Meet Our 2025 Rural Ambassadors!  

Hillary Maxwell, the MSU Extension agent at Fort Belknap, has been selected to work as a rural ambassador. 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.

Jessica Kuipers, co-owner of Wild Prairie Strategies, has been selected to work as a rural ambassador in Miles City. Jessica brings over 10 years of experience to her role as ambassador, and she specializes in marketing and communications, with a focus on branding, digital strategy, and campaign/event management tailored to the needs of nonprofits and small businesses in her role at Wild Prairie Strategies. Jessica’s professional background spans a diverse range of industries, including healthcare, nonprofits, telecommunications, and agriculture. Beyond her work at Wild Prairie Strategies, Jessica is deeply involved in her community. She currently serves on the board of the Powder River Chamber of Commerce and Miles City’s HWY 10 Synergies, and Cowtown Moosic. A dedicated Kiwanian, Jessica is an active member of the Miles City Kiwanis Club and has served as the Montana District’s Public Relations Coordinator. She has also been a featured presenter at a Kiwanis International Convention. In her free time, Jessica enjoys traveling, volunteering, and lending a hand at her family’s farm in North Dakota.

Jodi Mitchell of the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce has been selected to work as a rural ambassador in the Bitterroot Valley. 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.

Maria Emmer-Aanes of the Early Childhood Coalition of Beaverhead County has been selected to work as a rural ambassador for the second year. 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.

Ray Brown of Sanders County Community Development Corporation has been selected to work as a rural ambassador for the second year. With more than 30 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Ray has long been a champion for rural Montana. Through his work at Sanders County Community Development, he collaborates with small businesses, local governments, and civic organizations to improve infrastructure, expand economic opportunity, and create lasting impact. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Information Technology from the University of Montana and draws from a diverse career in retail, consulting, construction, and community education. But Ray’s commitment to community goes far beyond the office. Whether he’s DJing a local fundraiser, hosting a trivia night, or volunteering at a community event, Ray shows up with heart and purpose. A proud father and lifelong Montanan, he’s guided by a simple mission: “Connect resources. Create opportunities.”

Shayla Montgomery, owner of Montgomery Project Management and contractor with Zero to Five of Lincoln County, has been selected 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.

Shyanne Wallace, executive director of Two Rivers Economic Growth, has been selected to work as a rural ambassador in Glasgow. At Two Rivers Economic Growth, Shyanne leads initiatives to strengthen workforce development, downtown revitalization, and community engagement in Valley County, Montana. With a background in nonprofit leadership, child advocacy, and community development, Shyanne has successfully secured significant grant funding, launched impactful local programs, and fostered partnerships across sectors. She serves on the boards of the Montana Economic Developers Association and the Glasgow Elks Lodge and actively collaborates with the Glasgow Downtown Association. A participant in the Montana Nonprofit Association’s Accelerator program, Shyanne combines strategic vision with hands-on leadership. Passionate about building vibrant, resilient communities, she works tirelessly to create opportunities for growth and collaboration in northeast Montana.

Vaughn Zenko of the O’Fallon Historical Society has been selected to work as a rural ambassador in Baker for the second year. Last year, 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. 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 5-year old twin daughters around along with his wife, Jessica, and wondering if his next big idea will involve mermaids, museum expansions, or both.