Board

Larry is a longtime resident of Missoula. He is a retired Senior Partner of the law firm of Garlington, Lohn & Robinson. Larry has been active in a variety of nonprofit organizations over the years and a longtime admirer of the important work done by Missoula Aging Services.

Roberta J. Smith is the President and founder of McGeeSmith, Inc., a human resource training and consulting firm. She previously held the position of Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Missoula Federal Credit Union (MFCU). For over 35 years, Roberta’s work focused on education, training, consulting, and the human resource profession. As a member of several professional human resource organizations, she received numerous awards for her work in the field. Along with serving on the boards of local, regional and national human resource organizations, as well as the Board of Directors for MFCU prior to working there, Roberta was happy to return to the MAS board, where she previously served from 2004 – 2011.

Roberta holds multiple certifications from around the country on specific human resource training programs related to her profession. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Montana and also did her graduate work at the same institution.

Kristin Page-Nei serves the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network as their Montana Government Relations Director, where she develops and manages strategic campaigns to promote cancer related legislation and public policy. She previously worked with MAS staff to present a forum in which legislative candidates spoke to health care questions, many of which impacted older adults. She has also collaborated with AARP Montana and the Area Agencies on Aging on several legislative policies that provide access to care for prevention, early detection and chronic disease management for all Montanans. Because MAS staff cannot lobby using state or federal funds, Kristin feels it is important to have board members “who are willing to do the direct advocacy with our elected officials about the importance of public funding for MAS. She adds, "Having aging parents has rekindled my interest in what resources are available to our seniors as well as how are we utilizing our elders wisdom and talents.” Kristin has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Montana and has served on a variety of community and school-related committees and coalitions.

Gayle Hudgins has enjoyed a long and successful relationship with MAS over at least 30 years. As a Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Montana, she has collaborated with MAS on many initiatives that benefitted both the organization and UM students, including working with staff to place students for internships in the agency and providing students to assist with Medicare Part D clients. Gayle is currently Director of the Montana Geriatric Education Center, and with other UM colleagues, helped establish a Minor in Gerontology at UM. She has specialized in geriatric pharmacy for over 35 years in teaching and research. Gayle holds degrees in Pharmacy from the University of Washington, Seattle, and Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA. Previous board service includes the areas of pharmacy, gerontology and community organizations, and she looks forward to giving back to MAS as a board member.

Lawrence L. White, Jr. (Larry) is retired from the University of Montana where he was the Director of the Western Area Health Education Center (AHEC) and Associate Professor in the School of Public and Community Health Sciences. Previously he retired as the President/CEO at St. Patrick Hospital, a role he held for 23 years. He holds a BA in Accounting from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn. and a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) from St. Louis University. Larry is an Air Force Vietnam veteran.

Amanda Cahill holds a dual position as the Government Relations and Quality Director for the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association in Montana. Amanda lobbies at the state level for legislation that supports the health of Montanans including access to health care and funding to keep seniors in their homes. As a Quality Director, she works with hospitals around Montana to implement the most current best-practices in cardiac and stroke care. She has worked with older adults as a hospital social worker, hospice social worker, and in implementing the Silver Sneakers program at the YMCA. Amanda is especially concerned about and committed to food insecurity and serves on the Montana Food Security Council. As a member of the MAS board, she hopes to help address this and other significant issues faced by the aging population. She has a BSW from the University of Montana and MSW from California State University Long Beach, with an emphasis in community health.

John Contos, Ward 5 Council Member, is pleased to serve as the City Council liaison on the Missoula Aging Services Governing Board of Directors. Learn more here.

A 15-year resident of Missoula, Chris Flohr is Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Caring for his 91-year-old mother, as well as his wife’s parents before they passed, and serving members of a congregation who are older adults, Chris “has seen and continues to see the joys and challenges faced by our seniors as they age in mind, body and spirit.” He believes MAS is well positioned to help meet those growing needs and is eager to be a part of helping to support the vision and mission of MAS as a board member. Chris also serves on the Five Valleys Lutheran Retirement Center Board, and has been active on other community boards. He holds a BA in Religious Studies and MS in Clinical Counseling from California State University East Bay, and Masters in Divinity in Pastoral Ministry from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary.

Geoff Gilbert is the founder and managing member of Inukshuk Investments. He began his professional investment career in 2006 as a financial analyst (emphasizing in commodities) after a decade-long career as a geologist. Geoff holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation from the CFA Institute and is a graduate of the University of Montana. Geoff has aging parents and hopes he’s able to serve and contribute in MAS’s support of our senior community.

Debbie L Lawton is a Certified Public Accountant with 19 years of experience in public accounting. She was raised in Stevensville, Montana and left Montana to attend college at Brigham Young University – Hawaii to receive her Bachelor of Science Degree.

She chose to return to Montana and make it her home allowing her to be closer to her parents. This gave her the opportunity to help them as they aged. Through this experience she gained an understanding of the importance of the work done at Missoula Aging Services and is the reason she is on the board.

Jolynn McDermott grew up in the Missoula area and is a Real Estate Agent. She has two children, parents and siblings in the area. She graduated from the University of Montana with a B.A. in Political Science and an emphasis in Public Administration. In the last 20 years, she worked in Health Care Administration. Working in senior health care, she developed many strong and lasting relationships. Jolynn has worked with family members and loved ones seeking alternative housing for parents in retirement years.

James McKay, MD, is the Regional Chief Physician Executive for the Western Montana Region of Providence Health & Services, including St. Patrick Hospital. A radiologist by training and a smokejumper in Missoula in his pre-medical life, he appreciates the valued and important position that Missoula Aging Services holds in the community and the way it has benefited many families, including his own.

Kim serves as both the Director of Strategic Focus and Inclusiveness and Diversity for Kutak Rock LLP. Prior to that, Kim served as a Director of ALPS Foundation Services for seven years. In that role, she consulted with attorney groups nationwide on strategic and business planning, with a focus on designing individualized planning processes to match the needs of each client. 
 
For 10 years, Kim served as a trainer, Board member and Chairperson for the National Coalition Building Institute-Missoula, a statewide and regional nonprofit dedicated to reducing institutional prejudice and discrimination. She worked for four years with the Missoula City/County Office of Planning and Grants as a crime victim advocate, grant writer and court system advocate. In those roles, Kim provided diversity, anti-bullying, prejudice reduction training and conflict resolution facilitation for numerous institutions. 
 

Juanita Vero is a fourth-generation partner of the E Bar L Ranch in Greenough. In addition to running her family business, she has served on numerous community conservation-focused boards and committees, including as chair of Montana Conservation Voters, Missoula County Open Lands Committee, Big Blackfoot Chapter Trout Unlimited, Swan Valley Connections and Sunset School Board.

Juanita has a bachelor’s degree in English from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. She enjoys horses, snowboarding, and backcountry wandering after game with her husband and his llamas. She used to play lacrosse, rugby and ultimate frisbee but is now relegated to spending more time on her yoga mat.

In June 2019, Juanita was appointed to fill the remainder of Nicole Rowley’s term, which runs through December 31, 2020. Juanita plans to run for the open seat in the November 2020 election, the winner of which will serve the standard six-year term beginning January 1, 2021.