MEET THE TEAM!
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!
SALES & ADMIN TEAM
Aimee loves this work. Although the job and business came to her largely through a "happy accident" there is nothing else she would rather do.
-
B.S. Ecological Restoration and Resource Conservation, University of Montana
-
Lead saleswoman
-
Co-leads design and consulting services with Michelle Wilson
-
Outside of the greenhouse Aimee spends most of her time running, gardening and floating
AIMEE KELLEY
Owner
Restoration, Reclamation, and Landscaping Sales
Claire's fascination with plants began in childhood and has only increased over time!
-
B.S. Ecological Restoration, University of Montana
-
In addition to being the no. 2 sales gal, Claire leads the larger-material production team, manages shipping, and maintains inventory
-
Outside of the greenhouse Claire spends her time hiking, floating, cooking with friends and enjoying a good book with her cats, Frankie and Fig.
CLAIRE SHADY
Wholesale and Retail Nursery,
Direct to Public
& General Sales
Tami brings over 30 years of experience in forest and land management to the team. She's the gal that makes sure everything runs smoothly on the administrative side of the business.
-
B.S. Natural Resource Management & Policy, minor Fish & Wildlife
-
When not at work, Tami enjoys everything outdoors - gardening, camping, boating, and hiking with her new puppy
2026 is Tami's first season on the team, and we're so excited to have her!
TAMI KERR
Office Coordinator
GREENHOUSE TEAM
Tricia has over 10 years experience in farming and native plant propagation. Her attention to detail and experience in managing a variety of crops is key to GBNP's continuing reliability and success.
After earning a B.S. in Microbiology and Biotech, Trish entered the addictive world of organic farming, which eventually led her to us.
Trish is in charge of whispering sweet nothings to the plants and keeping everyone giggling through the heat of summer and hard work of running a nursery.
Outside of GBNP, she grows chiles, garlic, and other yummy veggies with her trusty companion, Tika.
TRICIA SCANLON
Production & Greenhouse Manager
JEANNE MONTPLAISIR
Seed Manager
While she would never admit it, Jeanne is the mastermind behind GBNP's success.
Her expertise in seed procurement, treatment, and collection is the backbone of our operation. Jeanne has been a part of the team for over 10 years and has solidified her place in the native plant world as a force to be reckoned with.
When not at work, you can find Jeanne exploring the surrounding wilderness areas or obsessing over the perfection that is her new grandbaby.
Chocolate, babies, and dogs are the keys to making Jeanne your friend.
Ross is entering his 5th season with the Great Bear team. He has taken his many years of permaculture gardening and affinity for plants and found a career path that also benefits the planet.
He takes great pride in sending native plants out the door and into the world, but his favorite part about work is that he gets to be the dirty gremlin we all know and love him to be.
When not driving the forklift around and playing with the nursery dogs, Ross enjoys birding, biking, hiking, and has been very busy building his tiny home.
ROSS MATHENA
Horticultural Support
What's that distant humming you hear? It's Michelle singing to the plants of course.
Michelle brings priceless plant and life wisdom to the team, as well as a pocket full of treats to sneak to the dogs.
She has over 20 years of experience in garden design and landscaping, and takes pride in her ability to create and contribute to the well being of others and the earth.
Away from work, Michelle enjoys spending time with family and friends, rock hounding, bead work, and watching college volleyball with her daughter.
MICHELLE WILSON
Retail Ready,
Design Consultation
Have you ordered from us before? There's a 95% chance that Hiedi sowed that plant. Hiedi weighs in at over 400,000 cells sown annually - few people can top that.
Aside from being our Sowing Master, Hiedi is our legacy employee - she was a part of the team way back when we were called Bitterroot Restoration Inc.
Outside of the greenhouse, Hiedi enjoys being outdoors with her family and dog Toby, and building miniatures.
Give Hiedi a lemon drop and make her laugh and you have a friend for life.
HIEDI HEWITT
Sowing Master
JOSHUA DOLL
Horticultural Support
Joshua initially joined to team to manage the daily daunting task of watering our stock, but he went on to be instrumental in the construction and completion of our new facility in Corvallis.
An motorcyclist by hobby and an animal lover by nature, Josh has made himself an instrumental part of the Great Bear team.
ELSIE READ
Shipping and Production
After working at K&S Nursery for 7 years, Elsie joined the Great Bear team in 2025. Living a double life as a talented artist and pot-up extraordinaire, Elsie is a key part of our team.
Her alter ego is Vian Creates, painting vivid scenes of the Bitterroot Mountains that she calls home.
There is no shortage of whimsy in our dear Elsie, but she is also one of the hardest workers we've ever had on the team.
Catch her in one of the Hamilton Players many productions and cheer her on!
ERIC NORDENSTROM
Horticultural Support
Eric's past life as an independent contractor has saved our butts more than once. Eric's attention to detail and building experience makes him a crucial part of the daily operations and maintenance of running a nursery.
When not at work, you can find Eric spending time with his family, especially cheering his daughter on at her volleyball games.
KITTY
Pest Management
Kitty's life began at the Bozeman Humane Society, but she soon screamed her way over Skalkaho Pass and into our hearts.
Initially thought to be an unfriendly barn cat, it only took a few cans of wet food to win our little Kitten over.
Don't let her little legs fool you, she's the best mouser this side of the Mississippi.
She may play hard to get, but when she decides she likes you, there's no getting rid of her. Just beware of beheaded field mice left in her path.
_heic.png)
JUNIPER
Chief Stick Officer
Miss Juniper Jones is the charismatic border collie who gets to call Aimee "mom."
Junie has been hanging around the nursery since puppyhood, but she knows that the title of Top Dog belongs to another.
If you let her, she will lick your face raw, so ask for kisses at your own risk. Same goes for sticks - you throw one one time and she will haunt you forever.
TIKA
Security Manager
The Top Dog herself, Tika Scanlon, will make sure your prescence is known by all around.
However, this girl is all talk and no fight.
Tika has been Trish's shadow for almost 12 years - unless Michelle is around, then she's Michelle's shadow and eating treats straight out of her pocket.
While she's moving a little slower than the first time she showed up at the greenhouse, her zest for life has not diminished.
MEMBERS
Tim Dickinson - our errand boy, delivery driver, lead gossiper, and all around nursery dad. Can't live with him, can't live without him.
Tim earned a degree in Forestry from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, but found his career in medical equipment sales.
In his spare time, Tim enjoys fishing of all kinds - on a drift boat on the Bitterroot River or a small vessel in the Sea of Cortez - as well as playing with his granddog, Juniper.
If you work at one of our partner garden centers, chances are you've been graced by Tim's chatter and warm laughter.
TIM DICKINSON
Owner
Whether it's gift bags for the whole staff for every holiday under the sun, making sure you have sunscreen on, or being the only person that dusts - Kathy is definitely the nursery mom.
A nurse by training, Kathy has dedicated her retired life to the nursery. You can usually find Kathy doing the menial tasks of nursery operations - sweeping, cleaning up cobwebs, and thinning, thinning, thinning.
When not at the nursery, Kathy enjoys being outdoors and cooking. She has also begun construction of a very impressive fairy garden at her home with all of the duplicate plants she pulls out when thinning!
KATHY KELLEY
Owner