Beartooth Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc.

Chris Mehus, Community Development and Office Manager

Chris Mehus lives in Big Timber with his wife and two sons. Born and raised in south-central Montana, Chris received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Montana Universities in Natural Resource Management and Development. Following over ten years in agricultural production and ranch management, he has since accumulated eight years of economic and community development experience. Chris has been with Beartooth for five years, serving three on the Board before joining the staff in the spring of 2006. In the office, he has filled staff positions as manager of the fuels reduction, Brownfields, and ag-business programs. Currently he is office manager and director of the Economic Development District and Certified Regional Development Corporation.

Jillann Knutson, Revolving Loan Manager-Bookkeeper

Jillann Knutson brings to the organization an associate degree in General Business from Sheridan College in Sheridan, Wyoming and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Rocky Mountain College, Billings, Montana. Jillann has lived all over Montana, graduating high school from Joliet, then moving to Wyoming for several years, only to return to the area. Away from work, Jillann and her husband Kris and daughter Allison own a place south of Bridger where they enjoy the piece and quiet of country life. Jillann started Beartooth in May of 2006.

Joel Bertolino, Ag Program Technician

Joel Bertolino has been a program manager for Beartooth RC&D since October of 2007. His previous program experience includes working as a Program Technician for the USDA Farm Service Agency in Carbon County. As a Beartooth employee Joel has expanded his program knowledge by attending many educational opportunities including: 2008 Risk Management Education course, numerous Renewable Energy Conferences and professional development courses through International Economic Development Council, including Real Estate Development and Reuse, and Economic Development Finance. Joel has recently assisted in the writing of a successful Growth Through Agriculture grants, coordinates the Montana Cooperative Development Center program, develops and provides oversight for Rural Development grants for local Agricultural projects. He has also assisted in the preparation of successful Big Sky Trust Fund and Community Development Block Grant funding proposals and is primarily focused on coordinating the Montana Food and Ag Center program, which seeks to further diversify our rural ag economy by promoting energy and value added businesses through technical assistance, research and education.

Valentine (Val) Smith, Housing Coordinator

Val joined Beartooth RC&D October, 2011. She came with an extensive background in training, writing, project management, teambuilding and management gained through 20 years in Corporate America, Associate Planner for the City of Red Lodge, co-owner of Access Counseling & Training as well as various assignments in both the public & private sector. Val’s MAS is from Johns Hopkins University. She is passionate about providing quality Homebuyer’s education and one on one counseling in her community.

Val provides instruction for the Homebuyer Education programs and provides individual and group counseling in pre-purchase, credit, budgeting, foreclosure prevention and loss mitigation. As the Housing Coordinator, Val will implement new programs that will benefit economic development and home ownership opportunities in the Beartooth service area.

Dick Rath, Forester-Fuels Reduction Program

Dick Rath is a retired U.S. Forest Service Fire Manager. During thirty plus years, Dick worked throughout the United States on wildland fires and fuels projects. Most of his career was spent in Fire Management for the Kootenai National Forest in Northwest Montana and the Gallatin National Forest. Dick retired in 2003 and currently lives south of Big Timber with his wife. They have three grown children and are grandparents. Dick implements the Fuels Reduction Program..

Earl Atwood, Special Projects Coordinator

Earl Atwood relocated to Montana in 2009 after retiring from a long career with Wyoming State Government in Cheyenne. With over thirty years of service, Earl worked in tax administration, technology management, and executive support for the Wyoming Public Safety Communications Commission. Earl provides support for Special projects at Beartooth RC&D such as the Montana Broadband project and various outreach activities.

Earl and his wife live near Fishtail. They have two grown children.