Meet the Team
Each member of the Beartooth staff brings a wealth of professional experience to the organization to ensure your project is able to move towards a positive result.
Brad Eik
Food and Ag Director
Born and raised in Joliet, Brad received his bachelor’s degree from Dickinson State in North Dakota in 1999. From there he was a soil/range conservationist with the NRCS in North Dakota for several years. Returning home to Montana in 2009, he was the Ranch Manager at the Fort Keogh Livestock & Range Research Laboratory in Miles City for the past 15 years.
​
As a fourth-generation rancher, Brad's family has been in this area for over 100 years. He has also coached varsity football for the past 22 years, a pastime he enjoys when not working.​ He is looking forward to all the new challenges along with meeting new producers and catching up with old friends.
​
​
Nan Knight
Finance Director
Nan Knight came to Beartooth in the fall of 2021. Nan has extensive experience in the fields of management and finance, having most recently worked as an Account and Authorization Manager for Med-Write. Over the years she managed accounts for other companies as well as being involved in loan management. She is detail-oriented, motivated, and brings enthusiasm and work ethic to the Finance Director position. In her time at Beartooth, Nan has grown the Revolving Loan Fund and made it her goal to help any business owner in need of assistance. She is also the Brownfields Coordinator, managing Beartooth's 2 EPA Brownfields grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties.
​
In her spare time Nan enjoys driving anything with a motor and spending time with her husband and son.
Gaurav Thakur
Economic Development Director
​
Gaurav Thakur joined the Beartooth RC&D team on September 10th, 2024. He holds a master’s degree in Management Studies from the University of Mumbai, India, and has completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in Canada with a specialization in Marketing Research. Gaurav has a diverse background in the Canadian banking industry, where he held roles as a Personal Banker, Small Business Banker, and Commercial Banker. His strong interest in community economic development prompted a career shift to tribal government in Canada, where he spent 8 years before relocating to Montana. Gaurav plans to spend quality time with his wife and two children, exploring the scenic beauty of Montana.
​
​
​
​
​
Myrna Lastusky
Project Manager
Myrna Lastusky came to Beartooth in the fall of 2020. She grew up in Billings and was a teacher for 25 years, primarily a high school English teacher and guidance counselor. She has a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with English and Phy.Ed. majors and a master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction.
​
With her background in education and writing, Myrna enjoys the challenges of grant application and management as well as all the great people she works with throughout the Beartooth region. She loves spending time with family in the greatest state in the country.
Sky Losleben
Rural Energy for America Program Manager
Sky Losleben joined Bearthooth in November 2025. Originally from the Flathead Valley, she holds a B.S. in Natural Horsemanship and Biology from the University of Montana Western. Over the years, she has worked as a range technician, a range rider, and on habitat leases in Eastern Montana that balance wildlife conservation with agricultural needs. Sky loves rural life and has a deep appreciation for agriculture, wildlife, and sustainable practices that support both the land and local communities. She is passionate about approaches that foster community engagement and camaraderie. Outside of work, she enjoys horseback riding, crafting, and spending time with her animals, friends and family.