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MEET the TEAM!

We support all members of our community and provide a safe and welcoming experience for BIPOC and LGBTQ customers, community members, and employees.
 
BIPOC Lives Matter.
We are a small, women owned business focused on delivering high quality plants and customer service.
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Thank you for the opportunity to work with you.
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We have a passion for native plants and are lucky to have a team equally enthusiastic!

Alex Hibala: Hort Support

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  • Fills every container with perfectly blended soil

  • Fixes everything and anything! Aids in shipping and grounds maintenance

  • Fly fishing guide and fly-tying extraordinaire

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Christine Lawson: Office and Operations Manager

office@greatbearnativeplants.com

  • M.S. Forestry, University of Montana - Missoula

  • B.S Ecological Restoration, University of Montana- Missoula

  • Christine has a wide variety of experience in restoration including noxious weed treatment & management, native plant identification, rare plant surveys, seed collection and revegetation project implementation

  • Manages A/P, A/R and invoicing

  • Assists with propagation and seed collection

  • She enjoys spending her free time in the woods or on the river with her two dogs and husband Joel. 

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Jeanne Montplaisir: Seed Manager and Horticultural Professional

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  • Collects, treats and germinates seed, maintains seed inventory

  • Jeanne has more than 20 years experience as a horticultural professional both in the nursery and seed collection

  • Jeanne can often be identified by the amount of seed chaff in her hair and her expertise in converting metric to imperial, and vice versa.

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Mike Thomas: Reclamation and Technical Sales

mike@greatbearnativeplants.com

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  • Lead on reclamation and restoration projects

  • M.S. Geology, University of Montana – Missoula

  • Mike has over 20 years experience in forest and restoration planting; in-depth knowledge of native plant production and native plant community restoration; experience with permit compliance, remote site project management, mining and mineral exploration operations

  • Mike's passion and curse is wetland plant ID- sometimes to the chagrin of the rest of the team.

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Tricia Scanlon: Production Manager

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  • Lead on propagation of seedlings from seed and cuttings

  • B.S. Microbiology and Biotech- Missouri State University

  • Tricia has spent the last couple years hiding out as an organic farmer and chili-roaster

  • Tricia has the lowest carbon footprint on the team and rarely takes up a parking space!

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Shout out to wonderful seasonal staff that help make Great Bear Native Plants a fun and rewarding place to work.

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Ownership Team

Aimee Kelley​: Owner & Manager, Sales & Shipping

aimee@greatbearnativeplants.com :  406-381-9829

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  • Oversees nursery and landscaping sales in addition to working hands-on with the materials

  • B.S. Ecological Restoration and B.S. Resource Conservation, University of Montana - Missoula

  • Before this post, Aimee studied and worked in post-fire ecology, noxious weed management, and threatened and endangered plants in Northern California, Montana, Idaho, and Florida

  • When she is not at the greenhouse, she is either on the river, on her skis, in the mountains or at the piano, all with her pup, Juniper

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Kathy Kelley: Owner and President

  • B.S. Health Sciences, Chapman University

  • Over 30 years working in sales and customer service

  • 25 years business management

  • Outside of the nursery, Kathy likes to hike, cook, and drink delicious wine (sometimes all three at once!)

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Tim Dickinson: Owner

  • B.S. Forestry, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

  • Over 35 years working in sales and customer service in varied fields

  • Tim spends most of his free time outdoors hiking, snow skiing, and gardening around the West

  • This opportunity brings his professional goals full circle! As he has always dreamed of owning and working in a nursery.

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