Executive Director

Keith has dedicated much of his career to helping conserve wild places and wild things. He has been standing in rivers, streams and creeks since childhood and his passion for trout, aquatic life and the outdoors at large permeates everything he does. His career has been diverse. Over the years he has owned and operated three businesses, all outdoor oriented. This career path helped him refine a strong level of business acumen in this space. Working with a long list of conservation organizations, he developed relationships that led him to the MRF. He is a loyal advocate for the Madison River watershed as well as a former board member of the Madison River Foundation.

Conservation Programs Manager

Mia studied Wildlife Biology and Conservation at Western Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado. Her passion for wildlife, rivers, and natural spaces began as a child as she camped, hiked, cross country skied, canoed, and fished with her family. That passion grew when she began working as a raft guide in 2011 and participated in an Outdoor Leadership Program in 2012. These experiences eventually led to her career in wildlife biology. Prior to graduating, she was a crew lead for an organization whose focus was youth employment, leadership development, and conservation work. Upon receiving her degree, she relocated to Ennis and has worked for the BLM and Forest Service, where she gained invaluable experience. She believes that the Madison River and its watershed is the lifeblood of our community and that through collaboration and actionable science the MRF can continue to advocate for the sustainable management of this precious resource. 

Communications & Community Engagement

Ellawynn was born and raised in the Madison Valley, where much of her childhood was spent on and around the Madison River. Growing up in the valley inspired a deep appreciation and respect for the watershed and the vital role it plays in the Ennis community - supporting local families, wildlife, and a healthy, thriving ecosystem. Ellawynn earned her degree in Fine Arts from Whitman College, where she learned how to bring creativity and visual storytelling into a professional setting. Ellawynn is excited to bring that perspective to the Madison River Foundation and to help share the story of this incredible place. Outside of work, you’ll find her drawing, painting, trail running, skiing, fishing, floating, or generally finding any excuse to be near the water.

Office Administrator

Adina first visited Montana in 2017 and quickly decided to make it her permanent home. In the spring of 2018, she relocated to the Madison Valley. She became an active member of the Madison Valley Woman’s Club (MVWC) and began volunteering at the Nearly New Shoppe. From 2018 to 2020, she served as a co-manager there and joined the MVWC Board in 2024. As a mother, raising a middle school-aged daughter, Adina has also been heavily involved in youth programs, including serving on the Ennis Youth Softball Board, coaching, and participating in fundraising efforts. She enjoys Montana’s many fun outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, skiing, fly fishing on the Madison River, and boating, kayaking, and paddle boarding on the many local lakes.

Science Advisor

Jim is a retired research chemist and a full-time resident of Ennis.  He has been active in the Madison River Foundation since moving to the Valley in 2010.  Starting as a volunteer on conservation, restoration and fencing projects, later working with the Madison Conservation District Stream Team on water quality monitoring. He served on the MRF Board of Directors from 2019 to 2022. He’s a strong believer in practical conservation through credible science.

Science Advisor

Lindsey is an Associate Professor at Montana State University, where she studies the dynamic interactions between organisms and their environments in freshwater systems. Her research explores topics in community and ecosystem ecology, with a focus on ecogeomorphic feedbacks, aquatic invertebrates, and the structure of streams, rivers, and lakes. She teaches courses in General Ecology, Freshwater Ecology, and Biodiversity and Nature’s Services. Lindsey resides in Bozeman, Montana, and loves aquatic creatures and spending time in the field with her research team.

Science Advisor

Dave is a Professional Hydrologist and Geomorphologist with 49 years of field experience in river systems, including 20 years with the U.S. Forest Service. He has designed and implemented more than 70 large-scale river restoration projects. He developed a stream classification system, the BANCS streambank erosion model, the FLOWSED/POWERSED sediment transport models, the WARSSS methodology for cumulative watershed assessment, and a geomorphology-based approach to Natural Channel Design. He regularly teaches short courses in watershed management, river morphology, restoration, and wildland hydrology, drawing on decades of applied experience. Dave is also the author of Applied River Morphology and Watershed Assessment of River Stability and Sediment Supply (WARSSS), and has published more than 70 reports and articles across research journals, symposia, and federal agency manuals. His work has been featured in Time, Science, 5280, National Geographic, The Denver Post, and The New York Times.

Fishing Guide

Donovan began fly fishing when he was 6 years old on the small streams in the mountains surrounding his home town of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He came to Yellowstone Country for the first time in the summer of 2009, on a trip that was, in his own words, “kind of a fluke.”  A fishing trip that he and his dad planned to southern Colorado ended up cancelled with blown out river conditions.  So, at the last second they called an audible, flew in to West Yellowstone and had one of the best times of their fishing lives.  On that same trip, Donovan made some connections in the local scene and ended up getting a job in town the next summer working behind the counter at a fly shop.  Two years later he began guiding in both Montana and Yellowstone, and he hasn't left since.

Fishing Outfitter

I’m a husband, father, outfitter and guide based in Livingston, MT. I got my first fly rod when I was 8 years old, and never looked back. With over 15 years of guiding under my belt, I strive to provide my clients with an unrivaled fishing experience. I have a deep love and respect for the Madison River and its ecosystem and am an ardent supporter of the Madison River Foundation’s mission. I’m proud to give back to the river that’s given so much to me, and hope that my daughter and future generations will have the same incredible experiences I’ve been fortunate to have on the Madison River.

MT Fly Fishing Outfitters

Fishing Outfitter

Justin grew up with an Ugly stick and a Zebco reel, stalking largemouth bass and bluegill among the lilipad filled lakes and streams of Georgia. After a long and windy road packed with adventures, including working as a research biologist in Yellowstone National Park, Upper Peninsula Michigan, California, and South Dakota as well as guiding in Michigan and Colorado, he now resides in Ennis year round with his wife and two children where he guides and outfits on the rivers of Southwest Montana. Justin is also a writer and photographer, with his work being featured in various fly fishing and outdoor publications.

Edge Outfitting

Fishing Guide

Jordan was raised in Central Michigan, where a love for the outdoors was simply part of everyday life. If she wasn’t fishing or hunting, she was exploring the woods and waters of northern Michigan. Much of her early time on the water was spent fishing with her brother on the pond behind their home or casting along the lakes near their family cabin. Everything shifted in 2019 when her grandfather handed her a fly rod. From that point on, she was all in. Chasing big brown trout on the Au Sable River quickly became an obsession, and a trip west to Montana sealed it. Jordan eventually made the move out West, where she continues to follow her passion for fly fishing, while helping others discover and pursue their own connection to the water.

President

Neal and his wife, Kay, split their time between Berthoud, Colorado and McAllister, Montana. They came to the Madison River Valley in 2016 and immediately fell in love with the people, the character of the community, and the blessings of nature provided by the Madison River. Neal is a retired business executive who worked for a Fortune 500 company for 40+ years in leadership positions in international business. He volunteers his time now in community service organizations in Colorado and Montana. Neal believes in protecting the environment now and for future generations. The actions of the Madison River Foundation are key to the protection of the Madison River and all that it supports.

Vice President

Jim has been enjoying the Madison Valley for almost 50 years. He lives a few miles outside of Ennis, overlooking the Madison River. He enjoys hiking, fishing, pickleball and camping. Jim devotes a much of his time to volunteer activities including the Madison Valley History Museum and disaster relief efforts around the country. Jim’s professional background as an attorney/CFE, business owner and entrepreneur positions him to provide legal and accounting assistance to the organization. Jim is passionate about supporting the health of the river and the valley, recognizing that a vibrant river is essential to every community in the valley.

Treasurer

Ted is a full-time resident of the Madison River Valley. Since 2005 he’s enjoyed the valley and all its offerings. He enjoys fly fishing the Madison during the season and tropical locations in the fall and winter. Ted is a serial entrepreneur with a strong conservation mindset, and is a life member of Trout Unlimited, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and the Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance. He has a proven track record of leadership, mentoring, and profit and loss responsibility, and has extensive experience in governance, board exposure, and management. He is committed to preserving the natural beauty of the Madison River Valley and ensuring that future generations can enjoy it as much as he and his wife, Erin do.

Secretary

Anne and her husband Jim Kelley have lived part-time in Cameron since 2016, having spent long stretches of time before that in the Madison Valley … when they weren’t fishing around the world.

Anne’s background in classical music led her to a career in fundraising for nonprofits in Atlanta where she and Jim spend the winter months. She brings to the foundation a passion for fishing, a deep appreciation for the rich resources of the Valley and an integrated understanding of the philanthropic needs for maintaining the magnificent and precious Madison River.

Board Director

Ben and his family live in Bozeman, where Ben runs his own business as a water rights consultant. Ben’s passion for fishing and the rivers of southwest Montana shaped both his educational and career paths. He has been fishing and camping in the Madison Valley for over 20 years and now has the pleasure of working on water quantity issues in the Valley and across the state. Ben knows the importance of shared water use on the Madison River watershed and is happy to assist and support the Madison River Foundation.

Board Director

As a homeowner in Ennis since 1972, member of the local American Legion, us air force veteran and retired Dentist, he has spent his free time floating, fishing, and bird hunting in the Madison valley. He has a strong center in community, and with a focus on conservation and preservation, these values are critical to him and his family. Protecting, enhancing, and preserving the Madison for future generations of visitors and Montanans to enjoy is our mission.

Board Director

Will is originally from Louisiana and a graduate of LSU. He did a stint of conservation work and chapter development for the Coastal Conservation Association. This career led him and his family to North Carolina to become the Executive Director of CCA NC. Will's career has also taken him to the corporate world where he has been a contributor to a few successful start-ups. He and his family have been coming to Montana for 20+ years before finally buying a home in Ennis in 2016. He and his family are now full time residents of Ennis, his wife Mary and their only child, Hayden who is a graduate of MSU. Will knows the importance of the Madison River to the community and vows to help protect it for today and for the future.

Board Director

Kurt Kruger brings more than 34 years of experience in the sporting goods industry to the Madison River Foundation, along with a lifelong passion for fly fishing, hunting, and conservation. Throughout his career, he has represented leading outdoor brands including Remington Arms, Leupold & Stevens, Beretta, Bowtech, and Stone Glacier. In 2016, Kurt shifted his focus fully into the fly fishing industry, relocating to Montana to serve as the Northern Rockies representative for brands including Skwala, Sage Fly Fish, RIO Products, Fishpond, RepYourWater, and Tibor Reel Corporation. Years spent traveling the world. he has seen firsthand how vulnerable many wild fisheries and landscapes have become, and believes strongly in doing whatever he can to help protect them.