Invest Health Team
Our Missoula Invest Health Team
The Missoula Invest Health team represents community leaders with diverse relationships and wide influence within the community.
Lisa Beczkiewicz, Missoula City-County Health Department, Health Promotion Supervisor.
Lisa has worked in community organizing and community health in Bozeman and Missoula, including collaborations around health care, education, and obesity, with a focus on low-income families. Lisa and the health department as a whole frequently act as facilitators for community collaborations. The anchor agency is a PHAB-accredited local health department that contains the community's FQHC.
Susan Hay Patrick, United Way of Missoula County, CEO.
Susan has been in her position since 2006 and has led nonprofits for 35 years. Her experience includes operating an independent consulting business, executive director of a national foundation, and deputy director of Feeding America.
Kaia Peterson, Neighbor Works Montana, Executive Director.
Kaia has worked in nonprofit administration for more than 15 years, with the past eight in the CDFI industry. She has been a CDFI business lender and portfolio manager, and now works to develop creative financial solutions to meet community needs.
Brittany Palmer, Front Step Community Land Trust, Executive Director.
Brittany joined Front Step Community Land Trust in 2020 and leads the organization in building community power, thriving neighborhoods, and affordable homes. Brittany received an MS in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, where she researched and wrote about settler colonialism at the National Bison Range. She serves as the Board President of the Northwest Coalition of CLTs, a regional network of community land trusts, and organizes with ProHousing Missoula, a broad-based coalition of advocates in favor of zoning code reform that leads to housing for all.
Montana James, Deputy Director for Community Development, City of Missoula.
Montana James (she/her) is the Deputy Director for Community Development at the City of Missoula, in the Community Planning, Development & Innovation Department. Montana was born and raised in Missoula and attended the University of Montana for her undergraduate degree. She was awarded a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy & Governance in Seattle. Montana has worked in public service for over 15 years with experience in local, state, and federal government in both Washington State and Montana. She has expertise in policy implementation, organizational change, and community engagement. Montana is a deep believer in the transformative power of local government to build equitable, resilient, thriving local communities.
Chris McLead, St. Patrick Hospital, Chief Mission Officer
Chris is the Chief Mission Officer for Providence Montana. Originally from Wisconsin but recently moving from Michigan, Chris brings a fresh eyes perspective to our community. Before he started his career in health care, Chris led campus and youth ministry. He holds a bachelor's and a master’s in theology from St. John’s University in Minnesota and a master’s in servant leadership from Viterbo University in Wisconsin. He has experience serving on a variety of boards such as county health, hospital systems, and Goodwill Industries. Chris feels strongly that environmental and health justice are closely related and core components to the common good. He has experience leading permanent supportive housing initiatives and addressing health equity issues through community collaboration.
Sponsors:
Reinvestment Fund is a catalyst for change in low-income communities. They integrate data, policy, and strategic investments to improve the quality of life in low-income neighborhoods. Using analytical and financial tools, they bring high-quality grocery stores, affordable housing, schools, and health centers to the communities that need better access—creating anchors that attract investment over the long term and help families lead healthier, more productive lives. Learn more at Reinvestment Fund.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has worked for more than 40 years to improve health and health care. They strive to build a national Culture of Health that will enable all to live longer, healthier lives now and for future generations.
For more information, visit Robert Wood Johnson Foundation or the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Facebook page.