Who We Are

April brings experience serving the Montana non-profit sector as well as a deep commitment to children. After attending both University of Montana and Montana State University, April spent several years in the non-profit sector in a variety of roles including executive director of the Hamilton Playhouse, Daly Mansion Preservation Trust, Performing Arts Center all in Hamilton, Montana. In addition, she created a Theater Arts Program for grades 6 to 12 in the Hamilton School System. She most recently was Membership and Events Director of Downtown Missoula Partnership/Missoula Downtown Association.

Tom earned a degree in Accounting from The University of Montana. He retired from the Montana Army National Guard as a Lt. Col. In 1987.  Tom served in various staff and leadership positions with The Montana Power Company from 1969 to 2000. He was Vice President of Stewart Title of Flathead County from 2003 to  2008. His non-profit work includes serving as President or Chairman of the Butte Family YMCA, University of Montana Alumni Association and CASA for Kids of Flathead County. Tom’s interest in CASA began when his wife Carol became a CASA in 2004. In 2012 he helped set up Voices for CASA, a single purpose non-profit foundation to financially support CASA for Kids. In 2014 Voices for CASA and CASA for Kids merged. Tom served as Chairman of that organization for two years. Tom has served as Chairman of the Montana CASA/GAL Association since it was formed December 2016. 

Christian is the owner of Mission Accounting, PC in Kalispell Montana.  He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) specializing in exempt nonprofit organizations and small businesses. Christian’s past experience includes two years as the Senior Staff Accountant for a large nonprofit in Kalispell. He was responsible for compliance reporting and cost allocations for about 50 state and federal grants according to OMB Circulars A-110 and A-122.  Christian believes in giving back and is involved in the community.  He is a trained Court Appointment Special Advocate (CASA) serving neglected and abused children in the foster care system and has served on the Flathead CASA for Kids Board of Directors. 

Ann Marie McNeel serves in Lake County, Montana, as an attorney and judge, and as the Executive Director of CASA of Lake & Sanders Counties. She has a background in public policy and received her undergraduate degree at Boston University. Having grown up in Wisconsin, Ann Marie and her husband moved to Montana in 1990. She worked at the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation and finished law school at the University of Montana School of Law in 1998. She clerked on the Montana Supreme Court and has since raised her own two children in Mission Valley and the Missoula area. When asked what she likes most about CASA, she says that the volunteer advocates are an amazing group of interested and dedicated individuals.

Elaine is a retired school administrator from Polson.  She served for 36 years in the Polson school district as a teacher, special education director, and principal of Cherry Valley Elementary School. She developed the Polson Partnership Project, a nationally recognized school based child and family support program, for the Polson school district. She is currently working as an educational consultant providing professional development for teachers across the Flathead Indian Reservation for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Elaine is married to Tim Meeks, a retired art teacher and artist. They have two children and four grandchildren.  They have made their home on the west shore of Flathead Lake for 40 years.  
Elaine has been an active CASA advocate in Lake County since 2014.

John is President, a Certified Insurance Counselor and Commercial Insurance Agent and for W.A. Mitchell Agency in Miles City, MT. John graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Business and worked for AT&T for 16 years, including 5 years on National Accounts in Phoenix, AZ.  John has 42 years of experience in Sales & Marketing and 24 years of experience as a business Owner.   John’s daughter work as a LCSW Counselor opened his eyes to the Insurance needs of Non-profit Organizations and his Agency serves many NPO’s in southeastern Montana.  He was a certified high school level Soccer coach & referee for 16 years.  John is active in the Methodist church and is the Montana District Risk Manager for Kiwanis service clubs.  

Jennifer spends her time cultivating three enterprises. Her first priority is raising her busy and bright son. Jennifer and her husband were foster parents who became a permanent family when they adopted their son after nearly 3 years. Jennifer has been a Gallatin County CASA/GAL since 1999. Jennifer’s professional work as a facilitator for conservation and community development projects has offered challenges and celebrations as local citizens collaborate to develop local solutions and visions for a better tomorrow. The Boyers are the owner-managers for Farm 51, a goat farm that supplies sustainably raised goat meat to local restaurants and grocers. Jennifer dedicates her remaining hours to the causes and campaigns that inspire her and has fishing and running habits. 

Glenda Noyes is the Executive Director of the CASA/GAL of Gallatin County Program in Bozeman

Montana. Glenda holds a B.S. in English and Political Science from Montana State University. Following

an 18-year career in county government, Glenda took over the Director position in July 2016. She has

been a foster parent for five years, parenting both therapeutic and state children. For the last fifteen

years, Glenda has been involved in her community with a restorative justice program, the drug

treatment court, and with the homeless and mental health communities – all which prepared her for

working with the families served by CASA/GAL. Glenda is the proud parent of three children and

grandma of five.

Shyanne is the CASA Program Coordinator for the 17th Judicial District, under the umbrella of Eastern Montana CASA GAL. Shyanne has been employed with CASA since December 2018, and she brings a relentless passion for advocating on behalf of children who have been abused and neglected. Shyanne is also a member of the National Indian Child Welfare Association. Originally from the Missoula area, Shyanne raises her family in Glasgow with her better half, Jeff. When not advocating for children and promoting the mission of CASA, Shyanne loves to spend time with her two daughters, Aspen and Amani, and her Catahoula leopard dogs.  

Denny is a retired federal fire fighter/manager, with 38 years of service.  Ten of those years were with the United States Air Force as a Logistical Planner.  After this time, he converted to Civil Service as a civilian fire fighter at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota.  He was appointed Structural Fire Chief of Yellowstone National Park and later appointed to the Alaska Region as Structural Fire Management Officer.   He retired from federal service in 2008. 

Denny has always enjoyed helping young people succeed.   He has coached baseball and basketball as well as instructing new hunters in safe handling of firearms for Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

One Sunday at church a guest speaker from Missoula Child Bridge, Tricia Collins, gave a presentation about fostering abused and neglected children.  The need and statistical numbers in the Bitterroot started him thinking.  He found out about Bitterroot CASA, completed the required training and was sworn in on December 2017, he has been a working advocate ever since.

This opportunity has been a truly eye-opening experience.  The need is overwhelming, but he is proud to be part of this worthwhile organization and to be able to help Montana’s children by being an advocate.