Susan Spanjol

SWMCOAD

After volunteering as Chair for the American Red Cross Disaster Team for 10 years, Susan Spanjol became the driving force in establishing and maintaining the Southwest Montana Community Organizations Active in Disaster (SWMCOAD) in 2018.

This is a group of 41 non-profit organizations (and growing) that come together and support disaster response across Gallatin, Park, and Madison Counties.  

Louis Dissly

City's longest-serving employee retires

“I was really lucky to be in a career where I could help people become better people and to learn and thrive."

Dissly certainly did so over her years, Library Director Susan Gregory said, but it wasn’t just library patrons who she helped. Dissly modeled to other employees how to treat people experiencing homelessness with compassion, Gregory said.

Over the years Dissly helped set up the library’s website and ran its social media pages, directed people to the library’s e-library and, most recently, rented people Wi-Fi hotspots during the pandemic.

Cindy Christin

Montana Librarian of the Year

Cindy Christin became the full-time head of Bozeman Public Library Youth Services in 2006.  Cindy has spent her years at the library trying to meet the needs of Bozeman’s kids and families. Her department runs a toddler story time, a children’s book club, after-school activities for kids of all ages and parenting classes.

Jim Drummond

Author of "Old Guys" Column 

In retirement, Jim Drummond serves as a Bozeman Police Commissioner and started Friends of the Bozeman VETS Court in order for veterans to achieve life-long rehabilitation and successful return to productive and positive lives.



Nancy Winget, Volunteer (Blue Mask)

Hope & The Holidays

Mindy DeCosse, Volunteer

Hope & The Holidays

Providing gifts, food and support to families in and around Bozeman and the Gallatin Valley, during the holiday season, and all year long.

Allison Beckman, Gallatin High School

Bozeman Public Schools

Allison Beckman serves as Main Office Assistant at Gallatin High School.  Day after day, Allison coordinates placing Guest Teachers (Substitutes) in classrooms at a very challenging time when teachers may be absent for quarantine periods after being in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. 

Rebecca Williamson, Medical Unit Manager

Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital

Endless marathon

Rebecca Williamson manages 110 nurses and works with other department managers in the hospital to push through demands of COVID-19.

Matt Kelly, Gallatin City-County Health Officer

Calm in a Crisis

Hours before the first case of COVID-19 in Montana was announced, local officials gathered at the Gallatin County courthouse for a press conference.  Matt Kelley, Health Officer for the Gallatin City-County Health Department, spoke first. His job was to deliver a warning: The virus was coming.

“If this happens, we ask everyone in the community to respond with compassion, kindness and charity in their heart,” Kelley said.

Salvation Army Volunteers

Volunteers serving a free breakfast at the Salvation Army in Bozeman, Montana.

Kathi Gregoire, Chaplain 

Gallatin County Sheriff's Office  

What I See...Read More

Kathy Gregoire provides ministry to crisis victims, department personnel and their families, both at scenes and after incidents, and at ceremonies and events. Kathi also provides death notifications, suicide intervention, and more.

 Tracy Echert

Hyalite Fire Department Volunteer

Morning Star Elementary School Teacher 

In Montana, 83.9 percent of departments are made up of volunteers.

Tracy Echert is one of those Volunteers as a member of the Hyalite Fire Department.

Tracy is also a teacher at Morning Star Elementary School.

The Veterans Alliance of Southwest Montana salutes Tracy Echert for organizing the Veterans Day Assembly at Morning Star Elementary School.

Gallatin County DUI Task Force
Law Enforcement DUI Awards Ceremony
April 10, 2019

THANK YOU for all you do to keep our roads, our friends, and our families safe!

Belgrade PD...Bozeman PD...Gallatin County Sheriff's Office...Manhattan PD...Montana HIghway Patrol...Montana State University PD...West Yellowstone PD



Officer Jesse Holton

Bozeman Police Department Annual Awards

Distinguished Service Award

On April 4, 2019, Officer Jesse Holton was recognized for his outstanding service and dedication to our community and department. And for his professionalism, work ethic, and conduct that are an example for all.

Galltin County 911 Dispatch Center

In 2018, Dispatchers at the Galltin County 911 Dispatch Center handled 174,031 9-1-1 Calls.  These Dispatchers provide a critical link between the community and public safety resources (police officers, deputies, fire departments and paramedics) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

 

The Rock Youth Center provides a safe place outside of school and home where kids are welcomed, loved, and encouraged to grow in every aspect of their lives.

The Staff is dedicated to serving each person that comes through The Rock’s doors. 

 Pris Gale, Child Advocate

Pris Gale has always always been an advocate for children as a foster parent and mother of 3 adopted children. During the past 12 years, Pris has put countless hours into making clothing and blankets for infants that were then  donated to Family Promise, Love INC. and most recently to Volunteers of America for a local veteran family.




Susie & Gary Larson

Public Service Highlights

Year after year, Susie & Gary help support programs that better our community. Their public service is making a difference in the lives of youth and veterans throughout Gallatin County.

Michele Letendre

Bozeman Job Service Counselor

Greater Gallatin Homeless Action Coalition

Michele Letendre matches up employers and employees, especially some who have a disability and have a harder battle than others in finding a job. 

Her co-workers say she has a special talent for helping those who show up at their office. She has had other jobs, including being a radio host, but this is one that she feels makes a difference.

Michele is also a Coordinator for the Greater Gallatin Homeless Action Coalition that she has been apart of since it was founded.

Steve Johnson

Bozeman School District Leader Retires

During his 35 years with Bozeman Schools, Steve Johnson has been a mentor to many, a reliable person filled with historical knowledge of the district and a dependable source for all school-finance related questions throughout the state. 



Mitch & Sherri Bradley, Owners

Heebs Fresh Market

Heebs Fresh Market is a Bozeman grocery store, owned by Mitch and Sherri Bradley who support our community by contributing to schools and local sporting events.

Rich Winget, Volunteer

Hope & The Holidays

Providing gifts, food and support to families in and around Bozeman and the Gallatin Valley, during the holiday season, and all year long. 

 Shelly Dunn, Bozeman HIgh School

Bozeman Public Schools

Shelly Dunn serves as a Main Office Assistant at Bozeman High School.  Day after day, Shelly coordinates placing Guest Teachers (Substitutes) in classrooms at a very challening time when teachers may be absent for quarantine periods after being in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. 

Mark Van Slyke, School Resource Officer

Bozeman Police Department

Mark Van Slyke is a recipient of the Nation Association of School Resource Officer National Practitioner Certification.

Mark is in his 8th year as a School Resource Officer and was previously assigned to Bozeman High School.  This year Mark is assigned at the newly opened Gallatin High School.  Mark as been a sworn police officer with the Bozeman Police Department for over 12 years and was previously a police officer in Fort Benton, MT for 2 years.

 Edward Szczypinski, Coordinator

Gallatin County Communities That Care

On July 11, 2020, Rick Gale, MSEA DAP State Chairman, presented the "Enrique Camarena-What Heroes Do" Coin to Edward Szczypinski, Coordinator of Gallatin County Communities That Care, for his exemplary work in coordinating efforts to improve the health and well being of youth in Gallatin County, Montana. 

Edward Szczypinski has served our community as the Chairman of the Greater Gallatin Homeless Action Coalition, and member of the Community-Coalition On Drug Awareness, Gallatin County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, Gallatin County DUI Task Force, Gallatin County Mental Health Local Advisory Council - Advocate, Interagency, and Montana State University Substance Abuse Free Environmment Coalition.

Gwen Fairbanks & Charlene Hilkemeier

A BIG THANKS goes to Gwen Fairbanks and Charlene Hilkemeier, Bozeman School District, for providing free grab-and-go lunches for kids at Hyalite Elementary School while Montana public schools remain closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Fatima Lucas 

Alleviating the Shortage of Medical Supplies 

 “We’re trying to get as many people to pitch in as we can. And we already have all kinds of people making this happen for our community,” Lucas said. “I believe that we can work from the heart and fight this together." 

Fatima is a former emergency room nurse who stepped up to coordinate volunteers, businesses and Bozeman Health to source materials, get masks made and ensure the final products meet the needs of health care providers.

Rob Tallon, Reach Inc.

For the last 35 years, Rob Tallon has been bridging the gap between the disabled and mainstream society – and with great success. He is retiring in June after leading Reach Inc. through exponential growth, in the services it provides, the resources it has within its reach and the clientele it serves.



Todd Garrison, Child Advocate 

In 2009, Todd Garrison led the launch and growth of the ChildWise Institute and served as its Executive Director. ChildWise Institute educational events have attracted audiences in Montana and from other states, including Washington, Idaho, South Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Oregon and California.  

Todd has devoted his life’s work to helping and healing children who have experienced serious Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in their young lives.  Todd is a Certified Adverse Childhood Experiences ACE Study Master Trainer and has trained literally thousands of individuals across Montana at various summits and learning seminars, including K-12 teachers and administrators as well as correctional officers working in Montana’s jails and prisons.

Caden Shrauger

Bozeman's Shraugers gear up for largest blood drive in town.

Each year, Caden’s family hosts a blood drive, and he said when people donate blood once, they’re likely to do it again. Caden had the same feeling about the diving board at Bozeman’s trampoline park when he realized it wasn’t so scary.

Caden is a seven-year cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma at 3 and received 35 blood transfusions over four years. Friends hosted the first blood drive in Caden’s honor when he started treatment.

The Shrauger family has continued the tradition for the past seven years.  

David M. Young 
Professor & Community Resource Specialist

David M. Young is a Professor and Community Health Specialist at Montana State University and a member of the Community-Coalition On Drug Awareness.

In 2005, David joined the MSU Extension Service to develop a community health outreach program designed to provide information, education, resources, technical assistance and services to help create healthy, safe, thriving Montana communities. 

David also serves as a Volunteer Chaplain for local law enforcement and is actively involved in jail and prison ministry. He is a member of several national organizations, including: the American Correctional Chaplains Association, the American Correctional Association, the American Jail Association, the International Conference of Police Chaplains, and, the Rural Chaplains Association.