Bureau Chief Stephanie Criswell

Steph joined DNRC in March 2014 first as a grant and program manager for the Resource Development Bureau. She then became DNRC’s first invasive species program manager and has been the coordinator for the Montana Invasive Species Council (MISC) since it was established in 2014. She also administered the state’s Aquatic Invasive Species Grant Program. 

Steph earned a BA in Environmental Studies from the Evergreen State College and a MBA from the University of Montana. She is a certified PMP (project management professional).

Prior to joining DNRC, Steph worked for the National Parks & Conservation Association (NPCA), where she was charged with advocacy at the 13 national monuments, battlefields, and historic sites in the region. In March 2009, she joined NPCA’s Center for Park Management to apply her advocacy experience and education to park management issues.

Prior to NPCA, Steph worked for 10 years in the publishing industry as a marketing manager and acquisitions editor specializing in books on outdoor recreation, nature, and regional history. 

Steph is stationed in Helena and serves as the primary contact for CDs in parts of Area 3 (Pondera, Teton, Cascade), and parts of Area 6 (Lewis & Clark, Jefferson Valley, Mile High, Broadwater, Meagher) Conservation Districts. She is the CD Bureau representative for the Montana Salinity Control Association (MSCA), and MT Envirothon.

CONTACT

Email: steph.criswell@mt.gov

Phone: 406-444-6669

CD Specialist Mary Hendrix

Mary worked in the private sector before discovering her love of natural resources and conservation while working as the District Administrator for both the McCone and Gallatin Conservation Districts. 

She enjoys time spent with her family, cats, and new puppy, Pippin.

Mary is stationed in Helena and serves as the primary contact for CDs on the Hi-line and Central Montana. Coverage includes Area 1 (Valley), most of Area 3 (Glacier, Toole, Liberty, Hill, Blaine, Phillips, Choteau, Big Sandy, Judith Basin, Fergus), and part of Area 4 (Big Horn, Carbon, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Lower Musselshell, Upper Musselshell). She is the CD Bureau representative for the Milk River Watershed Alliance (MRWA). 

CONTACT

Email: mary.hendrix@mt.gov

Phone: 406-444-4253

Stream Permitting Coordinator Jason Garber

Originally from Big Horn Wyoming, Jason has been living and working in Montana since 2015.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Wyoming and a master’s degree in Natural Resources form Utah State University. 

Jason transitioned to DNRC from DEQ where he was the Clean Water Act Section 401 Coordinator and 318 Coordinator. Jason has 20 years of experience working in cultural and natural resource fields and has worked closely with regulatory agencies and the public on stream permitting throughout the State of Montana. 

He enjoys trail running, skiing, gardening and making functional pottery.

Jason is stationed in Helena and serves all CDs in Montana.

CONTACT

Email: jason.garber@mt.gov

Phone: 406-444-4340

Water Reservations Specialist Randell Hopkins

Randell graduated from Montana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources and Rangeland Ecology. He worked as a Soil Conservationist with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Hardin, MT. With NRCS, he worked with producers in Big Horn County for 3 years administering programs that provide technical and financial assistance to private landowners who put in conservation practices on their property. He then transitioned to DNRC as the Water Reservation Specialist in the DNRC-CARDD office in Miles City. He looks forward to working for the Conservation District Bureau and helping Conservation Districts by providing technical, legal, and administrative assistance in administering applications for the water reservation program.

When he is not working, Randell enjoys hunting, fishing, archery, and sketching. He lives in Miles City with his wife Maria. They enjoy camping, spending time outdoors together, and exploring our beautiful state of Montana. When they are at home, they enjoy gardening and cooking together.

Randell is stationed in Miles City and serves CDs with their water reservations for the Yellowstone River Basin, part of the Upper Missouri River basin (Lower Musselshell CD),and the Lower Missouri basin (Richland County CD), and the Little Missouri River basin. Those are Park, Sweet Grass, Stillwater, Carbon, Lower Musselshell, Yellowstone, Treasure County, Rosebud, Big Horn, Custer County, Prairie County, Powder River, Richland County, Dawson County, Wibaux, Little Beaver, and Carter County Conservation Districts.

CONTACT

Email: Randell.Hopkins@mt.gov

Phone: 406-232-6359

CD Specialist Hailey Graf

Hailey Graf worked for the Forest Service in wildlife biology before returning to the University of Montana for a Master of Science degree in Resource Conservation. Her background also includes working as a Public Information Officer for the Northern Rockies Incident Management Team. Most recently, Hailey worked as the Resource Conservationist for the Flathead Conservation District where she oversaw stream restoration projects, landowner assistance programs, and education and outreach.  

Growing up in the Flathead Valley gave her a strong love of the outdoors and she can be found hiking, fly fishing, and sailing in her off time. 

Hailey is stationed in Kalispell to serve as the primary point of contact for CDs on the western side of the divide. Coverage includes all of Area 5 and parts of Area 6 (Beaverhead, Ruby Valley, Madison, Gallatin, and Park).

CONTACT

Email: Hailey.Graf@mt.gov

Phone: 406-437-4435

CD Specialist Veronica Grigaltchik

Veronica Grigaltchik completed a Bachelor's of Zoology at the University of Florida and a Doctorate in Biological Sciences at the University of Sydney in Australia. She started her conservation career in 2016 Eastern Montana as a Private Lands Wildlife Biologist with Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, in a partner position in the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office in Jordan. Her passion for conservation and agriculture in Eastern Montana grew, and she joined the NRCS, first as a soil conservation technician, then as a soil conservationist. She has been a District Conservationist in the Circle NRCS office for the past year. 

Veronica is stationed in Miles City to serve as the primary point of contact for CDs in the eastern part of the state. Coverage includes Area 1 (except for Valley), all of Area 2, and part of Area 4 (Rosebud, Treasure, and Yellowstone). She is the CD Bureau representative for the Missouri River Conservation Districts Council (MRCDC).

CONTACT

Email: Veronica.Grigaltchik@mt.gov

Phone: 406-874-2046

CDB Coordinator Katherine Certalic

Hello, I'm Katherine! My husband is a Montana native, so we relocated to Helena in 2019 (I come from North Dakota). I hold a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and have worked in the public sector for the past five years. Since moving here, I've fallen in love with the endless activities and beauty this state has to offer. I enjoy doing anything that gets me outside: hiking with our dogs, kayaking, camping, and much more. I am thrilled to be starting my journey at DNRC and am looking forward to working with all of you!

Katherine is stationed in Helena.

CONTACT

Email: KCertalic@mt.gov

Phone: 406-444-4238