Owner, K. Lum Consulting

As a business trainer, facilitator and coach, Karen Lum has more than 27 years of facilitation experience whose clients include non-profit organizations, small and large businesses, as well as luxury service and high-end brands. Karen has firsthand experience as an entrepreneur, c-suite leader, and team builder and has dedicated herself to ongoing training as a coach and consultant.  

Karen kicked off our first summit in 2024 and we are thrilled to have her back at CONNECT for an inspiring launch into to an engaging day and a half of learning & connection. 

Executive Director, Montana Cooperative Development Center

Tracy McIntyre serves as Executive Director of the Montana Cooperative Development Center (MCDC) and the Montana Council of Cooperatives (MCOC), where she works to strengthen communities through cooperative business development, leadership cultivation, and community-driven economic solutions. A lifelong advocate for rural Montana, Tracy began her economic development career in her hometown of Eureka, helping navigate the challenges of mill closures and economic distress. It was through this work that she developed her passion for community leadership, facilitation, and helping people come together to create positive change. 

As the facilitator for the Lead Where You Live workshop, Tracy brings practical experience in community engagement, cooperative leadership, and empowering individuals to make a difference where they live and work. She believes strong communities are built when people step forward to lead with purpose, foster meaningful connections, and invest in the success of others. 

When she’s not working with communities across Montana, Tracy enjoys exploring the state’s small towns and rural places, as well as spending time kayaking and fishing in Montana’s rivers and lakes.  

Session: Lead Where You Live

Child Care Training & Early Childhood Project

Kimberly Minckler is an Online Training Specialist with Child Care Training, bringing more than 20 years of experience supporting educators, programs, and professional learning systems. With a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and a background that includes classroom teaching, curriculum design in NAEYC-accredited programs, and operating a nationally accredited, Star 5-rated child care program, Kimberly blends big-picture strategy with practical, real-world solutions. She is known for transforming complex professional development requirements into clear, supportive pathways that help educators grow from their first day on the job through every stage of their careers. Through her work, Kimberly helps directors and teachers build systems that strengthen staff, improve program quality, and keep professional learning meaningful—and manageable. 

Session: From Hire to Inspire: Strengthening Professional Learning Systems

7Gen Advisory

Melanie Sands-Snyder is an Indigenous keynote speaker, author, executive HR leader, and founder of 7Gen Advisory. With expertise in workforce strategy, organizational culture, leadership development, and employee engagement, Melanie is known for delivering powerful presentations that blend storytelling, humor, strategy, and authentic human connection. She is the author of Becoming Me and Courage Unleashed, and creator of the trademarked Courage Audit™ leadership framework. Melanie speaks nationally on courageous leadership, Indigenous resilience, burnout, workplace belonging, and transformational change, helping organizations and communities create people-centered cultures rooted in courage, connection, and humanity. 

Session: Not Just Caregivers — CEOs of Montana’s Future

Montana State University

Dr. Kalli Decker is a Professor of Human Development & Family Science at Montana State University with a specialization in Child Development. Dr. Decker’s research primarily focuses on how adults, including families and early childhood professionals, can be supported to promote children’s development and well-being.  

Session: Demonstrating Leadership Through Reflection and Self-Assessment

Discovery Developmental Center

Barbara Otey, author and presenter of “The Guidance Triad” is the Assistant Director of Discovery Developmental Center (DDC) in Kalispell. Barbara is passionate about early childhood education and the power it has to affect change on a social, political, economical, and global scale. Barbara created “The Guidance Triad” in 2021 as an independent research project for a college class, and has presented iterations of it at mtaeyc in 2022 and 2023. Barbara holds a BS in Integrative Physiology and Health Sciences from Alma College, early childhood credits from FVCC and UM- Western, and will someday complete her Master’s in Early Childhood Education.  

Session: The Guidance Triad for Leaders

Zero to Five Montana

Kendra has always had a passion for building strong communities. After working in the cooperative movement for nearly 20 years, building financial education curriculum for school systems and small business economic opportunities in underserved communities, Kendra moved to continue her passion of economic development in the state of Montana where she served as the executive director of Montana’s Credit Unions for Community Development. She also served Montana through her work at the Department of Commerce working on the State Small Business Credit Initiative. There she worked closely with businesses across the state who struggle to find conventional loans to start up or expand of their business. Her work is supported by a degree in communications from Eastern Washington University and extended credit union management training from Western CUNA Management School, at Pomona University.

Session: Leadership Styles that support Employee Recruitment and Retention

Zero to Five Montana

Shelby works to support community action groups in building and sustaining data-informed child care solutions. In previous work, she has led community projects, early childhood coalitions, and initiatives in Butte, where she was recognized with the 2022 Moving Mountains Award. In this role with Zero to Five Montana, she is able to expand her reach in statewide systems change for young children.  

Session: From Community Action to Systems Change: Lessons from Local Leaders

Montana Association for the Education of Young Children

Tiffany Krushensky is an early childhood professional with more than 18 years of experience supporting young children, families, and child care providers across Montana. She has served in roles ranging from professional development specialist to family support specialist, bringing expertise in coaching, compliance support, data and system management, and family engagement. Tiffany currently works in early intervention. She is dedicated to fostering high-quality early childhood programs and building strong community connections that help children and families thrive.  

Session: Leading for Quality: How Accreditation Strengthens Early Childhood Leadership

Zero to Five Montana

Session: Early Childhood Advocacy

SPARK Montana

Jeanette Lemieux currently serves as the Southwest Region Technical Assistance Specialist with SPARK Montana and brings more than 25 years of experience in early childhood education. Throughout her career, she has worked in a variety of roles dedicated to supporting young children, families, and educators. 

Jeanette began her career as a lead teacher in Early Head Start and at Curious Minds, the University of Montana Western Lab School. She later fulfilled her dream of opening and operating her own early childhood program serving children from birth to age five. 

Passionate about advancing the early childhood profession, Jeanette is committed to helping educators gain the recognition they deserve while supporting the development of high-quality programs for all children. She has been facilitating trainings and teaching classes for more than 10 years.  When she is not supporting programs and educators, Jeanette enjoys spending time with her grandson, traveling, and anything water related. 

Session: Not Just a Paycheck: Building a Workplace Educators Stay For

Zero to Five Montana

Jason is a nationally recognized business advisor with 15 years’ experience as an entrepreneur and economic developer. He has coached, counseled, advised, and trained over 3200 entrepreneurs and business professionals across Montana, helped start over 100 businesses, and supported the creation of over 800 licensed childcare slots in Montana. He holds professional certifications from the National Development Council, GrowthWheel International, the Association of Accredited Business Consultants, Business Resource Services, the US Small Business Administration, and the Edward Lowe Foundation. Jason holds a master’s degree in communication and undergraduate degrees in Journalism and Political Science. Prior to his economic development career, he was an award-winning journalist spanning 16 years and six U.S. markets. 

Session: Babies Pay the Bills: Rethinking Infant‑Toddler Care Through a Business Lens

Bitterroot Early Learning Network

Ariella Wells is the Executive Director of the Bitterroot Early Learning Network (BELN). With over a decade of experience in early childhood education, she brings both heart and expertise to her work, guided by a strong commitment to families, children’s rights, and community collaboration. Ariella holds a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from Colorado State University and is dedicated to building high-quality early learning systems that support a healthy community across Ravalli County and rural Montana.  

Session: Building a HOPE-Informed Community: Transforming Systems from the Inside Out

Montana Head Start

Karen Filipovich is the Director of the Montana Head Start Association 

Mark Douglass is the Montana Head Start Collaboration Director. 

Session: Expanding Capacity by Partnering with Head Start

Zero to Five Montana

Melissa is deeply passionate about building early childhood systems that support families and strengthen communities across the state. Trained as a Marriage and Family Therapist, Melissa has dedicated her career to helping families heal from intergenerational trauma, fostering secure connections, and providing tools for healthy relationships and parent empowerment. Her most recent pursuits include co-founding a local early childhood coalition and indoor play space in Southwestern Montana, where she taught parenting classes and spearheaded community-based programming to connect families and build an early childhood community of support.

Session: You are Builders: How Childcare Providers Shape Montana’s Early Childhood System

CLOSING SESSION – Inspiring Leadership, Nurturing Community

Join the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services, Zero to Five Montana, Child Care Training, Child Care Resources, Montana Early Childhood Project, SPARK Montana, and Family Connections Montana, for a fun-filled closing session!