Meet the 2020 HYP Board
HYP has some new faces joining the board for 2020! Be sure to come to our 10-Year Anniversary Party & Annual Meeting to meet Eric, Sapphire, Chandler, Janyssa, and Breena in person.
Eric Diedrich, Treasurer
Eric has lived in Montana for more than a decade, originally moving to the state from his native Oregon to study civil engineering at Montana State University in Bozeman. After graduation there, he spun a professional 180 and decided to take a stab at a career in journalism. Following reporting stints in Great Falls, Bozeman and Missoula, he now works in Helena as a staff writer at the nonprofit Montana Free Press, covering Montana policy and politics with a particular focus on economic development.
Sapphire Carter, Professional Development Chair
Sapphire is a member of the Chippewa Cree tribe and grew up on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation in Montana. A graduate of Carroll College, she recently moved back to Helena to begin her service as a Justice for Montanans AmeriCorps member with the Indian Law Practice Group at Montana Legal Services. Traveling off the beaten path, sewing, running and discussing politics and philosophy are her favorites.
Chandler Rowling, Public Service Chair
Chandler is a Helena transplant who moved from Indiana to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA in 2019 with United Way of the Lewis and Clark Area. She attended Purdue Northwest University and has a bachelors in Sociology. She has been building her career through non-profit and federal work. She is passionate about giving back to the community and helping the homeless. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, sketching, and plotting pranks on her co-workers.
Janyssa Martini, Marketing Chair
Janyssa grew up in the small town of Basin, Montana and graduated from the University of Montana in Missoula. In the years since, she's moved from Missoula to Alaska, Jamaica, New York and back home again. Janyssa is currently the Communication & Marketing Developer for Montana No Kid Hungry - work that fits in with her passion for wellness and healthy food. Outside of work and nutrition, Janyssa's top interests include rock climbing, hiking, photography, and scouring thrift stores for funky finds. Oh, she thinks her S.O. and poodle pups are pretty neat too.
Breena Buettner, Public Relations Chair
Breena moved to Montana in the summer of 2015 to pursue her work as a ceramic artist in Helena. Having planned to work in the area for only a year, she quickly fell in love with the community and surrounding landscape, deciding to make Helena her home. Breena has worked professionally in the non profit sector at both the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts as the Gallery Manager and currently as the Membership and Outreach Coordinator for Prickly Pear Land Trust. When she is not working on projects at her house, work, or ceramic studio, she enjoys hiking, biking, backpacking, floating, fishing, baking, and learning to ski.
We are also lucky to have some veteran board members sticking with us for another year. There has been some switching around of roles, but Alyssa, Natascha, Amelea, Erin, Julia, Carissa and Emily will remain on the board for 2020, while AshLy will be transitioning to serve exclusively on our Montana Young Professionals Planning Board.
Alyssa Sorenson, President
A Wyoming native, Alyssa was delighted to move to Helena in 2016 after a two year stint in the south completing her Master of Public Administration at the University of Georgia. She's now loving the Montana winters and mountains while putting her degree to work as a program evaluator for the Montana Legislature. In her spare time, Alyssa enjoys snow shoeing, cross country skiing, strategy board games, and brunching.
Natascha Robinson, Vice President
Natascha is a Washington native and moved to Montana in 2015 with aspirations of a close-knit community and better work-life balance. She currently works at the Montana Hospital Association and is the Director of the South Central Area Health Education Center. Prior to coming to the great state of Montana, she worked in Marketing and large-scale events in Portland, Seattle, and Orlando - for a certain mouse. Natascha completed a degree in Digital Technology & Culture from Washington State University. In her free time, Natascha enjoys reading, outdoor exploring, researching, events, cats, and Dragon Boating - Go Buzz!
Amelea Kim, Secretary
Amelea (she/her/hers) hails from St. Louis, MO and works at the Montana State Library. She went to college in Ohio and graduated with a degree in East Asian Studies, and then lived for four years abroad, two years in China and two years in Korea. She did her master's at UNC-Chapel Hill, and since moving to Montana in June 2018, has loved exploring the wonderful outdoors here. Amelea's other hobbies include baking, crafting, old-fashioned correspondence, and bothering her cat Pocky.
Erin Good, Social Media Director
Erin was born and raised on a farm and ranch up on the Hi-Line in Chester, Montana, and her love of Montana remains tried and true. After high school, she ventured to Butte, Montana, where she attended Montana Tech, found her passion in marketing, and earned her dual bachelor’s degree in Business & Information Technology with focuses on marketing and management. She currently works at Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co. P.C., the largest Montana-based CPA & business advisory firm, as the Marketing Specialist. Erin is devoted to her challenging career and the people she works with on a daily basis, but in her spare time, you may often find her lakeside, kayaking, playing tennis, camping, or just having fun out with her friends.
Julia Bryant-Barrantes, Member & Business Outreach Chair
Julia left the west coast in 2011 to attend Montana Tech in Butte, Montana. During her time there she fell in love with Montana - especially the incredible people - and she's been happily here ever since. She has a passion for economic development and loves supporting local businesses. Julia considers herself a Montana adventurer, and when not engaged in one of her many projects, you can find her lakeside with her young family and two malamute huskies.
Carissa Beckwith, Recreation Chair
Carissa grew up in northern Minnesota and attended St. Olaf College. Graduate school drew her out west, and since earning her MA in Environmental Humanities from the University of Utah, she hasn’t left the region. A newcomer to Montana, Carissa is the Grants Manager at the Montana History Foundation. She loves grants—and she enjoys balancing her work with outdoor recreation. Backpacking, fly-fishing, hiking, and canoeing are her frequent pursuits.
Emily Kittelson
Emily is a native of Helena and graduated from Capital High School. She recently earned her AAS in Business Technology from Helena College and is pursuing her bachelor’s degree online in Management and Public Relations from MSU-Billings. She has also been building a career with the State of Montana since 2013. Through working for the State of Montana she has gained extensive background knowledge in accounting procedures. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, showing off Helena and the surrounding areas, reading and playing board games.
AshLy Tubbs, Montana Young Professionals Summit Planning Board Member
AshLy Tubbs is a 4th generation Montanan from Billings. She spent her summers as a child in the lakes of Helena and has always considered Helena home. She graduated from the University of Montana in 2013 with a degree in Social Work with minors in Gerontology and Psychology. AshLy worked in the Governor’s Office as the Director of Constituent Services for the last couple years and took the summer off to spend more time with her two toddlers. She returned to work in the Director’s Office at the Department of Commerce as the Project Coordinator for the Equal Pay for Equal Work Task Force where she is eliminating the gender wage gap in Montana. She passionate about social justice and protecting our most vulnerable people and resources. When she is not entertaining her babies, you can find AshLy next to a fireplace with a book and tea.