Chris Plaut

John Knapton

President
Cameron, MT

Retired Partner at Latham & Watkins LLP. Splits his time between SW Montana, New York and Cape Cod, MA. Avid bow hunter and outdoorsman and a volunteer at the Jack Creek Outdoor Skills Camps since 2014. Life Member of RMEF, Board Member of the Camp Fire Conservation Fund and member of the Camp Fire Club of America. Board member and volunteer with other Montana and national conservation, sporting and civic organizations.

Vice President
Big Sky, MT

Lives in Ennis Montana and grew up in the state and has worked at Big Sky Resort for the past 22 years and currently functions as Mountain Manager. Interests include spending time with family, hunting, fishing, hiking, skiing, and habitat conservation. Is a member of Back Country Hunters and Anglers Association, and a board member of Bear Smart Big Sky.

Jason Hicks

Treasurer
Manhattan, MT

Graduate of Montana State University with BS and MS in Civil Engineering; Founder of Hicks Engineering, PC. (Structural Engineers) – since 2003. Former 2-time All-American Defensive End for the MSU Bobcat Football team (played from 1991-1995). Life Member of RMEF and volunteer for the Outdoor Skill Camps since 2018 (Mapping/ Orienteering and Asst. Archery Instructor). Avid bow hunter, horseman, outdoorsman, father of three, and devoted husband.

Bob Rowe

Secretary
Helena, MT

Bob was the President and CEO of Northwestern Energy and is now retired. Working with Jack Creek Preserve Foundation as an opportunity to support a grassroots conservation and education project that will preserve a special place long after we are gone.

Chris Dorsey

Dorsey Pictures
Castle Rock, CO

Chris Dorsey is a publishing and television pioneer and strategist, conservation thought leader, biologist, philanthropist, author, entrepeneur, and host of Sporting Classics with Chris Dorsey - the most widely distributed outdoor program in the world. The series celebrates hunting and angling across the globe with an emphasis on the sportsmans' role in advocating for and funding sustainable conservation models.

Dottie Fossel

Founder
Ennis, MT

Co-Founder of the Jack Creek Preserve. Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Madison Valley Medical Center. Life member of RMEF and member of SW MT SCI.

Jon Fossel

Founder
Prescott, AZ

Co-Founder of the Jack Creek Preserve. Former CEO of Oppenheimer Funds. Jon spent 32 years in the investment business and has been actively involved in a number of conservation organizations including Chairman of the RMEF.

Jonathan Fossel

Grifiss Institute
Rome, NY

Jonathan is a recent graduate of Connecticut College (Class of 2024) where he studied computer science and math. He currently works at the Griffiss Institute in Rome NY, as an exercise engineer for cyber operations training with the Air Force. Jonathan is also an avid bowhunter, life member of the RMEF, Pope and Young Club, and the NRA, and is passionate about hunting rights and conservation.

Scott Fossel

Retired
Jackson Hole, WY

MBA from Amos Tuck School – Dartmouth. Former banker, venture capitalist. Extensive non-profit experience. Interests include: skiing, golf, bowhunting, fly fishing, and hiking.

Steven Fossel

Fossel Capital Management Ilc
Evergreen, CO

Steve is a graduate of Middlebury College. He is the founder of Fossel Capital Mgmt llc which provides investment management services to high net worth clients and institutions. Steve is a lifelong bowhunter and outdoorsman, a lifetime member of RMEF, and has served on several boards that are committed to the hunter conservationist.

Michelle Horning

The Big Sky Real Estate Co
Big Sky, MT

Michelle earned her BS and MS degrees in Recreation Management from Ohio University. She taught wilderness survival and backpacking classes in college and became a white water rafting guide in North Carolina. With an eye on the mountains, she eventually moved out west and has lived in Big Sky with her husband and daughter for 28 years. She was the founder/operator of several Big Sky daycares & preschools, was the business manager for a construction company and ultimately ventured into real estate in 2003. She has volunteered her time with various organizations thru the years, most recently serving on the Executive Committee of The Big Sky Community Organization. She looks forward to combining her love of children and the outdoors, along with her background in recreation management, as she serves on the Jack Creek Preserve Foundation Board.

Olivia Opre

MT

Olivia’s greatest passion is promoting the critical importance of modern-day wildlife conservation and habitat stewardship, driving momentum towards educating and engaging the public to promote scientifically based, well-regulated wildlife management. She is an international adventure consultant, wildlife museum curator for Behring Global Education Foundation, serves on the Cody Firearms Museum board, formulated recommendations concerning the worlds' wildlife and reported directly to the United States Secretary of the Department of Interior on the International Wildlife Conservation Council, outspoken conservation advocate, public speaker, television personality, measurer for Boone & Crockett, Pope & Young, Rowland Ward, and a Master Measurer Instructor for SCI.

Ashley Stepniak

Montana Conservation Corps
Bozeman, MT

Ashley first joined JCPF in 2020 as a Montana Conservation Corps AmeriCorps member and returned in 2021 as a Conservation Intern, continuing to volunteer ever since. She is originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and graduated from Central Michigan University with a B.A. in Public and Nonprofit Administration, a minor in Outdoor Education, as well as a Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential. Now based in Bozeman, Ashley works as a Program Coordinator with the Montana Conservation Corps, where she guides young adults in personal development while stewarding Montana’s natural resources. Her passion for conservation nonprofits runs deep, but what she loves most is helping others discover their own passion for the outdoors. In her free time, you’ll likely find Ashley on the trails, volunteering outdoors, or perfecting a new pie recipe.

John Way

The Tackle Shop
Ennis, MT

John grew up in Upstate New York hunting and fishing all over the Catsklill Mountains. The University of Montana and a degree in Wildlife Biology lured him west and he never looked back. He has started and managed large outfitting and guest ranch operations as well as guiding over 3000 days on Montana waters. He currently owns and operates The Tackle Shop, Montana Way Outfitters and Montana Way Property Management with his wife and dogs in Ennis. He has served as the President of the Ennis Chamber of Commerce as well as the Chairman of the Montana Board of Outfitters. A position he was appointed to by multiple governors. He loves all the opportunity the Madison Valley has for recreation.

 

ADVISORY BOARD

Megan Clark, Middle Tennessee State University
Passionate about conservation of our beautiful wild animals and their habitats. Wants to do her part in expressing the importance of conservation to young people. Interests include hunting, fishing, country swing dancing, rodeo, spending time with friends and family, adventures, traveling, animals, and more.

Michael Fossel, Telocyte LLC, Ada, MI
PhD and MD from Stanford University, professor of medicine for 27 years, author of several books and textbooks on medicine and IT. President and Founder of Telocyte LLC, a biotech company targeting Alzheimer’s disease.  

Pieter Fossel, Hydrosat Inc, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Founder at Hydrosat Inc.

Marc Glines, Madison County Justice of the Peace, Ennis, MT
B.S. and M.S. from Michigan State University. Law Enforcement Ranger with the National Park Service in Mt Rainier, Glacier, Everglades, and Yellowstone National Parks. 20 years as a Montana Game Warden, 4 years as the Security Director for Moonlight Basin, and 10 years as the Manager for Ennis True Value.

Robin Hompesch, Retired Bozeman High School Teacher, Bozeman, MT
Wildlife Biology degree from University of Montana, worked for four years at the Montana Wildlife Research Unit, spent three winters doing radio-telemetry on mountain lions in western Montana, and has taught science to middle and high school students for a total of 34 years; the last 25 years at Bozeman High School. Robin is also Jack Creek Preserve Foundation’s Conservation Field School Program Director.