The Council has hired Laurie Riley as the new Coordinator. She is replacing Vicki Marquis, who is off to Law School in Missoula.  The council wishes her much luck in her endeavors and welcomes Laurie aboard. 

Laurie comes to the Council from the Bitterroot Valley where she served as Executive Director to the Bitter Root Water Forum for 3.5 years.  Prior to joining the Water Forum, Laurie worked as a restoration and business development specialist for a comprehensive ecological restoration company headquartered in the Bitterroot and doing business throughout the west.  Laurie moved into the world of natural resource conservation by earning a B.S. in Wildlife Biology with a minor in Botany from the University of MT after leaving a career in the financial industry as Manager and Asst Vice President of a stock brokerage company.  Laurie also has experience with the USFS and BLM working with the Science Team on the Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Plan. 

Laurie reports that she is “excited about joining the Council and looking forward to continuing the great work being done as well as looking into new ventures to serve the Council’s mission.”