Our Staff

Linda Reed, President/CEO
lindareed@mtcf.org
406-443-4271

Linda moved to Montana in 1992 to become the president of a Helena bank. She subsequently joined the administration of Governor Marc Racicot as his economic development adviser. She also worked for US West (Qwest) in its Policy and Law division before joining the Foundation as its executive officer. Linda has served on the boards of many arts and economic development nonprofits and now fulfills her community responsibilities by writing checks. She is a strong supporter of downtowns as centers of community life and recently purchased a retail building on Last Chance Gulch (Helena’s main street) and converted the second-story warehouse to her residence. Yarn, fabric, wool and thread are the tools of her imagination. In her hands, they become designer sweaters, intricate needlework, whimsical baby hats and other cherished gifts. Linda describes herself as a gypsy, having lived in eight of the 11 western states. But she found a home in Montana and plans to stay.

Cathy Cooney, Program Director
ccooney@mtcf.org
406-443-8313 ext. 108

As a program director for the Foundation, Cathy works closely with our local community foundation affiliates and nonprofit clients. Cathy moved to Montana from California, where she worked in the nonprofit sector for 20 years, including eight years as the director of grant programs for a community foundation in Southern California. Before that, she was the clinic manager for Planned Parenthood of San Diego and Riverside counties for nine years. Cathy works in our satellite office in Kalispell and lives in Bigfork with husband Ned and three adorable cats.  Cathy says her biggest accomplishment is that she’s been to all 56 counties in Montana.

Emily Kovarik, Controller
emilykovarik@mtcf.org
406-443-8313, ext. 102

"Experienced nonprofit controller with friendly, energetic attitude” might be the first line of Emily McKeever’s resume, but scan her accomplishments—three and a half years as director of finance with the Montana Food Bank Network, four years as a controller with Boone and Crockett Club, six years as an auditor with the global accounting firm KPMG in Portland with a year of college internship with the assistant controller at Gonzaga University thrown in—and you’ll know the Montana Community Foundation’s controller is no ordinary number-cruncher. During her tenure at the Montana Food Bank Network, she helped increase the budget by nearly $1 million and oversaw clean single audits of their federal and state grants. She managed millions of dollars in state and federal contracts, tracked enormous foundation gifts, devised financial policies and procedures to ensure first-rate internal controls, completed annual audits, oversaw payroll , wage and tax reporting—and in her spare time was a volunteer musician at Missoula’s St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Emily grew up on her family’s farm outside Fort Benton, and brings a valuable perspective from rural Montana along with her extensive experience.

Nicole Rush, Communications Manager
nicole@mtcf.org
406-443-8313 ext 100

Nicole comes to the Foundation from the nonprofit world. While finishing her degree in English from the University of Montana-Missoula, Nicole worked at the Poverello Center’s homeless shelter for families with children. She currently wears many hats at the Foundation, with duties that include editing this website, overseeing the production of Infinity, the Foundation's newsletter, and maintaining and editing our four different databases. Nicole is passionate about the role the Foundation can play in Montana's future.

Jenny Baglien, Accountant
jennybaglien@mtcf.org
406-443-8313, ext. 101

Jenny Baglien just joined the Montana Community Foundation as our new accountant. She is a native of Nebraska. She graduated with an accounting degree from Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska. She moved to Montana to be closer to her parents, who currently reside in Big Timber. When not processing grants and scholarships, she enjoys spending time with her little sister Katie, as a mentor for the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program of Helena. She takes pride in her weekly runs, gauging her improvement. She also plays 'hide and seek' with her parakeets Simon and Garfunkel, who are rarely in their cage when she gets home. She knits and crochets when she can and loves to enjoy a good book. She looks forward to putting her skills to use working at the Montana Community Foundation.

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