Our Team

Board of Directors

Alissa Anderson

Natural Resource Science graduate student, Washington State University, Pullman, WA

Diane Eagleson (Treasurer)

Director of Finance and Administration, City of Belgrade, MT

Garl Germann

Agricultural entrepreneur and rancher, McAllister/Bozeman, MT 

Bryan Haywood

Commercial Aviation Consultant, Chico, CA

Charlotte Heldstab

Agricultural Investment Analyst (Ret.), Whitefish, MT

Lacy Kowalski (Chair, Secretary)

Associate Director of Programs and Policy, Glacier National Park Conservancy, Columbia Falls, MT

Staff

 To contact People and Carnivores staff members, please email: info@peopleandcarnivores.org

Lisa Upson

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Lisa brings a background in law, mediation, and organizational development to P&C. Prior to joining P&C in 2011, Lisa was a wildlife advocate with a national NGO working on grizzly bear and wolf conservation. She has a J.D. from New England School of Law and an M.P.A. from MSU-Bozeman.  

 

Kim Johnston

FIELD PROJECT MANAGER - Southwest Montana/High Divide Region

Kim leads P&C’s conflict prevention efforts in the High Divide of Southwest Montana. Prior to joining P&C Kim was a bear management technician with Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks. Before FWP, Kim worked for the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, MT. Kim has traveled to Alaska, South America, and South Africa to understand how people in different regions coexist with carnivores. Born in Whitefish, MT, Kim earned a B.S. from Montana State University in Wildlife Management.

 

Ryan Wilbur

FIELD PROJECT MANAGER - Northwest Montana/Crown of the Continent Region

Ryan focuses on P&C’s conflict mitigation efforts in Northwest Montana. Ryan has a background in Wildlife Biology and Human Dimensions of Natural Resources. Early in his career he worked across the Rocky Mountains on diverse wildlife projects from mice and birds to bears and wolves. Following field projects, he shifted his efforts to understand how social factors affect human interactions with natural resources and wildlife. Ryan has earned a B.A. and M.E.M. from Western Colorado University and a PhD from University of Wyoming. Originally from Columbus, OH, he is living in Kalispell, MT.

 

Rosie Costain

PROGRAM AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Rosie has a background in journalism and environmental studies, with an M.S. in Conservation Leadership from Colorado State University. While winding through the communications and conservation fields, she worked for Montana Public Radio and NGOs focused on watersheds and collaboration. To stay connected with her passion for wildlife, she spent time volunteering at a wildlife rehab center in Montana. It propelled her to work at another in Bulgaria as a part of her graduate studies, helping reintroduce endangered raptors to the landscape. Originally from Helena, MT, Rosie resides in Bozeman.

 

Sarah DeOpsomer

DEVELOPMENT AND OFFICE MANAGER

Having worked summers in Yellowstone during her college years, Sarah's interest and fascination with national parks, wildlife, conservation and environmental protection started. A graduate of MSU, she has lived in Bozeman for over 30 years. She feels fortunate to have done her admin work in the conservation world, supporting at various times the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Yellowstone Park Foundation, Bozeman Public Library Foundation, and most recently Mountain Journal. When not at work, she is coordinating the local PechaKucha events at the Ellen Theatre, painting, kayaking, or bike riding.