Chapter Officers
Chad Harvey
Regional Rep - Montana, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Canada, Alaska
503-957-2634
charvey@pheasantsforever.org
Chad grew up in the small town of Harrisville on the shores of Lake Huron in Northern Michigan. Raised in a family that loved the outdoors, much of his youth was dedicated to hunting and fishing. After earning a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Michigan Technological University, he followed career opportunity to Oregon while continuing to pursue personal interests afield and share experiences to promote the hunting lifestyle. Hunting big game, fowl, and upland birds across the western states and Canada fostered a rising passion for wildlife and habitat conservation. A desire to give back to the wild things and wild places that shape our lives led Chad to Pheasants Forever.
Hunter VanDonsel
State Coordinator - Montana / Wyoming
406-461-3827
hvandonsel@pheasantsforever.org
Hunter grew up hunting and fishing in Montana which sparked a passion for wildlife conservation. He received his B.S. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana. Hunter has worked as a watershed technician for the MT DNRC, a wildlife intern for MT FWP, and has been a farm bill biologist with Pheasants Forever in Chinook, MT for the past 4.5 years. During his time as a biologist for Pheasants Forever, Hunter led efforts to secure a $6.4 million-dollar RCPP award for big game habitat improvement work in Central Montana, he received Ducks Unlimited Montana's Partner of the Year award in 2019, and he received Pheasants Forever's Acre Maker award in 2020 for his conservation impacts in Montana." Hunter VanDonsel was recently selected to be the Montana/Wyoming State Coordinator for Pheasants Forever. In this role VanDonsel will coordinate and lead new and existing landscape level habitat initiatives and partnerships that advance our mission in Montana and Wyoming. This position will allow for statewide coordination and leadership, resulting in more strategic implementation of wildlife habitat conservation and bigger outcomes for wildlife.
Joshua C Hobbs
Coordinating Wildlife Biologist – Petroleum, Fergus, Garfield and Musselshell Counties
406-642-2126
jhobbs@pheasantsforever.org
Josh grew up on the family farm in North Central Kansas chasing Mulies, Whitetails, wild roosters, quail and turkeys after the NWTF helped get them reintroduced in the 80’s. The NWTF is the group who forged Josh’s desire to improve habitat and wildlife diversity. Growing up he read every Fur Fish and game magazine then reread every Lew and Charlie adventure until the pages where wore out. From then on it was a dream to move to the NW. It took a long time to realize that dream, as at graduation from Oklahoma Panhandle State University he was offered a position as Visiting Instructor at the college teaching Biology I & II, Intro to Wildlife Biology and associated labs. In Oklahoma he helped start a Quail Unlimited chapter and became heavily involved in the National Wild Turkey Federation which led him to serve several years at the Vice President of the Kansas State National Wild Turkey Federation. He also became involved with conservation through the State Association of Kansas Watersheds and served for 8 years and as the Treasurer of the board of directors. Josh finally realized if one is going to realize a dream, one must just do it or die wishing he had. Josh is excited about the opportunity to continue learning, introducing habitat and generally giving back a portion of what we as humans take each year. If you see Josh on his days off you will probably see him chasing birds with his herd of Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Fishing, camping, hiking, big game hunting or reading. Or dreaming about it!
Liam O'Connor
Coordinating Wildlife Biologist - Mission Valley
(563)-451-9414
loconnor@pheasantsforever.org
Liam grew up in eastern Iowa hunting and fishing every chance he could get. His passion for the outdoors and conservation led him to a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries from South Dakota State University. His first order of business upon graduating was to find a woman. He was able to do so, and spent the past fall hunting birds with Mugget, his year-old German Wirehair Pointer (only woman that can pull of a beard). Montana has been the dream for Liam as long as he can remember, and to be working as a Habitat Specialist in the Mission Valley is a real honor. Liam’s work in the Valley revolves around prairie restoration and maintenance on the WPAs around Ninepipe National Wildlife refuge. When he’s not working, Liam can be found hiking around the mountains wrestling Grizzly Bears, fly-fishing, chasing birds and big game, and strumming a six string.
Crystallaina White
Farm Bill Biologist - Billings
(406) 371-2540
clwhite@pheasantsforever.org
Crystallaina was born and raised in Montana, where she grew up hunting and fishing leading to a passion for wildlife conservation. She received a B.S. in Environmental Science from Rocky Mountain College and had the opportunity to conduct research on snapping and spiny softshell turtles. This last summer Crystallaina was able to spend 11 days traveling around the Galapagos Islands studying the native fauna and flora. Additionally, she has worked as a wildlife intern for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Crystallaina loves exploring and continuing to learn new things. With her position as a Farm Bill Biologist with Pheasants Forever in Billings Montana she will be delivering conservation programs to landowners that benefit both wildlife conservation and agriculture operations. When not working, Crystallaina can be found spending time with her husband and dogs and enjoys going backpacking, fly fishing and skiing.
Maverick Cady
Farm Bill Biologist - Chester
(406) 759-5788
mcady@pheasantsforever.org
I grew up in the small town of Inverness in North Central Montana involved in farming, ranching, hunting, and any other aspects of the outdoors that I could get my hands on. My passion for wildlife and conservation began by hunting whitetail, mule deer, elk and upland birds. This passion led me to pursue an Associate degree in Natural Resources Conservation and Management from Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell, Montana. Here I studied wildlife, soils, waters, forestry and many other aspects of the outdoors. After college I moved home to continue working in the farming community and ranch on our family homestead. I am excited to start this career with Pheasants Forever and have a whole lot to learn!
Cole Stumpf
Range and Wildlife Conservationist- Hysham, MT
(406) 342- 5510 ext. 103
cstumpf@pheasantsforever.org
Cole grew up in Cedaredge, Colorado. A rural community on the Western Slope. There he spent his time playing sports, participating in FFA, while hunting and fishing whenever possible. With a background in agriculture and a passion for the outdoors, he was drawn to Montana and the opportunities it held. He attended Montana State University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Fish and Wildlife Ecology along with a minor in Rangeland Ecology and Natural Resource Management. Through college he took a different approach, working primarily as a ranch hand during the school year and over the summers. It was through these experiences where Cole further developed a passion for agriculture and decided to pursue a career where he could work alongside producer to benefit their operation and wildlife. Starting in January of 2022, Cole is new to the field of wildlife conservation, he is excited to take his past experiences and education to SE Montana. Working out of the Hysham NRCS office, he will help improve wildlife habitat through NRCS conservation programs along with other NGO sponsored programs. Counties: Carter, Custer, Fallon, Powder River, Rosebud and Treasur.
Martin Townsend
North Central MT - Coordinating Biologist
406-209-5832
mtownsend@pheasantsforever.org
Martin’s love of hunting, ranching, conservation and the outdoors comes from frequent visits to his family’s ranch in Southern Phillip’s County. Growing up he would spend time there during hunting season, holidays and the summers helping his uncle with ranching activities and as time allowed hunting all things the ranch has to offer. It was where Martin’s love of bird hunting began with ample opportunity on the ranch for pheasants, sharptail and sage grouse, morning dove and Hungarian partridge. Martin grew up in the Gallatin Valley of Montana near the headwaters of the Missouri so fishing was a nearly daily activity. Martin attended Northwest College in Powell, WY earning an Associate degree in Agricultural Communications. He finished his Bachelor’s degree at Montana State in Agriculture Education and Relations. Martin’s prior work experience includes being a Sage Grouse Initiative Range Conservationist partner in the Malta NRCS office. Martin now serves as a coordinator for the group Ranchers Stewardship Alliance where he works to increase the capacity of their partnership driven conservation efforts. The group’s rancher-led conservation projects serve to improve habitat, improve ranching and provide value to the area communities through a network of involved conservation partners. When not working Martin and his wife Sarah are often visiting her home ranch near Lewistown, spending time with family in Malta, or just trying to keep the dogs busy.
Virgil Gluth
Habitat Specialist - Lewistown
406-567-2567
vgluth@pheasantsforever.org
Lewistown - Coffee Creek, Wolf Creek projects
Neil Vruno
Coordinating Wildlife Biologist – Miles City, MT
406) 233-2830
nvruno@pheasantsforever.org
Originally from Minnesota, Neil grew up spending ample amounts of time outside hunting and fishing in his home state and neighboring Wisconsin. Having a strong interest in biology and a desire to work outdoors, he attended the University of North Dakota for a bachelor’s degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology. Following graduation in 2017, he moved to central Wyoming and began working for an environmental consulting firm. As a biological field technician, he worked on a variety of projects involving eagles, other avian raptors, swift foxes, black-footed ferrets, skunks and turkeys. In 2021 he moved to Billings and spent the next two years working on a sage grouse study in south central Montana. In 2022 Neil started his current position with Pheasants Forever as a Coordinating Wildlife Biologist. Neil works on a mix of sage grouse field surveys and public land access programs with the Bureau of Land Management and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Miles City. During his free time Neil can usually be found hunting, playing hockey, shooting his bow and backpacking.
Steve Rockhold
Habitat Specialist - Yellowstone Valley
(303) 748-7532
srockhold@pheasantsforever.org
Steve grew up on a farm in Powell, Wyoming. There began his passion for agriculture and the outdoors. After obtaining his BS Degree from the University of Wyoming, Steve spent 25 years with Coors Brewing Company, where his team was responsible for buying all the brewing ingredients, managed company farms and ag facilities. Now back in Montana where he had spent 10 years of his career, he returns back home to continue the love of wildlife habitat and enjoying Montana's great outdoors. Steve can usually be found enjoying Montana's outdoors with his sidekick black Labrador Ali!
