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.

Jaclyn Rushing

Secretary

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

Secretary

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 began in Casper, Wyoming, where he grew up and first tried snowboarding in middle school. Although that early experience sparked an inter... Read More +

Andrew Martin

Andy’s connection to the mountains began in Casper, Wyoming, where he grew up and first tried snowboarding in middle school. Although that early experience sparked an interest in snow sports, his path initially took a different direction as he focused on basketball, which ultimately brought him to Missoula and the University of Montana in 2012.

While attending the University of Montana, Andy developed a deep appreciation for Missoula’s exceptional access to wild landscapes. That connection grew through experiences such as working on a trail crew during the summers and, after graduating, guiding whitewater rafting trips. Together, these experiences fueled his desire to spend more time outdoors and less time inside a gym. Inspired by friends who were already traveling into the backcountry on skis, Andy took up backcountry skiing after college, quickly developing a passion for it alongside many of the outdoor pursuits Missoula is known for.

Andy now works at onXmaps, helping build tools for backcountry enthusiasts. His work serves as a daily reminder of both the freedom and joy our public lands offer and the real risks that come with them, particularly in winter. This perspective drives his commitment to giving back and helping keep local backcountry users safe. Andy is proud to serve on the board of the West Central Montana Avalanche Center, supporting the critical work they do for everyone traveling in snowy terrain.

Morgan Throckmorton

Morgan grew up in Northern California and spent every winter skiing in Tahoe as a kid. After moving to Missoula in 2019, she began exploring the Bitterroots and quickly devel... Read More +

Morgan Throckmorton

Morgan grew up in Northern California and spent every winter skiing in Tahoe as a kid. After moving to Missoula in 2019, she began exploring the Bitterroots and quickly developed a passion for backcountry skiing. She took her first Avalanche Level 1 course through the West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation (WCMAF), which sparked a passion for avalanche science and pursuing skiing as a career.

In 2024, Morgan left her career in the tech industry and business intelligence/analytics to pursue seasonal work in the outdoors—patrolling in the winter and working for river outfitters in the summer. Today, she lives in Salmon, ID, is a full-time ski patroller at Lost Trail Ski Area, and is the handler of a validated avalanche rescue dog, Skadi. She earned her Pro 1 Avalanche certification through the American Avalanche Institute in Bozeman last year and continues to pursue advanced avalanche education. In her free time, she travels in her adventure camper van whenever possible.

Morgan joined the WCMAF board out of a passion for community connection and a commitment to ensure high-quality avalanche forecasting and education in the region.

Julie Ann Williams

Julie Ann joined the West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation (WCMAF) Board of Directors in 2025 and is passionate about building community through outdoor recreation and ed... Read More +

Julie Ann Williams

Julie Ann joined the West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation (WCMAF) Board of Directors in 2025 and is passionate about building community through outdoor recreation and education.

She learned to ski on the hills of Minnesota before finding her love for mountains and powder days in Colorado, where she served as a ski instructor and member of the National Ski Patrol.

Julie Ann and her partner relocated to Missoula in 2024 in pursuit of a slower pace of life and fewer I-70 traffic jams. By day, she works in Admissions at the University of Montana, where she leads event and visit strategy and oversees the team that designs and implements large-scale programs that connect future Grizzlies and their families through meaningful experiences rooted in connection, hospitality, and learning.

A lifelong skier and advocate for mountain safety, Julie Ann is committed to promoting safe, informed recreation in Montana’s backcountry. Having personally experienced the profound impact of avalanche accidents within her community, she is honored to support WCMAF’s mission of education, awareness, and preparedness.

When she’s not planning events, volunteering, or cheering on the Griz, you’ll find her exploring the mountains with her partner and their adventure dog by all means and modes possible, whether it is skiing and snowboarding, hiking, kayaking, running, mountain biking, or camping.

Brian Story

Brian was fortunate to grow up in Southwest Montana, with an emphasis on spending time outside. Since moving to Missoula in 2007, he has explored as many obscure nooks and c... Read More +

Brian Story

Brian was fortunate to grow up in Southwest Montana, with an emphasis on spending time outside. Since moving to Missoula in 2007, he has explored as many obscure nooks and crannies as possible, preferably deep in the mountains. Brian joined the West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation board in 2025 and brings a working knowledge of local terrain and an interest in making travel in avalanche terrain safer and more accessible. Brian followed the calling of public service and works as a Civil Engineer for the Forest Service. When not skiing or working, he enjoys spending time with his family and the local community.

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.