2017 HATCH Big Sky Bios (Team)

Joe is an entertainment and digital media attorney with extensive entrepreneurial experience, both in law and practice. He is also the President of Red Storm Defense, LLC, a start-up non-lethal defense technology company. A native Montanan who spent most of his professional career in Hollywood and the Bay Area, Joe now lives in Missoula and is a member of the California and Montana Bars. His Superdude name: Holster. Motto: "I've got your back." Catchphrase: "We Win Again!"

Julia is a creative entrepreneur with a passion for social impact and economic development. She is the founder of 406 Social Media & Marketing, a boutique consulting firm focusing on revitalizing digital strategy and refocusing brands to optimize engagement. Julia is currently working with TangoTab CEO and HATCHer Andre Angel, to launch TangoTab in Montana (#becauseofHATCH). Travel, family, and spontaneous adventures with her two-year-old spitfire keep her inspired.

An Indiana transplant to the mountains of Montana, Jose has logged over 1,000 days as a guide of backcountry expeditions. She has studied community based conservation and ecotourism around the world, and has come to believe in the powers of inquiry and adventure to empower the human spirit. She creates transformative experiences through her work as a ski instructor, guide, facilitator, and camp director, and is thankful for the opportunity to be part of the inspirational energy of HATCH.

After graduating with a bachelor in Film Production from Montana State University, Zane has been busy pursuing the stories that intrigue him. He has worked on national spots and traveled the world filming documentaries & commercial content based in the outdoor industry. His passion lies in telling stories relevant to the outdoor experience. He has done work for brands like Sage, 66 north, Yeti, Howler Brothers, among others.

At the age of 6 years old, Eleni planned to have her and her friends become presidents of the nations in the world in order to unite all human beings. Currently, in college, Eleni is double majoring in Human Geography and Mechanical Engineering Technology with the goal of building stuff to help people.

Erin is a graphic design student at Montana State University in Bozeman. She enjoys interdisciplinary collaboration, the feeling of satisfaction after hard work well done, and spending time outdoors. She hopes to use design with intelligence and compassion to provide a voice to communities, companies, and individuals.

Steve is an artist, storyteller and native Montanan. He has worked with clients including DC Comics, Warner Bros. and many others. He creates hand-drawn animated videos for clients like The Red Cross, Intel, The New Yorker, etc. He is passionate about visual art of all kinds and I’m committed to a career that might take any number of forms but will always involve drawing and telling stories.

Heidi DuBose developed a passion for writing and directing at a young age. Forbidden to indulge in the wonders of television, radio, and movies, she was forced to use her imagination to paint the world around her. Heidi attended Montana State University and graduated with a Bachelor in Arts in Film. She in post production with the teen horror musical "Feral" that was funded via Kickstarter and developing her next project for television "The Alchemy of Alexis Rose". She is the 2nd unit mixer and boom operator for TNT's "The Librarians" starring Noah Wylie & John Larroquette.

Robert is a real estate investor and developer, historical preservation activist, and urban agriculture innovator. He seeks to solve economic, civic and social development of communities in subtle and big ways. He is passionate about preserving and creating places worth caring about so current and future generations can thrive and be inspired by their surroundings.

Steeped in a strong love of music, Dee noticed a missing connectors between music instructors, instruments, and the children of Jackson county. With over 49% of the 51,000 children in Jackson County living below the poverty level, Fretwell realized a void that needed to be filled. These kids deserved the chance to find expression and development through music! And this is the mission of the Modern Roots Foundation, creating a musical synergy between financially challenged kids and music instruction.

A disruptor of the status quo, Jason parlayed a scholarship to Berklee School of Music into a diverse military career as a paratrooper and member of the Presidential Honor Guard. A soul crushing glimpse into the corporate abyss gave rise to a passion for change. Currently he is redefining how small business applies principled entrepreneurship to cultivate exceptional culture in the modern workplace.

Justin is a freelance architectural designer currently residing in Santa Barbara. He focuses on design, documentation and fabrication of the projects he works on. Originally from Lavina, Montana, Justin has worked on notable projects such as the SkyPark at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and the United States Institute of Peace in Washington D.C. Currently he is developing the design for a boutique hotel in Nicaragua.

If it has a cable, wire, plug or blinky light attached, chances are Greg has messed with it. For the past 20 years, he has called the television industry home, working as a system designer, sound editor and audio mixer for a wide variety of programming. Greg has written specialized apps and integrated game design into broadcast productions for Disney Channel and shows like "The Hero," "King of the Nerds," and Fox's "Superhuman." At HATCH he makes the screens and microphones work.

Beth lived and worked in North Carolina, Washington, DC and New York City before moving to Bozeman in 2015. Wisetail is a next generation learning management system (LMS) that allows you to build your brand, communicate your culture, and grow your community. Before joining Wisetail's Client Experience team, Beth worked in marketing and non-profit development, serving as the development director at the Charlotte Bridge Home and the Charlotte chapter of the ALS Association.

After a few years as a webmaster for the Forest Service, Emma found herself in Big Sky, Montana as a snowboarding and skiing instructor. She spent last summer in Yellowstone area as a guide and last winter in Santa Cruz working in the cycling industry. A Media Art graduate from MSU, Emma is looking to get back into design.

Rachel brings color and intricate design to her work as an event specialist and communications professional. With more than a decade in nonprofit management as the Director of Communications at the Archie Bray Foundation, an international nonprofit and artist-in-residence program, Rachel has played an integral role in fostering a supportive artistic community that spans the globe. She is a lover of color, strategy and fundraising.

An MFA graduate student at Montana State University, Nick has an extensive background in broadcast television, starting in various positions with Klamath Community Television before moving to Montana, and as a Technical Director with TEDxBozeman since 2014. Additionally, Nick works as a freelance video editor and as a bartender at The Ellen Theater.

I am an avid student of ontology, learning to be an observer with the ability to interrupt, change, or accept our way of being. I am an emerging leader and facilitator in the corporate environment where I am helping those with a desire to evolve and engage. I also love to travel and enjoy new experiences!

Head of Spur, a marketing agency located in Montana with national and international clients. Intermittent artist. Wanderluster. Lover of big adventures, calculated risks, and the soul expansion that comes with both. Heartfelt writing, closed loop food systems and regenerative agriculture light my fire.

Rob spent four decades working with hardware and software technology in both public and private sector organizations building systems, processes and teams in 38 countries, including a decade spent living in Asia. Rob has invested in and coached multiple startups, as well as working to improve education at all levels to help prepare America's youth for the technology that will shape their (and our country's) future. Currently he is helping to develop the HATCHedu Coach program.

Playing violin since the age of three, Kaito works to create new perceptions of the violin through different techniques and sounds. In 2005 he took second place at the Montana Fiddle Contest in Red Lodge Montana and won Hawks Night Live in 2016. He was a featured speaker/performer for TEDx Bozeman in 2015 and performed again in 2016. He recently left CalArts to become the first HATCHedu Coach client, pursuing a music career in Los Angeles.

When the Prime Minister asked her to carve for the King of Bhutan, Amber became the first female to carve in a country renowned for its tradition of woodcarving. Wood is just one of the many mediums Amber has mastered to express her creative vision. Breaking boundaries, inspiring others, living authentically and leaving an impression seem to be her thing whether she is creating art, storytelling, ice climbing, or dreaming.

Music educator, cellist, and working (really hard) at being a choir teacher. Cookie decorator, dog walker, pop music listener. I love working with kids, young adults, teenagers. "Being an adult is the dumbest thing I have ever done."

Claire is an advocate and outdoor enthusiast studying study chemical engineering, microbiology, and economics. Currently, she is a Survivor Advocate at Haven and a volunteer peer educator at the VOICE Center at Montana State University. She is also a mentor instructor for Pink Gloves Boxing. When not in a coffee shop, you can find Claire exploring the great outdoors and enjoying quality time with friends.

Ben is a drummer and percussionist living in Venice, California. He has toured the West Coast and Colorado extensively with the funk-tacular jam band mamaSutra, and visited Mt. Fuji, Japan with The Dave Boyles Trio to play The Asagiri Festival. From playing percussion in a pit orchestra for musical theater to straight ahead Jazz gigs, heavy metal bands and roots reggae, Ben's versatility leaves him inspired and ready for the next adventure.

A fish native to uncomfortable situations and faux pas, bred in the murky waters of idealism and musicianship. Anson is an engineering student who feels compelled to not become an engineer, like a Golden Retriever with a smart gaze but an inability to express himself. He seeks expression by swimming up the rapids of songwriting and poetry to the headwaters of bliss.

Colleen is a former ski instructor, raft guide, USFS wildland firefighter, ski patrol and camp counselor. She is now an e-commerce entrepreneur, reselling estate finds on eBay and designing t-shirts to sell on Amazon. She loves to spend time camping, back country skiing, and traveling with her three kids, husband and dog Lolly.

Greta has dedicated her personal and professional life to youth leadership development, fighting climate change, and painting colorful flora/fauna. She coordinates Girls for a Change, a program of Thrive in Bozeman, MT, that works to empower the next generation of female leaders. She is also a member of Citizens Climate Lobby and is a volunteer mentor. She enjoys making art, live music, and food from other cultures.

Actor and voice talent, King of Westech, Lord of fashion, and an essential part of the HATCH family since its inception in 2004.

Nic Najjar is a budding entrepreneur from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Over the past three years, he has built two successful outdoor maintenance businesses while keeping an eye out for more impactful ways to improve the world. He finished his first year of college at Denison University where he played lacrosse and is now taking a gap year in Montana with plans to finish his education at MSU.

Michael is a disruptor in the industrial internet of things. He seeks strategic mergers and acquisitions while innovating in the space of automation and thermal imagers at Fortive, a Fortune 500 company. He graduated in engineering from MSU while competing as a NCAA D1 athlete in track and performing research at the Human-Computer Interaction Lab at the University of Stuttgart. Michael has been with the HATCH team since he was a HATCH groundbreaker in 2013.

Cory cut her teeth in the music industry managing day-to-day operations on the road, touring with artists such as Bon Jovi, Fleetwood Mac, Linkin Park and Miley Cyrus. These days, she produces award-winning consumer engagement events for Fortune 500 companies in the field of experiential marketing. Through White Owl Collective, she is focused on personal development coaching, brand development and event production consulting for creative entrepreneurs.

Rob is a professional videographer, photographer, FAA approved drone pilot, musician, and outdoor adventurer. Specializing in short form video promos for the web, he focuses on amplifying the good in the world through genuine storytelling and captivating camerawork. He has served businesses, universities, non-profits, and artists both nationally and internationally. He was raised in Michigan, educated at Brown University, and currently based in Providence, Rhode Island.

Jessica spent her 20's freelance writing in Los Angeles, a job that exposed her to inspiring and creative individuals across many platforms, including music, art and design. Now the Production Director for Richter Media, a creative agency specializing in animated videos, Jessica interfaces with clients from hundreds of industries and works with her production team to deliver high quality videos. Clients include Google, IBM and AT&T.

Currently a student at Montana State University, Turner also works for outdoor startup Waypoint TV. An avid Bowhunter and Fly Fisherman, he has traveled around the globe to Kiribati, the Bahamas and North America in pursuit of fair chase game and fish. His goal is to implement key conservational strategies in the outdoor industry in order to keep crucial habitat and game around for generations to come.

In high school, Brendan co-founded a pressure washing company that had 8 employees and served over 60 customers. An internship with Lamp Post Group, a venture capital incubator in his hometown of Chattanooga, TN, changed his outlook on the world. As a freshman at Montana State University, he worked at the Blackstone Launchpad, mentored a masters student to learn app development in React Native, and was elected to be the President of LaunchCats.

Scott has over 20 years experience in the business of art direction and design as an art director, prop stylist, set dresser, set decorator, construction, painter, and production designer for the print, television, music video and film businesses. He is the lighting designer for HATCH.

Alex is a musician, composer, mastering engineer, and post-production audio engineer in the L.A. area. He plays with a wide variety of bands in different styles. His music can be heard in shows such as The Hero and King Of The Nerds, and he did the post-production audio editing and mixing of the independent film Dimensions. He plays bass, guitar, and harmonica.

Sara Mo is an intellectually curious organizer, a social justice enthusiast, and an avid adventure seeker. She is a senior at Montana State University, studying Psychology and Political Science with research focuses in behavioral economics and collective political memory. She loves to speak but yearns to listen -- tell her your story.

Chris began her career as an attorney and real estate finance associate at Latham & Watkins LLP. Chris was Co-Executive Coordinator for TEDxBozeman 2017 and is currently the Experience Design Team Lead of HATCH, as well as Director of Operations for Philip Sheppard (#becauseofHATCH), a ski instructor at Yellowstone Club and also an artist, innovator, adventurer, singer, songwriter, photographer, and killer chef.

Nani is originally from Honolulu, but moved to New York City where she spent a decade working in industries spanning film to hospitality to technology. She now lives in Venice, California as a Film Producer at 72andSunny, a global marketing, advertising, and design agency. Despite living a few blocks from the ocean, she still doesn't surf very well.

Avi is a mechanical engineer and musician. He enjoys working on cars and playing soul music on electromechanical pianos and organs.

Geneva is a recent MSU graduate, where she served as Vice President of the associated students, intern at the Profitable Ideas Exchange, marketing coordinator at TEDx Bozeman, ski bum and beer enthusiast. Passionate about pop culture and keeping it green! Responsible for HATCH social media content.