Board
The control and management of the affairs of Montana's Outdoor Legacy Foundation is vested solely in the Board of Directors.
Board members support the Foundation financially, give freely of their time to help with fundraising activities and watch over your investment in the great outdoor experience. Their passion for the natural, cultural and recreational resources of Montana coupled with a deep desire to protect and enhance those resources are what makes them the perfect stewards of your philanthropy.
Board of Governors
Randy Olson
Randy was born and raised in Sidney, MT, and graduated with a BA in Business Administration and Organizational Communication from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. He worked as a musician and financial analyst in Minneapolis, MN before moving back to Sidney to run the family’s businesses along with his sister Karen. He is currently the President and CEO of Blue Rock Distributing Company and Executive Vice President of Blue Rock Products Company, both being beverage distributors of key brands such as Pepsi, Miller, Coors, Gallo and others in eastern Montana and western North Dakota. Randy has served as president of the boards of Richland Opportunities, Inc., ROI Foundation, Inc., and Richland Economic Development Corporation. He has also served on the boards of Richland County Boys and Girls Club and others. Randy is a licensed land and sea pilot, a 2nd Lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol, a Flyfishers International Certified Flycasting Instructor, and enjoys following his two teenage boys and their activities around the great State of Montana with his wife Jane. He believes the love of the outdoors, and the ability to access the outdoors is key to a healthy, fulfilling life and is excited to expand access to all through the work of the Montana Outdoor Legacy Foundation.
Lyndsey Medsker
Lyndsey is President of Clear Skies Strategic Communications, a public affairs and communications consultancy based in Washington, DC and Missoula, Montana. Prior to founding Clear Skies Strategic Communications, Lyndsey served in senior positions at national firms and is experienced in issues management, public affairs and digital media.
A fifth generation Montanan, Lyndsey was born in Billings and raised in Missoula. After graduating from Montana State University, she moved to Washington, D.C. where she spent the next two decades working in communications, public affairs and issue advocacy. She currently splits her time between Missoula and D.C.
Lyndsey loves all things outdoors and spends her free time hiking, paddling and fishing with her two young sons.
Aimee M. Grmoljez
Ms. Grmoljez is a Partner and chairs Crowley Fleck’s Government Affairs Department. Since 2001, she has advocated for clients in matters of governmental affairs and litigation. Her practice is focused on strategic advice and advocacy on public affairs, government affairs and procurement. Her work includes consulting, strategy implementation and advocacy. She represents national and state trade associations and Fortune 500 companies before the Montana Legislature and state and local agencies. Ms. Grmoljez joined the Crowley Fleck law firm in 2009 and as a partner specializes in lobbying, procurement and grassroots lobbying. Ms. Grmoljez is active in her local community having served on the Helena Big Brothers and Sisters Board for ten years and chairing the board for two years. Ms. Grmoljez is active in her statewide community having chaired the Montana Chamber of Commerce Board and has been on the board since 2010. In addition, she has served as Trustee for the Healthcare Section of the Montana State Bar and was an appointed founding member of the Montana Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission and the Governor’s Equal Pay Task Force from 2013 to 2020. Ms. Grmoljez also previously chaired the Lewis & Clark Community Foundation. Ms. Grmoljez was raised in Billings, Montana and graduated from Boston College in 1994 and the University of Montana School of Law in 1998. She clerked for U.S. District Judge Don Molloy in 1999 and served as the Chief Legal Counsel for Governor Marc Racicot from 1999-2001 prior to her working as an advocate for her clients in private practice. Ms. Grmoljez is active in her two daughters’ activities having coached soccer and basketball and being awarded HYSA soccer coach of the year in 2019. Ms. Grmoljez loves to travel with her family and to visit clients, chair her book club and practice the culinary arts with her family and friends.
Denis Jaquenoud
St. Helena, CA
Mr. Jaquenoud is responsible for all business aspects of the portfolio of prestigious Napa Valley Wine Growing Estates (Harlan Estate, BOND, Promontory, The Mascot) owned & managed by Pacific Union Company, a privately held holding entity focused on providing unparalleled luxury client experience through fine wines and hospitality (Meadowood, The Napa Valley Reserve).
He is active in the overall management of the organization, the definition of business strategy with focus on brand identity, expansion of worldwide selective distribution strategy, operational excellence, development of new retail business model, investment relations, profitability, debt structure and financing.
David Spady
Bozeman, MT
David Spady is President of River Public Affairs Group, a strategic media and political consulting agency based in California and Montana. He is a member of the National Hunting and Shooting Sports Advisory Council at the US Department of Interior, the Congressional Western Caucus Foundation, and the Western Governors’ Association. David is a fourth generation Montanan who splits his time between California and Montana. He studied Film and Television at Montana State University, earned a BA in Communications from Azusa Pacific University and completed an MA program in National Security Studies at California State University San Bernardino.
Mike Talia
Secretary
Helena, MT
I am a lifelong big game and bird hunter, a perennially novice fly fisherman (who carries a collapsible spinning rod in his fly vest, just in case), an alpine skier turned snowboarder turned Nordic skier turned back to alpine skier, a bicycle commuter, an occasional 100 mile ultra marathon runner, a wilderness backpacker, a family car camper, and a general lover of the open air. I believe there is enough room on our public lands for all responsible and respectful users, be they wilderness purists on foot or hill climbers on dirt bikes, and that we all benefit if we work together for our mutual love of the outdoors. But if you asked, I would tell you that my favorite places are in the remote wilderness that is hard to reach on foot or ski (and should stay that way). I also believe in the therapeutic value of outdoor recreation for military veterans returning from war.
When I’m not outdoors, I work as lawyer in the public sector in Helena. I feel lucky to raise a family in Helena where my wife and I can pass our love and appreciation of our public lands on to our kids. I grew up in the San Joaquin Valley of California, am a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and hold degrees from San Jose State University and the University of Montana School of Law.
Jeff Hagener
Chair
Helena, MT
Jeff retired in December 2016 as the Director of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MFWP), Helena, Montana. Jeff has been reappointed as MFWP’s Director by Montana Governor, Steve Bullock in February, 2013. Jeff served as the Director of MFWP for eight years, previously under Governors Judy Martz and Brian Schweitzer. Hagener has over 30 years of experience working in land, fish and wildlife management, and conservation. His experience ranges from being a packer and guide in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, to conducting range and wildlife inventories for the BLM, to mine reclamation and state land management at the MT Dept. of State Lands and Natural Resources and Conservation, to eight years as Director of MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks, two years as a Managing Director for the American Prairie Foundation and eighteen months as the Director of Development for the Montana Wildlife Federation. Jeff holds degrees from both the University of Montana and Montana State University in Wildlife Biology and Agriculture/Range Science. Jeff has received numerous awards over the years for his leadership skills and accomplishments.
Matt Jones
Vice-Chair
Bozeman, MT
Matt Jones is the Executive Director Public Affairs for BNSF Railway. Mr. Jones is responsible for managing BNSF’s relationships with communities, local and state elected officials and agencies in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. He provides strategic direction on issues in the intermountain west and works with key internal and external partners to protect and enhance the railroad’s ability to serve customers in the region.
Prior to joining BNSF, he served as Montana State Director for USDA Rural Development from 2009 through 2012. Mr. Jones has also worked as Tax Counsel for the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, and as an associate with the energy law practice of Brickfield, Burchette, Ritts & Stone in Washington, DC.
Mr. Jones received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Montana and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Mr. Jones grew up in Billings, MT and now lives in Bozeman with his wife Amy and two daughters.
Dennis Konopatzke
Treasurer
Bigfork, MT / Dallas, TX
Dennis is an attorney and businessman from Bigfork, Montana, and Dallas, Texas. Dennis is an active outdoors person who enjoys hunting and fishing. After serving on the board since 2002, Dennis board term expired and now serves as executive director. Dennis can be reached at [email protected] or 817-510-6613
Ex Officio Directors
Robin Graham – FWP Director Office Representative
FWP Commissioner -(this position is currently vacant)
