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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.  

Cherie LeBlanc-Dyba, is the Executive Director of Eastern Montana CASA GAL  Inc. located in Miles City, serving three Judicial districts (7th,16th,17th) and 15 counties in eastern and northern Montana. She received her BA in Business Administration Management from Ohio Christian University. Cherie is married and has two grown children living in Missoula and Billings, MT.

Cherie was one of six  new volunteers in 1993 when Eastern Montana CASA GAL became a non-profit 501c3 program serving 3 counties. This led Cherie to become the Executive Director in 2005.  She services on the Department of Health and Human Services advisory councils for the 16th and 7th Judicial District. You can contact Cherie via email at cheriecasagal@midrivers.com or 406-853-2175

My name is Alexandra Plant, I am a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and reside on the Flathead Reservation. I graduated June of 2020 with a Bachelors in Psychology, and am currently pursuing my Masters Degree. I have much experience in the child welfare system and currently work for Tribal Education, as a Community Development Specialist. I have two amazing boys and one playful husky. I love where I live and being a part of this community. My goal with my education and work has always been to make a positive impact in the lives of others. It is an honor and pleasure to serve on the Board for MTCASA.  

Hillary is the Office Manager for the MTCASA office. She has a bachelor's degree in business and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 GPA.She takes pride in her extensive customer service skills and her ability to resolve what could be difficult situations. The people she serves come first and she receives great satisfaction when their needs are met above and beyond their expectations. Changing someone's life to the positive motivates her to work hard, which makes her an excellent fit for the MTCASA family. 

Jim FitzGerald MPA, MSW
In 1978, Jim joined Intermountain, a nationally recognized mental health
agency. Prior to becoming Chief Executive Officer in 2001, Jim worked in
direct care, operations, and all facets of program development, training,
policy, and finance.
Throughout his career, Jim has worked with others in strengthening
families and improving society’s ability to provide prevention, protection,
treatment, and permanency for all vulnerable youth. A dedicated leader
in youth advocacy, he has participated in the state and national forum of
child welfare, mental health, public policy, and systems change.
Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of
California, a master’s degree in Public Administration and a master’s
degree in Social Work from the University of Montana.