David Baier

David Baier is a Public Affairs Specialist with the Social Security Administration for the Denver and Seattle Regions. David is a Montana Native who graduated from MSU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Accounting. Prior to working for the Social Security Administration David spent 8 years serving in the Army. He started his Social Security Career in May of 2008, and has held several positions prior to becoming the Public Affairs Specialist in 2016. He is currently stationed in the Billings, Montana field office.

Isaac Baldry

Isaac Baldry graduated from Custer County District High School in 2010. He is self-employed in his own company, Isaac Baldry Consulting. He works nationally as a public speaker focusing on youth issues and assistive technology. Isaac’s use of technology was featured in the 2012 Spring edition of Apostrophe Magazine. He has since continued to write periodic articles for the magazine. Within the state of Montana, Isaac does contract work in the area of youth disability issues. He attended the Montana Youth Leadership Forum in 2008 and works as the Region 1 Facilitator for MYTransitions. He has been a member of the Rural Institute Consumer Advisory Council since 2008 and has presented on multiple webinars for the Rural Institute. He is also a private contractor for the Rural Institute through his company. Isaac enjoys his work with the state protection and advocacy organization, Disability Rights Montana, sharing his knowledge of assistive technology to improve access for those with disabilities. He believes in a balanced life, carving out time for activities he enjoys. He is a sports enthusiast and will often be "at the game" whatever the sport. In the summer time, Isaac is busy with his raised garden beds. He enjoys all aspects of caring for his plants and eating what he grows.

Theresa Baldry

Theresa is based in Miles City and is the Project Coordinator for the Montana Deaf-Blind and the Children’s Special Health Services Transition projects. She has worked as an assistive technology consultant for MonTECH and Project Coordinator for the Pre-Employment Transition Services Technical Assistance Center at the Rural Institute. She is a parent of six children, including a son with a disability. She began her work in the disability field due to her need to understand information and systems that would directly impact her son who is now a young adult. His need for assistive technology including systems for communication created opportunities to learn and share. Transition was a particularly impacting period of time and has remained an area of focused interest. Theresa’s belief that “knowledge is power” has directed her areas of employment in the disability field. Over the last 25 years, she has worked to impact and develop relationships with the programs and services which support individuals with a disability throughout their lives. She has worked for PLUK, Parents Let’s Unite for Kids, and was a member of the Leadership Team. As a parent, she serves on the Disability Rights of Montana Board of Directors. Theresa has been a member of the Rural Institute Consumer Advisory Council since 2010 and has presented at numerous conferences and webinars as a Council member.

Maclaen Burningham

Maclaen Burningham is a 2002 graduate of Polson High School. He has been employed at the North Lake County Library since graduating. He also works a variety of part-time positions including Office Management, Pet Sitting, Laundry Services and Public Presentations dealing with disabilities. Maclaen has had several years of experience working as a literacy tutor at the elementary school and as a courtesy clerk at a local grocery store. He is a published author and volunteers in his community. Maclaen is an active member of the Rural Institute Consumer Advisory Council. He served as a representative for the State of Montana regarding national advocacy. Maclaen lives in his own apartment and enjoys his independence. He is an avid local sports fan and loves animals, music and WWE wrestling.

Valerie Burningham

Valerie Burningham is a native of Montana. She has experience as a literacy teacher for kindergarten through 4th grade, Even Start Family Literacy Director for the Salish-Kootenai Tribe, and Montana State Even Start Quality Specialist. Valerie is a licensed Barber and a Premier Designs Jeweler. Her most treasured “work” is with her own son who has a disability. Valerie has served on the Rural Institute Consumer Advisory Council since 2010.

Anne Carpenter

Anne Carpenter lives in Helena and works for the Office of Public Instruction as a Program Support Specialist for the Special Education Department. Her main focus is to provide professional development opportunities for SPED Directors, teachers, paraeducators and parents.  Anne holds a Master of Education Degree from the University of Montana- Missoula. Her major area of study was in special education. She also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Peru State College, NE. She has previously worked as an Early Childhood/Elementary Teacher, Inclusion/Program Specialist for the DPHHS Child Care Unit, a Developmental Disability Case Manager and recently as a Pre-ETS Specialist for the Montana Vocational Rehabilitation Program. She brings lots of experience to OPI and is dedicated in developing training opportunities that will motivate and inspire SPED teachers, families and communities.

Lindsey Carter

Lindsey Carter currently serves as the Bureau Chief for the Developmental Disabilities Program (DDP) within the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS).

Lindsey has led the Developmental Disabilities Program since December 2019; prior to that time, she held several other positions within DDP such as the Community Services Supervisor, Regional Manager, and Program Officer.

Lindsey began her career as a Direct Service Professional working primarily with youth with autism spectrum disorders and IDD (intellectual/developmental disabilities). She has also worked in the Part C Early Intervention Systems in both Montana and Washington State. Working directly with people in services and their families has provided Lindsey with an important perspective that prioritizes a person-centered approach to policy making. During her tenure with DDP, Lindsey has focused on improving collaboration and engagement with people in services and their families, providers, stakeholders, and other agencies that support people with IDD.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Montana State University, where she majored in Psychology.

Elizabeth Cummings

Elizabeth is mother to two children, including a teenager with a complex disability. She is a Life Skills teacher and the Special Education department head at Kalispell Middle School. Elizabeth has a MS in Special Education with an emphasis in autism. She previously served as a parent representative on the Family Support Services Advisory Council, and is involved with Special Olympics and adaptive recreation programming in her community. Elizabeth has a special interest in supporting literacy development for youth with learning differences. Her family enjoys traveling, swimming, and music activities. She is excited to help build school and community partnerships!

Dani Dorman

Danielle (Dani) Dorman was born in Whitefish, Montana in 1990. She graduated from Columbia Falls High School in 2008 and took courses at Flathead Valley Community College from 2008 to 2010. Dani has received several awards, starting in 1998 when she was selected as a spokesperson for Montana and was sent on all-expense-paid trips to Washington, DC and Orlando, Florida. She has been part of Special Olympics for more than 20 years and has won close to 100 medals in Basketball, Skiing, Track & Field Events, Kayaking, and Cycling. When Dani was in high school, she lettered in Cross Country and Dance and Drill Team. Dani held several jobs and volunteer positions in Columbia Falls and then moved to her own apartment in Kalispell. She has her driver’s license and a pickup truck. She worked as a Family Support Assistant for Youth Dynamics for five years and loved the job – Dani hopes to return to the position in the near future. She currently works at a local restaurant, and has a dog and a boyfriend. Dani served on the Consumer Advisory Council from 2008 to 2015. She was a member of numerous work groups, created a Facebook page for the council, acted as the official photographer at meetings and conferences, and co-presented at workshops with other members. The council was excited to welcome Dani back as a member in 2022.

Krista Gage

Krista Gage is a mama to four kids. Her oldest are twins, one was born with Down syndrome. She and her family live in Polson, Montana. Before having kids she was a juvenile probation officer in Utah. She has lived in Montana for 12 years. Krista loves being involved with her family. Her kids love eating her cheesecake. She learned how to cook gluten-free for her family when her son was diagnosed with celiac. She enjoys working out and loves to hang out with family and friends.

Kyler Gage

Kyler Gage is a senior in high school. He has a twin brother, Taegen, a younger brother, Strider, and a younger sister, Cozette. Kyler LOVES music. He plays percussion in the band and sings in the bass choir. He likes swimming and sitting in the hot tub. Kyler is on the high school basketball team. He is a leader in his church group. He is an Eagle Scout. Kyler’s favorite movie is High School Musical. He loves Dude Perfect and wants to go to Texas to see them.

Karen Graf

Karen Graf MSN, RN-BC, APHN-BC is the manager for the Public Health School Based Nursing Program at RiverStone Health and has 30 years of various nursing experience from 3 international countries. Karen is the mother of a student with Down Syndrome which brought her to specialize in school nursing 12 years ago with a focus on students with disabilities. She currently serves on the NASN Board of Directors, National Down Syndrome Congress, Executive Board of the Montana Public Health Association, past vice president of Montana Association of School Nurses and many other state and local boards.

Elizabeth Gsell

Elizabeth has been a Social Worker for over 20 years. During that time she has supported children and adults who live with developmental disabilities, severe mental illness and substance abuse. Elizabeth has experience working in a variety of settings, including outpatient treatment clinics, schools, and a psychiatric intensive care unit. Currently, she is a Quality Improvement Specialist for the Developmental Disabilities Program at the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services where she has worked for 10 years. Elizabeth lives in Missoula with her two spirited boys and Redbone Coonhound.

Leeanna Schearer

Leeanna Schearer is the Title V Program Specialist for Children’s Special Health Services (CSHS) at the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. Through this, she manages many projects including the Transitions Project in contract with RIIC. Leeanna graduated from Montana State University (MSU) in May 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Child Services. She is now pursuing a master’s degree in Healthcare Management from Colorado Technical University. Following her graduation from MSU, Leeanna joined CSHS as the Program Assistant in June 2022 and moved into her current Program Specialist position at the beginning of February 2023.

Jan Stroethoff

Jan Stroethoff has served on the Rural Institute Consumer Advisory Council since 2010. As a Council member and parent of Mathalia (an Emerging Leader and also on the Consumer Advisory Council), she has presented at Parent-to-Parent Webinars. Jan started working with Ellen Condon, Rural Institute Transition and Employment Projects Director, in 2009 and has been Mathalia’s primary `transition’ coach ever since. Jan has explored volunteer and non-paid work experiences for Mathalia at the Missoula County Public Library, Missoula Children's Theater, and the Department of Mathematics at the University of Montana. She has served her daughter with job development and job coaching since 2011. In her free time, Jan studies Biblical Hebrew, Koine and Homeric Greek.

Jeanne Stone-Shedden

Jeanne Stone-Shedden has been employed with Montana Vocational Rehabilitation for 6 years, working for Blind and Low Vision Services as a support staff for 4½ years and then as a counselor for the past 1½ years. Jeanne is based in Missoula but travels to Sanders County several times per month to provide services. Prior to joining VR, Jeanne worked for 10 years in various capacities at a small facility in Plains that provided work services for adults with developmental disabilities. She is the single mother of four children. Her oldest son is a military policeman in the Army and recently got married. Her middle son is a single father of one, and does air transportation in the Air Force. Her youngest son is married, has one child, and does road construction in Montana. Jeanne’s daughter has autism and lives successfully on her own with her two cats and one dog. She works part-time in a sheltered workshop and part-time at a local restaurant as a dishwasher and prep cook.

Mathalia Stroethoff

Mathalia Stroethoff has served on the Rural Institute Consumer Advisory Council since 2010. She has participated in a variety of work groups and presented in various venues, most frequently at the annual Montana Youth in Transition Conference. She graduated from Big Sky High School in Missoula, June 2013. Mathalia enjoys her three jobs: Bean & Boutique, The Writing Center, and Ink Realty Group. She keeps up with selling her pot holders in local businesses. She stays active through Adult Swimming and Rec. Center classes such as Oula, Oula Power, Barre and Pilates. In her spare time Mathalia enjoys reading and the Fiber Arts. She likes the Narnia and Lord of the Rings series of books; she enjoys spin-ins with her Mom and is learning to knit the yarn she has spun.

Lily Wahl

Lily Wahl lives in Dutton, Montana. Her interest in children who are Deaf/Blind began with the birth of her son, Levi, who has both vision and hearing impairments. Currently, Lily is completing her Master's Degree in Special Education with a certification for teaching students with visual impairment. This year she is working at Vaughn Elementary Public School in the Special Education department.

Lily is a mother of 7 amazing children, and a grandmother to 4. She enjoys cooking and planning social events. She likes to read, travel, and is a genealogy enthusiast. Lily has a passion for advocating for students in rural areas and for building connections. 

Kim Brown

Kim Brown started her human services career in 1982.  She has worked at vocational programs and group homes for individuals with developmental disabilities and/or mental illnesses, a nursing home for the elderly and people with severe physical disabilities, and a psychiatric hospital for children. In 1990, Kim earned her BSW and spent the next 11 years with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services in the public assistance arena.  In 2001, Kim was hired by the Bitterroot Valley Education Cooperative to provide children’s mental health services. She joined the University of Montana Rural Institute as a Transition Project Coordinator in July 2003 and provided technical assistance, training and on-site support to schools, agencies, families and students in the areas of transition, employment, and Social Security Work Incentives. She currently serves as Project Coordinator for the Rural Institute Consumer Advisory Council, Principal Investigator for the Family to Family Health Information Center, Director for the Children’s Special Health Services Transition Project, and Co-Director for the Transition and Employment Projects and the Montana Deaf-Blind Project. Kim completed her Master of Social Work degree in May 2007, and has taught both on-campus and online undergraduate-level social work classes in the United States and Canada.  In addition, Kim served as a Crisis Counselor/Mental Health Counselor with the Pender Islands Health Care Society and continues to run a small private counseling practice.