Staff

Partners
​(just some of them!)
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Amy Cilimburg, Executive Director  she/her/hers
Amy loves putting her passions to work leading Climate Smart Missoula,  initiating new and strengthening existing programs,  building community resilience, and growing collaborations and partnerships.  She was part of the team that launched this organization and has been at the helm since its inception.  Amy has worked on climate and energy policy for the past two decades, encouraging solutions at the local, state and federal levels. She did much of this through her work at Montana Audubon and by volunteering locally to help develop Missoula's Climate Action Plans.  She lives in Missoula with her husband, and dog and has a daughter who, luckily, visits often.
Abby Huseth, Deputy Director   she/her/hers
Abby joined the Climate Smart team in 2016 and loves being involved in a wide variety of Climate Smart's programs and efforts. She came to Missoula for the Environmental Studies masters program at the University of Montana, and loved it so much she never left. Abby attended the UN COP21 conference in Paris in 2015, and from 2015-2018 helped launch and coordinate the Missoula-based coalition Faith and Climate Action Montana. Originally from the San Francisco area, she loves Missoula's local food culture, access to outdoor adventures, and deep sense of community. She enjoys getting out and exploring with her husband and two young boys, who keep her on her toes and motivated to build a vibrant and livable future for the next generation and beyond. 
Shanti Devins, Program Director  she/her/hers
Shanti’s passion lies in communicating science creatively to effect lasting, positive change for healthier communities. She holds a master’s in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism from the University of Montana, where her work focused on covering climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Now, she’s delighted to be part of the Climate Smart team to help move Missoula forward sustainably! When not in the office, Shanti can be found on the dance floor, exploring trails with her husband and their dog, or simply enjoying a fresh cup of coffee.  

Susan Teitelman, Climate Resiliency Specialist   she/her/hers
Susan is a recent graduate of the Environmental Studies Masters program at the University of Montana, where she focused on ethnobotany, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and environmental justice. For the past several years, Susan has also worked as an herbalist and plant educator, and has spent a lot of time connecting with, learning from, and teaching about plants in the mountains, meadows, and waterways of Western Montana. Susan has called Missoula home for ten years, and she continues to learn about the many aspects of this place -- history, cultures, politics, and the natural environment -- and how they are all interconnected. She is deeply committed to her community and is excited to be a part of climate resiliency efforts in and around Missoula. Like most Montanans, Susan loves recreating, and in her free time she can often be found cross country skiing, hiking, and botanizing in the mountains.


Board of Directors

Beth Schenk, Providence  
Beth Schenk, PhD, RN, FAAN is the Chief Environmental Stewardship Officer for Providence, one of the nation’s largest non-profit health systems. On Earth Day, 2020, Providence announced its commitment to climate action, including to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible by 2030 as they work toward carbon negative. Beth is helping lead this effort through strategy and innovation, data and metrics, improving efficiency of practices and processes, and through education and research. 

Beth is assistant research professor at Washington State University College of Nursing. She led the development of CHANT: Climate and Health Tool, measuring health professionals’ awareness and engagement with climate change and health. CHANT has been translated to ten languages and used in over 50 nations. She developed the WE ACT Framework (Waste, Energy/water, Agriculture/food, Chemicals, Transportation) to organize the extensive range of environmental stewardship, while motivating action. 

When time, she likes to be with her beloveds (family, friends, and pets), garden, hike, and play music.
Chris Brick, Community Member 
Chris served as science director for the Clark Fork Coalition for 16 years, advocating for Superfund cleanup in the Clark Fork watershed, the removal of Milltown Dam, and myriad other water quality issues.  Prior to that, she taught environmental science and geoscience as an adjunct professor at the University of Montana and worked as a consultant in those fields.  Her background is in hydrology, groundwater, and water chemistry, with degrees from Carleton College and the University of Montana. She is retired and appreciates having more time to look for cool, clear water in the high and wild places of Montana.​
Melissa Matassa-Stone, WGM Group  
Melissa Matassa-Stone, is a Principal Engineer and Co-CEO at WGM Group, with more than 18 years of experience in the civil and environmental engineering fields. She heads WGM Group’s Environmental Division, and is a Certified Floodplain Manager and LEED Accredited Professional, specializing in environmental permitting, NEPA/MEPA document preparation, and water resources design. Melissa is a proud Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech, where she earned her B.S. in Civil Engineering, and holds a Master of Project Engineering and Management from Montana Tech. Originally from Florida, Melissa has called Missoula home since 2005. Outside of work, she enjoys all things outdoors - especially running, kayaking, and skiing - and spending time with her husband and two children. ​

Karen Knudsen, Clark Fork Coalition 
Karen Knudsen is a recently retired nonprofit Executive Director, with a 31-year career at the Clark Fork Coalition – a Missoula -based nonprofit working to build a healthier Clark Fork watershed. In addition to her work with Climate Smart Missoula, Karen is also part of the Healthy Headwaters Working Group for Carpe Diem West, an organization that engages diverse stakeholders in developing strategies for addressing climate change impacts on water in the American West. She holds a B.A. in Economics from Colorado College and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Syracuse University. When she’s not volunteering her time for local causes, Karen is outdoors as much as possible, enjoying Montana rivers, mountains, and snow-capped peaks with her spouse and two 20-something children. Pronouns: she/her/hers
Paul Herendeen, Clearwater Credit Union
Paul Herendeen is the VP of Sustainability at Clearwater Credit Union, where he works to advance Clearwater’s social impact mission, including work in renewable energy and corporate carbon accounting. In a previous career, he was a scientist working in soils, hydrology, silviculture, and biogeochemistry, with a focus on terrestrial cycling of greenhouse gasses. He holds a M.S. in Biological and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University and a B.A. in Biology from the University of Virginia. Ending up in Montana was no accident, and outside of work you can usually find him outside. 
Gwen Lankford, Sapphire Strategies, Inc 
Since 2005, Gwen Lankford has owned and led Sapphire Strategies, Inc., a strategic communications firm based in her beloved hometown of Missoula, and centered on supporting seemingly disparate groups to help see and hear each other-- while elevating regenerative systems and supporting those voices outside of predominance as we hold on in the midst of a changing world.  At the heart of her work, Gwen aspires to help others understand the shape and dynamics of reciprocal frameworks and how these values support the evolution we are being called to make in the face of imminent challenges today.  Born and raised in Montana, Gwen is privileged to hold deep connection to both sides of the continental divide, including the places now called Flathead and Fort Belknap Reservations, as a Séliš and Aaniiih woman.  Holding meaningful relationships close to her heart, Gwen believes in the power of working collaboratively with others to fully realize potential as we collectively search for pathways of deeper understanding, equity and resiliency.
Pat Burke, community member
For the last 15 years Pat has taught at the Wild Rockies Field Institute and University of Montana in the Philosophy Department, the Davidson Honors College and the Restoration Ecology Program. With an academic background in Philosophy, Forest Science and Forest Ecology, his primary teaching focus has been environmental philosophy, the climate crisis and ethics. Pat started his career working for the US Forest Service, subsequently founding and serving as President of Bitterroot Restoration, Inc. (BRI) for twenty years—one of the first and for many years the largest firm offering comprehensive ecological restoration and native plant production services in the United States. Pat is originally from Chinook, Montana, grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and has been back in Montana for nearly 50 years. Apart from his children, grandchildren and husband, Dan, Pat's greatest joy is spending as much time as possible exploring the remaining wild areas of the West. For Pat, "The climate crisis represents the greatest threat to all that I love most. We must act now to eliminate our vast and profoundly destructive greenhouse gas emissions, while learning to adapt in a just way to the destruction we have already visited on our home, the earth."

This is a true collaborative, community effort. 


Climate Smart Missoula is collaborative. We partner with myriad non-profits, community groups, businesses, and individuals in Missoula and even around Montana. In fact, we've identified over 75 entities that are current or previous partners.  Let's grow that number!​
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Past Staff 


Caroline Lauer, former Program Director
Caroline has moved over to Missoula County and is now their Climate Action Program Manager. We are lucky to continue to work with her on myriad project including Climate Ready Missoula, 100%Clean Electricity for Missoula,  Building(s) for Future, and more.
Mason Dow, former Program Associate
Mason helped launch our local carbon offset Footprint Fund, spearheaded wildfire smoke outreach and developed new partnerships with the Missoula Food Bank, and worked on a variety of other Climate Smart efforts. He is now working on clean air for MT DEQ. Thanks for all your work, Mason!
Kelli Littleton, former Buildings Program Director
Kelli brought her passions, building design and technical skills to Climate Smart, helping to launch Electrify Missoula and more.  After 1.5 years of wonderful contributions to our energy and climate work, Kelli moved on to new adventures. You may see her running the nearby trails!
Alli Kane
EnergyCorps AmeriCorps
​2019-2020
Sarah Luth
Health and Climate Program Coordinator
​2018
Anna Weinberg
Energy Corps AmeriCorps
​2018 - 2019
Hailey Jorgensen
Energy Corps AmeriCorps
​2016 - 2017
Max Longo
Energy Corps AmeriCorps
2017 - 2018
Becca Boslough
Energy Corps AmeriCorps
2015 - ​2016
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​Founding Leadership Team
Bonnie Buckingham, Katie Deuel, Chase Jones, Karen Knudsen, Caroline Lauer, Bryan von Lossberg,  Nicky Phear, Meredith Printz, Eva Rocke, Beth Schenk, Andrew Valainis, Molly  White, and Laurie Yung.
Climate Smart Missoula has a strong non-discrimination policy. We would never discriminate because of actual or perceived race, physical or mental disability, color, creed, religion, gender identity or expression, age, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, or any other protected classification.