2026 Rural Ambassadors

Diana Pelletier – Seeley Lake

Diana Pelletier is a passionate advocate for rural communities, deeply committed to amplifying local voices and fostering meaningful connections between people, resources, and place. With roots in rural northern New Hampshire and now calling the picturesque community of Seeley Lake, Montana home, Diana understands that rural life is about more than geography—it’s about people, pride, and pulling together. Diana has experienced firsthand both the challenges and the strengths that define rural living, including resilience, community spirit, and a deep sense of belonging. As a Rural Ambassador, she is dedicated to promoting sustainable development, strengthening community engagement, and supporting opportunities that help rural areas thrive.

When not championing rural causes, Diana enjoys everything the Seeley Swan Valley has to offer—exploring dirt roads, hiking amongst the larches with her dogs, and rafting the area’s pristine rivers. She is grateful to be part of the Seeley Lake community and proud to contribute to its continued vitality through her position as Events and Programs Manager at the Seeley Lake Community Foundation.

Shyanne Wallace – Valley County

Shyanne Wallace is a community development and nonprofit professional based in Glasgow, where she works at the intersection of philanthropy, economic development, and community engagement. She currently serves as the Local Community Foundation Program Officer at the Montana Community Foundation, supporting local foundations across the state with grantmaking, governance, and capacity-building. Shyanne is a member of Leadership Montana’s Flagship Class of 2026 and will graduate in May. She brings a strong background in economic development, grant writing, and collaborative leadership, shaped by years of hands-on work in rural communities. Her board service includes the Montana Economic Developers Association, and previous service with the Glasgow Elks Lodge, and the Montana CASA Association, reflecting her commitment to both economic vitality and community well-being. This is Shyanne’s second year as an MNA rural ambassador.

Outside of work, Shyanne spends her time with her better half, Jeff, and her two teenage daughters. Her clan also includes three stepchildren and their families, including five grandchildren. She loves summer days on Fort Peck Lake and spending time with her Catahoula leopard dog, Kali. 

Rachael Brug – Broadwater County

Rachael Brug is the owner of Reading Leaves Bookstore in Townsend, Montana—a community-rooted space built around connection, conversation, and lifelong learning. She is also the founder of The Montana Bookstore Trail, and current President of Visit Southwest Montana Tourism. As Montana Nonprofit Association’s Rural Ambassador for Broadwater County, she brings a boots-on-the-ground perspective from rural main street, helping strengthen local nonprofits through relationship-building, resource sharing, and practical support.
Rachael is passionate about literacy, inclusive community spaces, and the power of small towns to do big things when people feel welcomed and connected. When she’s not behind the counter or planning the next book club, craft night, or community event, you’ll find her collaborating with local partners to make Broadwater County a place where neighbors can gather, learn, and thrive.

Cassie Coburn – Meagher County

Cassie Coburn is the Executive Director of the Meagher County Stewardship Council in White Sulphur Springs, Montana. The Council was created in partnership with the Black Butte Copper Project to help identify, plan for, and manage community impacts, including housing pressure, workforce needs, and long-term community investment. Cassie’s approach blends practical implementation with relationship-driven leadership, bringing together residents, nonprofits, local government, and project partners to move from conversation to results.

In addition to her nonprofit leadership, Cassie helps manage her family’s restaurants across Montana, which keeps her grounded in the day-to-day realities of rural economies: staffing, seasonal demand, tight margins, and the importance of community trust. As a Rural Ambassador with the Montana Nonprofit Association, she contributes a candid rural lens, elevates what’s working in small communities, and advocates for tools and training that match the realities of rural capacity.

Jessica Kuipers – Miles City

Jessica Kuipers, owner of Kuipers Konsulting, returns for her second year as a Rural Ambassador in Miles City with over a decade of experience in marketing and communications. Specializing in branding, digital strategy, and event management for nonprofits and small businesses, Jessica also offers specialized trainings and speaking engagements for rural communities. She is a deeply active leader, currently serving as President of the Miles City Kiwanis and on the boards of the Powder River Chamber of Commerce and Hwy 10 Synergies, where she supports Cowtown Moosic and local powderpuff football events. When she isn’t presenting or attending a community event, Jessica enjoys traveling and helping out on her family’s farm in North Dakota.

Eddie Visnovske – Columbia Falls

Eddie Visnovske is a leadership consultant and coach working with organizations and individuals who want to grow in their business and in their lives. He takes a holistic approach that emphasizes relationships, learning, and problem solving, helping people look beyond surface issues to understand root causes and create lasting, resilient change. Drawing on a wide range of life and professional experiences, Eddie connects easily with individuals and teams from many backgrounds and adapts his coaching to their unique situations.

His path to leadership was shaped by a lifelong love of the mountains and a 30‑plus‑year career as a Park Ranger with the National Park Service, where he led teams through everything from daily operations to emergencies, natural disasters, and major organizational change. With a strong foundation in incident management, facilitation, and education, Eddie became a certified instructor in search and rescue and risk management and co-founded the leadership development program at Glacier National Park. Eddie is excited to serve as part of the Montana Nonprofit Association’s Rural Ambassador program, partnering with organizations to strengthen leadership capacity and help them achieve their goals in the Flathead Valley.

Jodi Mitchell – Bitterroot Valley

Jodi Mitchell, executive director of the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce, is returning to work as a rural ambassador in the Bitterroot Valley for the second year. A proud Montana native originally from Great Falls, Jodi brings deep-rooted community values and a strong sense of purpose to her leadership role. She is especially passionate about the hundreds of nonprofits that serve and uplift the Bitterroot Valley. She continually strives to foster collaboration and build strong partnerships to support their long-term success. Jodi’s greatest motivation comes from her three young children. She is driven by a desire to help build a safe, vibrant, and connected community where they—and all children—can thrive. Her husband, Dan, shares this commitment to service and community, serving on the Hamilton City Council.

Vaughn Zenko – Baker

Vaughn Zenko, curator of the O’Fallon Historical Museum, is returning to work as a rural ambassador in Baker for the third year. Over the last few years while leading the Southeast Montana Area Revitalization Team (SMART), Vaughn launched a nonprofit happy hour to bring community leaders together regularly – this happy hour resulted in more than $76,000 in grant funding to Baker-nonprofits in the first year. Vaughn joined SMART in 2021, revitalizing the area one brilliant idea at a time before moving on to the O’Fallon Historical Museum where he had already worked closely with the previous Curator. Before diving into the nonprofit world, Vaughn was the golden voice of Baker as a morning radio host and play-by-play announcer for Baker High School Sports, mastering the art of creatively talking about nothing and everything all at once. Now, when he’s not guiding the museum, securing grants or orchestrating community projects, he can be found chasing his 6-year old twin daughters around along with his wife, Jessica, and wondering if his next big idea will involve mermaids, museum expansions, or both.

Hillary Maxwell – Fort Belknap Reservation

Hillary Maxwell, the MSU Extension Community Vitality agent at Fort Belknap, is returning to work as a rural ambassador for the second year. Hillary’s role as a community vitality agent leads her to many levels of involvement in her community and the larger area of the Fort Belknap Reservation. She is involved in food sovereignty, community development, health and wellness and similar efforts. Hillary has a master’s degree in social work from SUNY-Albany.

Maria Emmer-Aanes – Beaverhead County

Maria Emmer-Aanes, executive director of the Early Childhood Coalition of Beaverhead County, is returning as a rural ambassador for the third year, building on her work of connecting community members across sectors to support Beaverhead County. Maria is passionate about building strong communities where families and children thrive, and working with nonprofit leaders to navigate the unique challenges of serving rural Montana. Before moving into nonprofit work, Maria spent 20+ years as a marketing and sales executive in sustainable food and agriculture, leading brand strategy and business development for national and international companies, and she still runs a consulting business, helping organizations grow through strategic marketing. Her transition to nonprofit leadership began as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer in 2022, where she saw the impact of community-driven initiatives firsthand. Outside of work, Maria is a proud mom of two boys, married to a fly-fishing guide, and has a beloved dog, Emmy.

Carrie Coan – West Yellowstone

Carrie Coan, executive director of the West Yellowstone Foundation, is returning as a rural ambassador in West Yellowstone for the third year. In her role at West Yellowstone Foundation, Carrie brings a strong passion for community building and collaboration. She leads efforts to address housing, education, and other critical needs, fostering a vibrant and sustainable community. Outside of work, Carrie enjoys hiking, canoeing, backpacking, cross-country skiing, and embracing the beauty and charm of small-town living.

Shayla Montgomery – Lincoln County

Shayla Montgomery, owner of Montgomery Project Management and contractor with Lincoln County Kids, is returning to work as a rural ambassador in Libby. Shayla connects, advocates, cheerleads, builds and collaborates with nonprofits and community leaders across the county. She is a strong supporter of strengthening families and of all the beautiful, unique aspects of Lincoln County. Outside of the office, Shayla is a wife of 20+ years, mom to two amazing boys, bookworm, devoted exercise class attendee, and willing participant in any outdoor skiing, hiking or lake activity.

Shannon Wicks – Richland County

Shannon Wicks serves as the Executive Director of the Sidney Area Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture in Sidney, Montana, where she leads efforts to strengthen local businesses, support community development, and enhance regional partnerships. In her role, Shannon works closely with nonprofits, government entities, and private sector leaders to advance efforts that drive economic growth and community engagement across Richland County. With a passion for collaboration and community impact, Shannon has been instrumental in coordinating large-scale events, leadership programs, and strategic initiatives that bring people together and create lasting benefits throughout Montana. She has been an active member of JCI USA (Junior Chamber International) since 2018, and served as Chapter President of JCI Miles City and Vice President of JCI Montana in 2025, where she focused on leadership development and strengthening civic engagement within JCI communities.

As an Ambassador for the Montana Nonprofit Association, Shannon is committed to supporting and advocating for the nonprofit sector across the state. She values the vital role nonprofits play in strengthening communities and is dedicated to fostering partnerships, sharing resources, and helping organizations succeed in their missions. Outside of her professional work, Shannon enjoys spending time with her family and participating in outdoor activities.