The West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation Board of Directors is a dedicated volunteer team committed to advancing avalanche forecasting and education. As the nonprofit supporting the West Central Montana Avalanche Center, we lead fundraising, community outreach, and advocacy efforts to ensure the sustainability and expansion of avalanche safety programs.

Comprised of skiers, snowboarders, and motorized mountain riders, we strive to represent the diverse winter backcountry community we serve. We actively seek passionate and engaged individuals who share our commitment to public safety, education, and access to critical avalanche information. If you’re interested in making a difference, we’d love to hear from you!

Emily Jochem

President

Emily joined the West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation (WCMAF) Board of Directors in 2023 and brings a background in ski patrolling, wilderness medicine education, and wo... Read More +

Emily Jochem

President

Emily joined the West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation (WCMAF) Board of Directors in 2023 and brings a background in ski patrolling, wilderness medicine education, and working with nonprofits. Emily grew up in Bozeman, Montana and was instilled with a love for skiing of all types at a young age.

She moved to Missoula in 2020 to pursue a M.S. in Environmental Studies at the University of Montana. Upon graduating, Emily wanted to find a way to stay involved in the backcountry skiing and avalanche
communities after leaving her seasonal jobs behind. Emily is an avid backcountry skier and is passionate about community education and engagement that help keep the backcountry safe and accessible for
everyone.

When not out skiing or helping with the WCMAF, Emily works as a partnership coordinator with the National Forest Foundation. In this role she helps the Forest Service better integrate community values into public land management, including backcountry recreation!

Jason Harby

Treasurer

Jason is a Missoula native with a strong passion for the outdoors. Growing up in Missoula he started skiing at a young age and quickly realized you don’t always need a chai... Read More +

Jason Harby

Treasurer

Jason is a Missoula native with a strong passion for the outdoors. Growing up in Missoula he started skiing at a young age and quickly realized you don’t always need a chairlift to get in some good turns. According to Jason, he stuck around Missoula for College and Law School as it was too hard to leave the mountains. To this day he still hasn’t been able to get himself to leave western Montana. Jason joined the Board because he sees the increasing importance of both, avalanche forecasting and education as the number of backcountry enthusiasts continues to grow. When he isn’t enjoying the region's mountains and rivers Jason represents a number of for-profit and nonprofit developers in affordable housing projects throughout Montana, as well other nonprofit and business-related manners.

Jack Doering

Secretary

Jack grew up skiing the icy slopes of the Midwest, but moved out West as soon as he could. After traveling North America skiing, guiding, and patrolling, he settled down in M... Read More +

Jack Doering

Secretary

Jack grew up skiing the icy slopes of the Midwest, but moved out West as soon as he could. After traveling North America skiing, guiding, and patrolling, he settled down in Missoula. Jack was an educator for WCMAF for three years, and joined the board in 2024. He brings a passion for safe, accessible backcountry travel, and would especially like to expand collaboration with the motorized community. Jack works as a nurse in town, and squeezes all the skiing he can get out of our fickle Montana snowpack.

Jaclyn Rushing

Jaclyn is an Oregon girl who came to Montana in 2017 to work for the Park Service. She began her backcountry pursuits in the Flathead and has appreciated the work of avalanch... Read More +

Jaclyn Rushing

Jaclyn is an Oregon girl who came to Montana in 2017 to work for the Park Service. She began her backcountry pursuits in the Flathead and has appreciated the work of avalanche centers ever since. So in 2024, she joined the BOD to give back and help ensure fun and safe experiences for all winter recreationists.

Jaclyn thinks about outdoor recreation all the time. To earn her turns, Jaclyn works as a social scientist for the Rocky Mountain Research Station focusing on outdoor recreation and public land management.

Mary Anderson

Mary Anderson moved to Montana in 2010 for college and has never wanted to leave. Growing up in Salt Lake City, Mary started skiing as a toddler and was raised with a passion... Read More +

Mary Anderson

Mary Anderson moved to Montana in 2010 for college and has never wanted to leave. Growing up in Salt Lake City, Mary started skiing as a toddler and was raised with a passion for the outdoors. As a frequent user of the avalanche forecast products, Mary joined the board in 2024 to help further the organization's mission and stay involved in the Missoula community.

When she isn't outside skiing or running with her family, Mary works as a Business Analyst for corporate software implementation projects, keeping them organized and on track.

Andrew Martin

Andy's connection to the mountains kicked off in Casper, Wyoming. That's where he grew up and first gave snowboarding a shot back in middle school. Though he got that early t... Read More +

Andrew Martin

Andy's connection to the mountains kicked off in Casper, Wyoming. That's where he grew up and first gave snowboarding a shot back in middle school. Though he got that early taste for snow sports, his path took a bit of a detour while as he focused on basketball, which is what brought him to Missoula and the University of Montana in 2012.
During his time at the University of Montana, Andy grew to deeply appreciate Missoula's amazing access to wild landscapes. This connection was strengthened by experiences like a summer job working on a trail crew while he was still in college. Shortly after graduating, he continued his immersion in the outdoors by working as a raft guide. These experiences collectively fueled his desire to spend more time exploring nature than being cooped up in a gym. Inspired by friends already venturing into the backcountry on skis, Andy eagerly took up the sport himself after college. It quickly became a passion for him, alongside many other activities Missoula is known for.
Andy now works at onXmaps, helping make tools for backcountry enthusiasts. His job is a constant reminder of both the incredible joy and freedom our public lands offer, and the real risks that come with them, particularly in winter. It's this viewpoint that fuels his commitment to give back and help keep local backcountry users safe. He's proud to serve on the board of the West Central Missoula Avalanche Center, supporting the vital work they do for everyone heading out in the snow.

Derek Pansze

Derek grew up in the mountains of Southwest Colorado, where he quickly learned that skiing was a much more fun winter activity than playing hockey. After studying geology in ... Read More +

Derek Pansze

Derek grew up in the mountains of Southwest Colorado, where he quickly learned that skiing was a much more fun winter activity than playing hockey. After studying geology in college, he decided to move to Missoula and was immediately drawn in by the incredible skiing and boating in the area. Derek joined the WCMAF board in 2024 to help support the incredible work that the avalanche center does and to give back to the local backcountry community. When not out skiing, Derek can be found rafting, hiking with his dogs, and trying to fix his perennially broken sled.