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Diana Garrett, President
Diana Garrett, President of the Board, is a staff attorney in the Missoula office of
Montana Legal Services. Diana focuses the majority of her practice on domestic violence law
and is very involved with committees in both Missoula and Hamilton that work in this area and
in the area of social justice. Diana and her husband are the proud new parents of a baby girl,
and when she is not spending time with her family, Diana likes to play ice hockey, soccer, and
hike with her dogs.
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Heidi Wallace, Vice President
Heidi Wallace is a native Montanan who has been living in Missoula for thirteen years.
Educated at the University of Montana with degrees in Social Work and Native American Studies,
she is interested in the contemporary issues of indigenous cultures, empowering women through
education, and strengthening families and communities. Heidi worked for six years as the
Family Outreach Specialist at Paxson Elementary School focusing on family involvement, literacy,
and community building. She and her husband, Jon, have two children, Jude and Lily.
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Susan Molaris, Secretary
Susan Molaris, RN is a disease manager for adults and children with diabetes at APS
Healthcare, Inc. She received her Masters in Nursing from Montana State University in rural
health care and community health, with an interest in exercise and nutrition. As a Certified
Case Manager, Susan provided individual case management services through several businesses
in Missoula. Her professional focus has been to advocate for and empower individuals facing
debilitating and chronic health conditions. She fully supports WORD's advocacy of women and
families in our community. She enjoys skiing, hiking her dogs, reading, listening to public
radio and knitting.
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Ron Liszak, Staff Representative
Ron Liszak has worked for WORD as a young fathers advocate in the
Futures program for teen parents since early 2000. He
coordinates and facilitates the Mentors for Violence Prevention
(MVP) program in the schools of Missoula County and presents MVP to adults around the
state. Ron currently provides fatherhood consultation to Early Head Start and Ravalli Head
Start. Prior to working for WORD Ron worked as a teacher in both private and public schools
from 1972 until 2000. He has coached high school students in Odyssey of the Mind and
Speech/Drama competitions, as well as directed numerous drama productions. Ron is married and
has two adult children, two adult step children, and six grandchildren.
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Nici Holt
A fourth generation Montanan, Nici Holt is the Outreach and Membership Director at the Missoula Art Museum. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Montana where she also worked extensively with the Women's Studies department. Nici strives to affect positive change in her community through advocacy of art, social justice and animal welfare. She enjoys traveling and recreating with her husband, Andy, running with her dog, gardening, contemporary art, yoga, skiing, cooking and reading.
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Suzin Kratina
Families First Seasons Bereavement Programs' Program Manager, Suzin Kratina came to Missoula in 2001 from Miles City, MT, where she owned a health food store. Raised in New Jersey and New York City, she moved to Montana in 1976 for college. Starting out in pre-med, Suzin received her degree in Film & TV, Photography Option, and went back to school to get her teaching certificate in art. Currently in graduate school, her work has focused on working with nonprofits on mental health coordinated services for youth and families, grass roots organizing with Montana Conservation Voters and Northern Plains Resource Council, with Women's Opportunity and Resource Development developing programs for young women interested in nontraditional jobs and as a Family Outreach Specialist in public schools connecting parents to their children's schools. Suzin and her family (two daughters, one husband, two dogs, a cat and a guinea pig) enjoy hiking, biking, cross country skiing and canoeing in and around Missoula.
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John Lilburn
John works with children and families in the Missoula area as a treatment coordinator with Partnership for Children. He received his MSW from the University of Montana in 2006. John worked for WORD from 2001 to 2006, as a family advocate, coordinator of the Summer Arts and Leadership camp, representative at community forums, and is very pleased to continue his relationship with WORD as a board member. John has lived in Missoula since 1983 and is passionate about finding common ground between clinical social work and community based social justice. John and his wife, Sarah, enjoy gardening, hiking, birdwatching, and are excited to be expecting their first child in the fall of 2007.
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Jessica Weltman
Jessica Weltman is an attorney with the Federal Defenders of Montana where she provides counsel for indigent individuals charged with federal criminal offenses. Jessica received her law degree from Washington University in St. Louis and her undergraduate degree in history and gender studies from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. She worked and volunteered for a number of years as a lobbyist and advocate for organizations focusing on ending violence against women. She has also been involved with literacy projects, civil rights issues and international human rights work in south asia. Jessica is excited to play a small part in fostering the work WORD does.
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