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.
Thank you for the opportunity to work with you.
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
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Fixes everything and anything! Aids in shipping and grounds maintenance
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Fly fishing guide and fly-tying extraordinaire
Christine Lawson: Office and Operations Manager
office@greatbearnativeplants.com
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M.S. Forestry, University of Montana - Missoula
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B.S Ecological Restoration, University of Montana- Missoula
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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
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Manages A/P, A/R and invoicing
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Assists with propagation and seed collection
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She enjoys spending her free time in the woods or on the river with her two dogs and husband Joel.
Jeanne Montplaisir: Seed Manager and Horticultural Professional
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Collects, treats and germinates seed, maintains seed inventory
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Jeanne has more than 20 years experience as a horticultural professional both in the nursery and seed collection
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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.
Mike Thomas: Reclamation and Technical Sales
mike@greatbearnativeplants.com
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Lead on reclamation and restoration projects
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M.S. Geology, University of Montana – Missoula
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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
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Mike's passion and curse is wetland plant ID- sometimes to the chagrin of the rest of the team.
Tricia Scanlon: Production Manager
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Lead on propagation of seedlings from seed and cuttings
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B.S. Microbiology and Biotech- Missouri State University
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Tricia has spent the last couple years hiding out as an organic farmer and chili-roaster
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Tricia has the lowest carbon footprint on the team and rarely takes up a parking space!
Shout out to wonderful seasonal staff that help make Great Bear Native Plants a fun and rewarding place to work.
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
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B.S. Ecological Restoration and B.S. Resource Conservation, University of Montana - Missoula
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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
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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
Kathy Kelley: Owner and President
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B.S. Health Sciences, Chapman University
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Over 30 years working in sales and customer service
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25 years business management
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Outside of the nursery, Kathy likes to hike, cook, and drink delicious wine (sometimes all three at once!)
Tim Dickinson: Owner
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B.S. Forestry, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
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Over 35 years working in sales and customer service in varied fields
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Tim spends most of his free time outdoors hiking, snow skiing, and gardening around the West
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This opportunity brings his professional goals full circle! As he has always dreamed of owning and working in a nursery.