Ann McCauley
Associate Director ann@macdnet.org
Ann is a Montana native and received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Montana State University-Bozeman’s College of Agriculture with an emphasis in soil science, sustainable cropping systems, and environmental biology. Ann has previous experience working for the Forest Service, writing extension publications for MSU, and working in water quality programs. Ann lives in Helena with her husband and her two kids, and in her rare spare time, Ann likes to run, ski, and bake.
Jess Makus
Programs Manager jessica@macdnet.org
Jessica has a background in biology, and a lot of experience working with water resources. She began her work in Montana with the Montana Natural Heritage Program, continued with the Department of Environmental Quality, and most recently spent time with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Jessica lives in Helena with her husband Erik, and their daughter, Cora. Jessica enjoys the outdoors and spends her free time running, hiking, and camping. She can be reached at jessica@macdnet.org.
Samantha Tappenbeck
Area Resource Specialist, Western Montana stappenbeck@macdnet.org
Samantha provides technical support on water-related issues and coordination assistance to conservation districts and local organizations in the Clark Fork and Kootenai River Basins. Her background is in freshwater ecology and aquatic biogeochemistry, and she has conducted research in southeastern Appalachia, the tallgrass prairie of the Midwest, and the northwestern Rocky Mountains. Samantha has lived in the Flathead Valley since 2010 and has previous experience working for the Flathead Lake Biological Station. She lives in the foothills of the Swan Mountains with her husband, Tyler and son, William. When not at work, you can find them camping, floating a river, or hiking with their three dogs. Samantha can be reached at stappenbeck@macdnet.org or 406-291-6314.
Kate Arpin
Communication and Outreach kate@macdnet.org
Kate Arpin’s specialty is in technology and communications. She manages the SWCDM and MACD websites, produces our newsletters, The Montana Conservationist and the District Dispatch, and steps in with graphics support whenever programs need a professional product. In addition, she helps districts with website, technology, and graphics needs, producing everything from websites to event posters, to citizen photo monitoring solutions. Growing up in Twin Bridges, Montana, Kate’s mom was a supervisor on the Ruby Valley Conservation District. Kate has a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing from the University of Puget Sound, and now she and her husband live in Troy, Montana, where they love exploring the verdant Northwest and working on their fixer-upper.
Melissa Downing
Operations Director melissa@macdnet.org
As the Operations Manager for SWCDM and MACD, Melissa assists the organizations in financial record keeping, office management, and works to improve office systems and policies to ensure the missions of SWCDM and MACD are fulfilled. Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from Humboldt State University, with an emphasis in hazardous waste management. She spent several years working as a paralegal at a large law firm in West Virginia, before taking time off to raise her two sons. Melissa enjoys spending time with her family in the outdoors hiking, camping, and rafting. Melissa’s hours at the office will be 8:30-12:30, Monday through Friday. She can be reached at Melissa@macdnet.org.