Board of Directors

OFFICERS

Traci Weller

President - Traci Weller, CFRE, CSPG

Executive Committee, Board Nomination Committee, Communications Chair, Membership Committee , Summit Program Committee

Senior Managing Director, ETGP

MSU Alumni Foundation

Email: traci.weller@msuaf.org

Office: 406-994-2223

Cell: 406-579-4057

1501 S 11th Ave

Bozeman, MT 59717

Second Term Ends: 12/31/27

Traci Weller is the Senior Managing Director of Estate, Trust, and Gift Planning at the Montana State University Alumni Foundation, bringing more than 30 years of nonprofit experience, including twenty years in higher education. Her career spans institutions such as the University of Colorado, Colorado School of Mines, and Montana State University, with expertise in annual and major giving, corporate and foundation relations, planned giving, events and nonprofit leadership. A Certified Fundraising Executive since 2004 and a Certified Specialist in Planned Giving since 2015, she has been an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals for over two decades and currently serves as President of the AFP Montana Chapter. She has held board and leadership roles with numerous organizations, including the Bozeman Noon Rotary Club, Arapahoe Basin Volunteer Ski Patrol, Montana Shares, and Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter, and is a graduate and past chair of Leadership Bozeman. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking and skiing with her husband and their two Labrador Retrievers, as well as quilting, cooking, and reading.

President Elect - Allison Strekal, CFRE

Executive Committee

Recognition and Awards Chair

Summit Program Committee

Board Nomination Committee

Director of Development

Montana State University of Bozeman

Email: allison@mountainhomemt.org

Office: 406-203-1676

Cell: 775-762-0920

4720 23rd Avenue

Missoula, MT 59803

First Term Ends: 12/31/26

Allison Strekal is President-Elect of AFP Montana and a Director of Development at Montana State University, where she advances philanthropy in support of the university's mission. Before joining MSU, she served as Chief Development Officer at Mountain Home Montana, a Missoula nonprofit serving young mothers and their children. Allison holds an MBA and her CFRE, and she is a frequent speaker on the practical use of AI in fundraising, helping development professionals adopt new tools to deepen donor relationships. She also serves on AFP Global's Emerging Leaders and Women's Impact Initiative committees. A Montana native from Dillon, Allison brings a deep commitment to advancing the profession across the state.

Secretary - Sara A. Hofer, J.D.

Executive Committee

Summit Program Committee Co-Chair

Chief Planned Giving Officer

Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch Foundation

Email: sara@yellowstonefoundation.org

Office: 406-656-8772

Cell: 406-672-0029

2050 Overland Ave

Billings, MT 59102

Second Term Ends: 12/31/28

Sara Hofer is the Chief Planned Giving Officer at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation in Billings, Montana, where she oversees a planned giving portfolio that includes more than 110 charitable trusts, 350 charitable gift annuities, and a broad range of other vehicles such as life estates, donor advised funds, and charitable lead trusts. As a graduate of The George Washington University, Sara holds a law degree from the University of Wyoming and is currently pursuing a Certified Financial Planner® certification. Sara brings deep technical expertise to the planned giving field, providing gift analysis, developing proposals for donors and their advisors, drafting gift instruments, and delivering training and seminars — including support to other nonprofits seeking to build their own planned giving programs. A sought-after speaker on topics including charitable remainder trusts, asset-funded gifts, and endowment giving, Sara has both the technical command and the relational skills to make complex planned giving concepts accessible to advisors and donors alike. In her personal time, Sara enjoys running, playing the piano, cooking, and reading. She also helps manage her daughter’s softball team. Sara and her husband own a cattle ranch north of Billings, where they raised their three children who are active in sports, church, and the family rodeo business.

Tagen Vine

Treasurer - Tagen Vine

Executive Committee

Sponsorship Committee

President

Glacier National Park Conservancy

Email: tagenvine@hotmail.com

Email: tagen@glacier.org

Office: 406-892-3250

Cell: 406-253-1336

402 9th St. W

Columbia Falls, MT 59912

Second Term Ends: 12/31/27

DIRECTORS

Kristi Oaks

Immediate Past President- Kristi Farver Oaks, CFRE

Executive Committee

Board Nomination Committee Chair

Professional Development Committee Chair

Summit Program Committee Co-Chair

Chief Development Officer

Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch Foundation

Email: kristi@yellowstonefoundation.org

Office: 406-656-8772

Cell: 406-855-0287

2050 Overland Ave

Billings, MT 59102

Second Term Ends: 12/31/26

Kristi Farver Oaks brings 30 years of nonprofit experience to the AFP MT Board of Directors. She currently leads a seven-person development team at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation, a position she has held since 2019, overseeing major gifts, grants, annual giving, marketing, and direct mail. Her prior experience includes over two decades with the American Cancer Society, including eight years as state director and later Managing Director for a 12-state region, and brief stint at the MSU Billings Foundation. She has served on the AFP Montana Board in roles including Treasurer, President-Elect, President, and Chair of the Professional Development Committee. Her career reflects a deep passion for advancing causes that improve lives and strengthen communities.

Kyle Lantz

Sponsorship Committee Chair - Kyle Lantz

Development Director

Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch Foundation

Email: kyle@yellowstonefoundation.org

Office: 406-656-8772

Cell: 406-855-5817

2050 Overland Ave

Billings, MT 59102

First Term Ends: 6/1/2028

Kyle Lantz serves as Vice President of Development for the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation and brings more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership and fundraising experience to the AFP Montana Chapter Board. Throughout his career, he has worked to strengthen organizations that support youth, families, and communities across Montana.

Kyle has held leadership and development roles with organizations including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Yellowstone County, Boy Scouts of America, Billings Leadership Foundation, and Youth Dynamics. He values collaboration, professional growth, and building strong relationships that advance philanthropy and community impact.

Originally from Williston, ND, Kyle is a graduate of Dickinson State University. He lives in Billings with his wife, Jamie, and their two children.

Professional Development Committee - Eugene Muhammad (Gene)

Director of Development

MSU Alumni Foundation

Email: Eugene.muhammad@msuaf.org

Email: eugenemuhammad19@gmail.com

Cell: 312-520-2528

3075 S. 21st Avenue

Bozeman, MT 59715

First Term Ends: 12/31/29

Eugene Muhammad (Gene) is Director of Development with the Montana State University Alumni Foundation, serving as liaison to the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship. Originally from Chicago, he has extensive experience in education and fundraising. In 2018, he co-founded Emprana Inc., a 501(c)(3) youth enrichment nonprofit. Gene is active in the Association of Fundraising Professionals and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Montana Chapter. He also completed the Chicago AFP Fellows mentoring program. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College, an MBA from National Louis University, and is completing a Doctor of Education in higher education at Governors State University, where his research and professional interests focus on leadership, philanthropy, and institutional advancement.

Maria Reed

Membership Committee Chair - Maria Reed

Development Director

Habitat for Humanity Mid-Yellowstone Valley

Email: mreed@billingshabitat.org

Office: 406-652-0960

Cell: 406-598-4554

685 King Park Dr

Billings, MT 59102

First Term Ends: 6/1/2028

Maria Reed is the Development Director for Habitat for Humanity Mid-Yellowstone Valley, bringing more than 13 years of nonprofit leadership and community development experience to the role. Known for turning ambitious ideas into successful fundraising initiatives, she has led record-breaking campaigns and created community events, such as the popular Glow Golf Tournament, to support critical housing programs.

Before joining Habitat, Maria served as Community Director for March of Dimes, managing March for Babies events across Montana and building strong volunteer and donor engagement statewide. She holds Certificates in Volunteer Management and Major Gifts Fundraising and has completed specialized nonprofit training through the University of Montana in financial management, board leadership, human resources, and fundraising.

Maria currently serves on the Board of Directors for AFP Montana as Membership Chair and volunteers with several community organizations. A trauma-informed leader and full-time mom of six, she brings practical passion, compassion, and relationship-focused leadership to every aspect of her work.

Abigail Uhrich

Professional Development Committee - Abigail Uhrich

Development Director

Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch Foundation

Email: abigail@yellowstonefoundation.org

Office: 406-656-8772

Cell: 406-314-2253

2050 Overland Ave

Billings, MT 59102

First Term Ends: 6/1/2028

Abigail Uhrich serves as Development Director for Yellowstone Foundation. With more than five years of fundraising experience supporting families, mental health services, and youth and adults with special needs, she brings expertise in donor stewardship, grant writing, event planning, and relationship building. Originally from Northern Idaho, Abigail earned a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Idaho and is passionate about supporting mental health and strengthening families and communities. She has worked with grassroots nonprofits as well as statewide and national organizations, serves on the boards of AFP Montana and West Rotary of Billings, and is an active volunteer with several local organizations. She enjoys the outdoors, travel, reading, cooking, baking, and is a dedicated mom and dog mom.

Jessica Kannegiesser

Communications Committee - Jessica Kannegiesser

Executive Director

Young Families Early Head Start

Email: ed@billingsearlyheadstart.org

Email: jessica.kannegiesser@gmail.com

Office: 406-259-2007

Cell: 406-694-5955

1020 Cook Avenue

Billings, MT 59101

First Term Ends: 12/31/29

Jessica Kannegiesser is the Executive Director of Young Families Early Head Start in Billings, Montana, and a proud mother of one amazing son. With eight years of experience in nonprofit leadership, she has developed a deep understanding of her community and the needs within it. Her background spans both leadership and development, and she values the opportunity to learn something new each day.

Excited to join the Association of Fundraising Professionals Montana Chapter Board, Jessica looks forward to engaging with fellow members and contributing to the Communications Committee. She recognizes that it takes a village to run a strong board and brings a solid understanding of the logistics involved. Committed to excellence in all aspects of her professional work, she hopes to strengthen the Montana Chapter’s functionality and expand its statewide awareness.

INTERESTED IN BOARD LEADERSHIP?

The AFP Montana Chapter is led by a dedicated group of volunteer board members representing communities across our great state. As a small but mighty chapter, our board members don’t just advise - they actively lead. They take initiative, own the projects they commit to, and help move our mission forward.

One of the most meaningful ways to build relationships within Montana’s fundraising community is by volunteering alongside colleagues - in the spirit of fellowship, collaboration, and a little bit of fun along the way.

In addition to board service, many members contribute through committees that support our professional development programs, networking events, communications, and membership growth. Whether you’re ready for board leadership or prefer to engage through a committee, there is a place for your energy, expertise, and ideas.

To further invest in leadership growth, AFP Montana offers an annual $1,000 Leadership Development Scholarship for active board members. This scholarship may be applied toward CFRE certification, AFP LEAD, ICON, CAP, coursework through the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, or other approved professional development opportunities. We believe in strengthening not only our chapter, but the leaders who serve it.

If you are interested in serving on the Board or getting involved through a committee, we would love to connect with you. For more information, please contact afpmontana@gmail.com for more information or Click here to apply for Board membership!