“Thank you to the landowners, partners, and community members that make GVLT’s work possible—they are some of the finest folks I’ve had the pleasure to work with and share a deep passion about the future of SW Montana.”

Cole joined GVLT in the spring of 2021 as a Land Steward, working with landowners to ensure conservation easements continue to meet the goals of the landowner and the land trust. In the Fall of 2022, Cole transitioned to the Program Manager role, partnering with landowners as they made the impactful decision to place a conservation easement on their property. Cole was raised in the Pacific Northwest, between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains. He attended the University of Puget Sound, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a Bachelor of Arts in environmental policy while working as a wildland firefighter for the Forest Service during his summers. His passion for connecting with people and place led him to an AmeriCorps position with the Teton Science Schools in Jackson, Wyoming, where he taught a little and learned a lot about the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Cole can often be found exploring the mountains and waterways of southwest Montana and trying to meet new friends along the way. He is grateful to learn from those who have long called this region home and is eager to partner with those who are new to the area, with the shared goal of building a community that is rooted in an appreciation for the open space, agriculture, and wildlife of southwest Montana.