graduate of Montana State University, she first found her way to private land conservation by serving on Montana Land Reliance’s Future Montana Committee. Her previous work includes working with ranchers at the state level and lobbying on their behalf. Kori is committed to keeping working lands intact and preserving Montana’s legacy of open space.

When not at the office, you can usually find Kori outdoors–camping, fishing, hiking, skiing, and exploring new areas with her husband and their two dogs.

Contact Kori
kori@bitterrootlandtrust.org
406.375.0956

Kyle Barber

Policy and Special Projects Director

Kyle first joined the Bitter Root Land Trust in 2009, as a temporary contractor supporting land projects. He later became BRLT’s first full-time project staff, and is now the Conservation Director. In this role, Kyle guides the strategic direction of BRLT’s land conservation and stewardship programs, while also coordinating and/or supporting land conservation and stewardship projects. He holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse and the University of Montana, with a focus on agricultural land conservation and public policy. Kyle previously worked with the Crested Butte Land Trust in Colorado and Gathering Waters Conservancy in Wisconsin. Prior to finding his way into land conservation, Kyle worked on agricultural water issues in Nevada.

Kyle hails from a small agricultural community in Wisconsin with many similarities to the Bitterroot. His experiences growing up, including the changing character of his hometown, inspired him to pursue a career that helps local people conserve what they cherish about their community, including the rural heritage, landscape, and economy of a place. In his free time, Kyle takes on more handiwork projects than he should and spends a lot of quality time laughing with his wife, Heather.

Contact Kyle
kyle.barber@bitterrootlandtrust.org
406.375.0956

Lauren Rennaker

Development Director

Lauren has been a Bitter Root Land Trust team member since late 2017. She graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning a B.A. in both International Studies and Spanish. A college internship at a non-profit organization galvanized her resolve to find a career where she can help make this world a better place.

Lauren traveled extensively internationally before fulfilling a lifelong dream to move out west. The Bitterroot Valley, with its vast mountains, postcard-worthy views, clear-to-the-bottom river, and boundless opportunities to play out the back door made Lauren never want to leave. So she put down roots in the southern part of the Bitterroot in 2006 and has since been devoted to conserving the stunning land and wildlife that make it so special, and inspiring others to do the same.

You can find Lauren loving the Bitterroot way of life by reveling in the one-of-a-kind fly fishing, horseback riding, and camping experiences, while living on a cattle ranch with her husband and their young twins – fifth-generation Bitterrooters.

Contact Lauren
lauren@bitterrootlandtrust.org
406.375.0956

Melissa Odell

Lands Director

Melissa joined the BRLT lands team in 2020, where she has the pleasure of working directly with the Bitterroot families who choose to conserve their farms and ranches.

She grew up in a small rural town in the Sierra Nevada mountains, exploring the outdoors on foot and horseback, spurring her love for all things wildlife and open space. Melissa holds a B.S. from Humboldt State University in Wildlife Biology with a minor in Zoology, as well as a M.S. in Avian Science from University of California, Davis, where she studied waterfowl populations in relation to wetland management. She later worked extensively with amphibians, turtles, and songbirds, focusing on meadow restoration and rangeland management practices with ranchers. She comes from a diverse background of previous positions, including private lands conservation organizations, non-profits, state and federal agencies, and private consulting.

Melissa is thrilled to call the Bitterroot Valley home and is grateful to be able to take part in conserving the heritage, wildlife, and way of life in this beautiful place. In her spare time, she can be found gardening or exploring trails and open space with her dogs.

Contact Melissa
melissa@bitterrootlandtrust.org
406.375.0956

Rhiannon Klingonsmith

Stewardship Director

Rhiannon fell in love with the Bitterroot Valley landscapes, community, and peaceful way of life. She joined BRLT Stewardship team in July 2023, and has a passion for conservation, working with landowners to improve habitats, and education.

She has a B.S. from Humboldt State University in Wildlife Management and Conservation. She has lived and worked all over California, gaining an understanding of diverse habitats and the species that utilize them. During this time, she worked in state, conservation lands monitoring, and private consulting. She has a strong background in wetlands and land management, in addition to extensive experience with numerous avian species, small and large mammals, amphibian and reptiles, and plants and invasive weeds.

She enjoys spending time with her dog Jack and friends in the area. She can be found exploring hot springs, bird watching, kayaking, fishing, and hunting. She also spends lots of time gardening and working on home projects.

Contact Rhiannon
rhiannon@bitterrootlandtrust.org
406.375.0956

Heather Clarke

Project Manager

Heather joined BRLT in 2023 as a Conservation Project Manager. To create a foundation for her professional pursuits, Heather earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, Policy and Management from the University of Minnesota in 2009 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Montana in 2012.

After law school, Heather began her eight-year career with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) and held positions in departments ranging from member services to mission delivery to business operations. Prior to her career with RMEF, Heather held research, restoration and education positions on private and public lands that instilled in her a passion for conservation and active land management.

Outside of the office, Heather spends as much time as possible with her incredible husband and fostering an outdoor ethos – through hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, gardening, cooking wild game, you name it – in her beautiful twin daughters.

Contact Heather
heather@bitterrootlandtrust.org
406.375.0956

Natalie Moses

Conservation Transaction Specialist

Natalie came on board with BRLT in June of 2021 as the Conservation Transaction Specialist. Natalie has over seven years of title, curative and due diligence experience. Prior to her professional life, Natalie Graduated with a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Colorado State University. Following graduation, she joined the Peace Corp calling Bulgaria home for several years. When her time was fulfilled with the Peace Corp she returned to her native-born Wisconsin and began to formulate a plan to leave the Midwest and spend her days enjoying the unrelenting beauty of the mountain west.

She moved from Colorado to Montana in 2019 and, while she is new to land conservation, she has always embraced the ethos of reduce, reuse and recycle and is eager to make a lasting impact on the Bitterroot. When she is not at work you will most likely find Natalie practicing/teaching yoga, working in her garden, hiking/camping or enjoying a tasty beverage with her husband and their dog, Rakia, by their sides.

Contact Natalie
natalie@bitterrootlandtrust.org
406.375.0956

Stephanie Sipe

Communications and Outreach Manager

Stephanie is a key player in the organization’s content creation, website, social media and special event departments. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in animal science from the University of Arizona.

Inspired by the natural wonders of the west, Stephanie first recognized the importance of land conservation while working as a guide for her family’s outfitter business in the Wallowa Mountains/Eagle Cap Wilderness of northeastern Oregon. Her passion to protect special areas that are near to her heart motivated her to pursue a career with BRLT in helping to keep special places the way they’ve been, for years to come.

Prior to joining the BRLT team in 2021, Stephanie was the development assistant for a child abuse intervention center in Oregon. Before that, she was an account executive for one of San Diego’s oldest public relations firms that specialized in the education sector.

These days, Stephanie enjoys backpacking with her husky-mix Shadow, fly fishing, and listening to live music. Cold beverages, good barbecue and the great outdoors help fuel her creativity.

Contact Stephanie
stephanie@bitterrootlandtrust.org
406.375.0956

Megan Euclide

University of Montana Graduate Student, Master of Science Assistantship

A master’s student studying wildlife biology at the University of Montana, Meg joined BRLT in 2022 to participate in a two-year Professional Master of Science assistantship position through a unique partnership offered by BRLT and the University of Montana’s Avian Science Center, part of the University’s top-ranked Wildlife Biology Program. She is excited to be involved in local community-based conservation in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley.

When she’s not at work or school you can find Meg outside skiing, trail running, and going on long bike rides.

To read more about the Graduate Assistantship position, check out an article in our Fall 2022 edition of The Legacy.

Contact Meg
megan@bitterrootlandtrust.org
406.375.0956

Jenny West

Bookkeeper

Jenny has been the Bitterroot Land Trust’s bookkeeper for over twelve years. She not only punches numbers, but also spends most of her time on the Bitterroot River as a flyfishing outfitter and guide. Growing up in this valley, she has much respect for the landscape and recreates often on the trails and rivers.