The TCFSWG Board of Directors consists of five members representing the three counties of Jefferson, Broadwater, and Lewis and Clark. The board provides oversight for the overall mission of the organization and an executive director that coordinates and manages project programs and activities. Local area contractors are utilized for specific project activities.
Retired Forest Ecologist, has 35 years of experience working for the Forest Service, where 32 years were spent on the Helena National Forest which also included fire suppression and fire management assignments. As Forest Ecologist she collected and analyzed vegetation data following wildfires throughout her career. She strongly supports the mission and goals of this organization.
VICE PRESIDENT I: ED SHINDOLL
Representing Broadwater County, Ed brings leadership and valuable experiences to TCFSW. He is a strong believer in the goals and programs that TCFSWG is accomplishing in the area.
VICE PRESIDENT II: BRAD LANGSATHER
TREASURER: JANET YAGER
After graduating from the University of California at Berkeley, Janet Kennedy Yager has gained a broad range of experience working in both the public and private sector in site planning, recreation management, transportation, and regional planning. Janet brings her experience in non-profit management and land use management TCFSWG.
Now retired, Janet served as Executive Director for 25 years of Lakes to Locks Passage, Inc., focusing on planning and economic revitalization for seven rural Upstate New York counties through several State and National programs. Her work received national recognition in community planning and implementation.
MEMBER AT LARGE: COREY BAKER
Corey has wandered all over Montana in his job as an environmental consultant for Westech Environmental and has called Helena home since 2004. His wife Anna is a Helena native, and they are raising three adventurous and energetic children in the hills outside of Helena. Corey’s interest in fire mitigation began several years ago when he was thinning trees on family property, and he was more recently motivated when his brother’s house burned as the result of a wildfire. He and his family live in Unionville where wildlife is a real concern and is often a topic of discussion at community gatherings. As an ecologist he understands the importance of forest management in the absence of natural wildfire and hopes to do his part to provide a safe and resilient environment for future generations in the Tri-County area.
PERSONNEL – ContractorS
GRANTS PROGRAM MANAGER AMANDA MILBURN
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FUELS MITIGATION SPECIALIST
CRAIG KOCKLER
Craig was born and raised in Helena, MT. He worked for the Helena Ranger District/Helena National Forest, US Forest Service from 1991 until his retirement in November 2021. Craig served as a wildland firefighter on a Type 6 wildland fire engine for much of his career from suppressing wildland fires locally to across the Nation. He has always had a passion for fuels management throughout his career and retired in a Fuels Technician position after treating thousands of acres across the Helena Ranger District. In 2016 Craig was awarded the Dave Larsen Memorial Fire Fighter Before Suppression Award. Craig now serves as a fuels mitigation specialist as an independent contractor.
FUELS MITIGATION SPECIALIST
ROCKY INFANGER
Rocky Infanger became the Project Manager for FireSafe Helena in 2021. Rocky has served as a volunteer fireman since 1985 and as Fire Chief since 2005 for the Wolf Creek/Craig Fire Service Area located north of Helena. He is also the owner of Mitigation in Motion a private company specializing in wildfire mitigation and education. In 2019 he was awarded the Wildfire Mitigation Award from the International Association of Fire Chiefs for his efforts in mitigation and education. He has worked in the private, local, state, and Federal services. Rocky and his wife Michelle live along the Missouri River enjoying all our beautiful state has to offer.