Staff and Board

Staff Members

Becky Kean Rehabilitation Director

Becky Kean moved to Bozeman in 1998 from her home town in Minot, ND. In 2003, she realized her passion for raptors when she began volunteering at the Montana Raptor Conservation Center. Becky earned a bachelor’s degree in Fish and Wildlife Management from Montana State University. In 2007, Becky was hired at MRCC as Assistant Director, and a year later she was promoted to Director. She served as MRCC Director for 8 years and in 2017 became the Rehabilitation Director.

Vanessa Skelton Interim Executive Director

Vanessa Skelton moved to Bozeman in 2005 from Oklahoma and has been a dedicated leader in the nonprofit sector for over 20 years. She most recently worked with Thrive, a local nonprofit supporting children and families, before transitioning to nonprofit consulting with the Bannack Group.

Now, as the Executive Director of the Montana Raptor Conservation Center, Vanessa is thrilled to leverage her extensive experience to guide the center into an exciting future. Her diverse expertise includes program development and management, strategic planning, organizational growth, fundraising, marketing, board development, volunteer engagement, and community outreach. Over the years, she has held key leadership roles, including Managing Director, Major Gifts Officer, and Program Director.

An avid outdoors enthusiast, Vanessa finds joy in exploring Montana’s rivers and observing the remarkable birds of prey that call the region home. She believes effective leadership is rooted in fostering authentic relationships, empowering others, and embracing resilience, empathy, and creativity.

Jordan Spyke Director of Operations and Raptor Rescue

Jordan Spyke and his brother moved to Bozeman, Montana in 2008 from Muskegon, Michigan in search of adventure. Since moving to Bozeman, Jordan has earned a bachelors degree in environmental studies from Montana State University and a graduate certificate in nonprofit administration from the University of Montana. Jordan began volunteering at the Montana Raptor Conservation Center in 2010, and later served on the board of directors. Jordan became Assistant Director of MRCC in August of 2012 and was promoted to Director of Operations and Development in October of 2017. When Jordan is not working at MRCC, he enjoys being outside doing just about anything, from skiing to fishing and everything in between.

Keaton Thomas Director of Education

Keaton Thomas is from the Tulsa, Oklahoma area and relocated to Bozeman in June 2023. She spent five years as a zookeeper, working with a diverse array of animals, including penguins, flamingos, eagles, lizards, alligators, snakes, river otters, and many others! Keaton then transitioned to a role as a high school zoology teacher from 2020-2023. She holds a bachelor’s degree in wildlife ecology and management from Oklahoma State University, along with a master’s degree in instructional leadership from Northeastern State University. In her spare time, Keaton and her husband, Paul, enjoy fishing and hiking, as well as caring for their “at-home zoo,” which includes two dogs, two snakes, one lizard, and one frog.

Board Members

Cynthia Zyzda-Vice Chair

Cynthia grew up in the bluffs of northwest Iowa, exploring the natural environment, and it was there that she learned to see, to notice, and to connect images and ideas. Her investigations of the human relationship to the natural world, the microscopic world and to one another have continued and developed since those childhood years through artwork. Professionally, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Iowa and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Washington State University. Currently, she is Professor of Visual Art and Humanities at Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. When not making art, teaching, traveling, or being outside, she has spent beloved time in Montana working and volunteering with injured birds of prey at the Montana Raptor Conservation Center in Bozeman.

Kellie Stoolman-Chair

Originally from Idaho, Kellie has lived in Bozeman since 2011 and is an original member of the MRCC Education Team that formed in 2015 and co-creator of MRCC’s Adopt-A-Raptor program. She has a Natural Resource Management degree from the University of Utah and works locally for the World Wildlife Fund’s Northern Great Plains Program specializing in grant management and operations. Kellie has a passion for conservation and education, especially when it comes to raptors and ecosystems. She enjoys helping people create personal connections to the land and wildlife and encouraging them to think about a future where humans and wildlife can coexist and thrive. She enjoys birding, spending time outdoors, and cooking.

Mandy Patriarche-Treasurer

Mandy has spent her entire career working in the nonprofit sector. She has enjoyed a variety of roles from fundraising, marketing & communications, outreach, and operations at Special Olympics Montana and the Montana State University Athletic Department. She is enthusiastic about the sector and is passionate about making a difference in her community. Mandy was born and raised in Ohio but fell in love with Montana when she spent her summers in college working in Yellowstone National Park. She has now called the Gallatin Valley “home” for over 15 years. Mandy is an avid birder and loves hiking, camping, skiing and boating in Southwest Montana.

Ben Wilson

Originally from Northern Wisconsin, Ben landed in the Gallatin Valley in 2003 after finishing his bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Education and knowing that mountains were a necessity to daily life. Since then he has embraced everything Montana has to offer, and spends his time floating rivers, hiking trails, riding powder, and everything in between. He is an uncertified “bird nerd” and has been geeking out about raptors since he knew what they were. Never without a pair of binoculars, he and his wife Kristie can be found anywhere that humans are scarce and nature is uninterrupted.

Patrick Lendrum-Secretary

Patrick is excited to join the MRCC board and support the great work being done here. He has a background in wildlife biology and has worked across the western US in a variety of habitats spanning costal rainforests to prairie grasslands, with species ranging from goshawks to grizzly bears. Patrick has partnered with State, Federal, Private, and NGO entities to build large-scale collaborations advancing conservation efforts. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. examining the effects of human-caused land use change on wildlife and ways to minimize disturbance while promoting sustainable development. The research Patrick has been involved with has been featured in National Geographic Magazine, BBC documentaries, and published in numerous peer-reviewed scientific articles. In his free time, Patrick can be found exploring the wilds of Montana with his wife, Noelle, and their dog, Gentoo (named after the penguin!).