Mitch joined the Vital Ground team in 2016 and now oversees the Lands and Conservation Program as Conservation Director. Vital Ground’s Land and Conservation Program focuses on habitat protection and stewardship projects that encompass the Northern Continental Divide, Selkirk, Cabinet-Yaak, Bitterroot, Yellowstone and North Cascades ecosystems.
Growing up in rural Wisconsin, Mitch developed a sense of place working in the family woods and fields of the glacial kettle moraine area. He held onto that passion, pursuing a B.S. in Geography from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Mitch has lived in Missoula for nearly two decades, building a wealth of experience in land use planning and land management as he worked collaboratively on projects with federal, state, local and tribal partners involving forest, range, riparian and weed management.
Along with his wife Jennifer and their two children, Mitch enjoys soaking in all that western Montana has to offer. Outside the office, you may run into him hiking or biking the trail, rafting one of the region’s rivers, camping, skiing or working in the garden.