DREAM Adaptive
Team DREAM
Meet the faces behind DREAM Adaptive Recreation. From our dedicated Staff and Board of Directors to our Emetrius Board.
Team DREAM Staff
Julie Tickle
Executive Director
Julie joined the DREAM team in January 2017 in a program-facing role and moved into the Executive Director position in June 2018.
Julie's Full Bio
She grew up near balmy Buffalo, New York as a four-season fresh air kid. She was a two-sport and All-American athlete in college, earning a B.S. in Psychology and M.S. in Sports Administration.
Julie’s career in adaptive sports began in 2007 in Colorado, where she worked for the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Highlights of her tenure included supporting the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver, the 2011 Para-PanAmerican Games in Guadalajara, and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Her free time was spent exploring the Rockies where she fell in love with mountain life.
The daughter of two teachers, one in special education, Julie was taught at an early age the importance of inclusion and in ensuring people with disabilities are represented in all aspects of the community.
Committee involvement: City of Whitefish-Bike & Pedestrian Path Committee; Safe Trails Whitefish
Certifications: Wilderness First Responder, PSIA Alpine Level I, PSIA Adaptive Level I, Avy 1
Rainey Dyreson
Program Coordinator
Rainey joined Team DREAM in December 2024 in a Program Coordinator role. Growing up in Twin Falls, Idaho, Rainey spent nearly all of her free time outdoors.
Rainey's Full Bio
Whether she was playing softball, kayaking on the Snake River, or snowboarding in the Smoky Mountains, her passion for being outside started at a young age.
Rainey graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and a Softball Mountain West Championship ring. After spending six years in Boise, Idaho, she relocated to Montana to be closer to the mountains. Her passion towards the outdoors led her to DREAM. Rainey strongly believes in inclusive recreation because everyone deserves to experience the positive benefits of being outdoors.
When she is not working, she enjoys fly fishing, biking, snowboarding, and dancing to live music.
Anna Fake
Program Coordinator
Anna joined the Team DREAM in May of 2025 as a seasonal program specialist with an emphasis on supporting the bike programs.
Anna's Full Bio
In the fall of 2025 she stepped into the Coordinator role.
Originally from Telluride, Colorado, Anna grew up immersed in the outdoors-running, biking swimming, and both alpine and nordic skiing. Her love for skiing took her to Montana State University, where she competed as a Division I nordic skier, graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and earned All-American Honors.
Before heading north to Whitefish, Anna let Big Sky’s local Nordic Program, sharing her passion for skiing and community. Through her experiences as both a coach and student, she discovered her drive to help everyone enjoy the outdoors in way that work for them-a mission she’s excited to continue with DREAM.
When she’s not working, you’ll likely find Anna rafting whitewater, exploring trails by bike, flying down nordic trails, or adding another gem to her ever-growing costume bin often crafted with her sewing machine and bedazzler.
Kate Heston
Development Coordinator
Kate joined DREAM Adaptive Recreation in February 2026 as our new Events Coordinator, and we are so excited to have her energy and talent on board.
Kate's Full Bio
Growing up in the Midwest and Texas, Kate made her way to the Mountain West after graduating college and has not looked back. Kate graduated from the University of Iowa in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications and International Relations. After graduation, she moved to Northwest Montana to work as a journalist for the Daily Inter Lake, where she spent three years diving into and writing about the Flathead Valley community.
As Montana became home, so did a deep love for the outdoors. That passion for recreation, access, and storytelling naturally led her to DREAM. Kate brings strong event planning skills, community engagement experience, and a storyteller’s heart to our team. She believes deeply that access to the outdoors can change lives, and she is committed to helping create experiences where everyone can feel a sense of belonging and adventure.
Outside of work, Kate can be found hiking, climbing, reading a book by a body of water or singing karaoke and dancing with friends.
Ellen Mering
Development Specialist
Ellen joined DREAM in 2025 as the Fundraising and Events Specialist. Growing up in Idaho, she enjoyed camping, hiking, rafting, and skiing with her family.
Ellen's Full Bio
In college she studied forestry and agriculture, while also working as a rock climbing instructor for the college outdoors program.
After graduation, Ellen spent seven years working for the US Forest Service across the West. Her favorite Forest Service job was working as a forester. In this role, she had the opportunity to work on fire mitigation projects, timber sales and reforestation projects. The annual highlight was using ropes to climb trees to collect pine cones for reforestation. Ellen truly values access to public lands and is excited to support DREAM’s mission to provide outdoor adaptive recreational opportunities.
Since 2023, Ellen has been working at nonprofits while also running a small vegetable farm with her husband, Andrew. She enjoys connecting with community members, whether at events or the farmers market. When she’s not working, you’ll find her hiking, floating the river, or skiing with friends and family.
Erich Spitz
Development Manager
Erich joined the team in February 2024 in the role of Development Manager. Growing up in Buffalo, New York, he immersed himself in volunteering with adaptive sports organizations...
Erich's Full Bio
...Which fostered his deep appreciation for the outdoors and inclusive recreation. After graduating with a B.S. in Business Management from Roberts Wesleyan University in 2019, Erich spent five years working for a youth development nonprofit in Western New York.
Drawn by his love for the mountains, Erich came to Whitefish looking for a place to pursue both his personal and professional passions. When not working, he enjoys fly fishing, hiking, biking, playing golf, and cheering on his beloved Buffalo Bills and Sabres!
Madeline Westbrook
Program Director
Madeline, aka "Maddy," moved from the Mt. Hood area of Oregon to join the DREAM Adaptive Team in September 2020.
Maddy's Full Bio
She has been working in the outdoor industry as a professional ski patroller/Assistant Patrol Director and ski racing coach on Mt. Hood for the last three years. Prior to this, she was working for the U.S. Forest Service as a seasonal recreation staff member in various locations in Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Washington. She graduated from the University of New Mexico with a B.S. in Athletic Training.
Madeline was born in Saratoga, Wyoming, and moved to the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado as a second grader where she learned to alpine ski; then she and her family moved to the Mt Hood area. Madeline has grown up alpine skiing, whitewater rafting, and hiking; her family spent any time they could outside exploring rivers, mountains, and the local areas they lived in.
Certifications:
Wilderness EMT, Emergency Medical Technician, PSIA Level 1 Alpine, PSIA Level 1 Adaptive
We're Hiring!
Join our Dynamic Team
Your name & Bio here!
DREAM Adaptive Recreation is searching for a Program Manager: Full Time, Year-round; Exempt.
Board of Directors
Jeffra Clough
Board President
Jeffra's Bio
Retired Snowsports School Director
Jeffra Clough was born & raised in Leadville, Colorado, moved to Juneau, Alaska where she worked as the Sales/Marketing & Snowsports School Director at the Eaglecrest Ski Area for 29 years until her retirement in 2018. While at Eaglecrest her role included supporting the adaptive ORCA program which was through Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL). She is a member of PSIA-AASI, holds Alpine Level III, Adaptive Level I certifications as well as a Children’s Specialist 2 Accreditation. Jeffra & her husband Al discovered Whitefish in the early 2000’s, bought property in 2003 and began working towards retirement in the Flathead Valley. Jeffra began working as a ski instructor for Whitefish Mountain Resort in 2018 and provides on-snow training for DREAM’s instructors through WMR’s Ski & Ride School. She joined the DREAM Board of Directors in November 2021, and became Board President in November 2022.
AJ Spear
Board Treasurer
AJ's Bio
VP, Commercial Lender – Glacier Bank
AJ Spear is a Montana native and was raised in the Flathead Valley. AJ and his son, Brayden, who is currently attending high school in Kalispell, spend their free time skiing, hiking, fishing, and enjoying all that the Flathead Valley has to offer. AJ was introduced to DREAM Adaptive by fellow board members and joined the board in the Fall of 2021. It is AJ’s goal to assist DREAM Adaptive in continuing to fulfill its mission of enhancing the qualify of life of individuals with disabilities by providing year-round outdoor adaptive recreational activities.
Suzanne DeVore
Board Secretary
Suzanne's Bio
Legal Nurse Consultant
Suzanne DeVore, originally from Texas, spent 15 years in the San Francisco Bay Area after completing her college education. During this time, she built her career as a nurse at Stanford University Hospital and worked as a clinical education consultant for various medical device start-up companies. Eventually, Suzanne established her own consulting practice, specializing in aiding attorneys with medical malpractice cases.
Suzanne and her husband Russ discovered the beauty of the Flathead Valley during a fishing trip and in 2016 decided to make it their home. Since then, they have been actively involved in the community, starting with volunteering as instructors in DREAM’s winter alpine program. Suzanne holds certifications from PSIA-AASI in Alpine Level I and Adaptive Level I. Growing up with a background in competitive swimming, Suzanne naturally gravitated towards volunteering with the DREAM paddleboard and water sports programs during the summer months. In her leisure time, she enjoys hiking, fly fishing, coaching the local age group swim team, participating in CrossFit activities, and hosting gatherings at her home.
Cjay Clark
Board Member
Cjay's Bio
Realtor / Owner – PureWest Real Estate
Cjay Clark is a proud Montana native with deep roots in the state’s hospitality industry, where his family has been involved for five generations. Licensed in both Colorado and Montana, Cjay brings a wealth of experience in resort-town real estate and community development.
Passionate about giving back, Cjay has long been involved in philanthropic and business ventures that strengthen mountain communities. Inspired by his late father’s legacy of service and resilience, he continues to champion causes that uplift others and expand access to vital resources.
A proud father of two, Cjay finds joy and connection in the Montana outdoors. When he’s not working, he enjoys flying, traveling, and pursuing his passion for lifelong learning and adventure.
Jan Katzoff
Board Member
Jan's Bio
Sports & Entertainment Marketing Executive-Film Producer
Jan was founder and CEO of SportsMark Management Group, a San Francisco–based global sports and entertainment marketing agency, for 18 years before its 2008 acquisition by Omnicom. He remained with Omnicom through 2017, serving as Executive VP overseeing 23 experiential agencies and later as Head of Global Sports & Entertainment Consulting for GMR following the merger of SportsMark and GMR into a 1,000-person agency. Over his career, Jan led marketing activities and corporate hospitality at 14 Olympic and 6 Paralympic Games, 6 FIFA World Cups, numerous Super Bowls, and other major global events including the U.S. Open, The Masters, and Ryder Cup. He worked extensively across Europe, South America, and China, collaborating with premier brands such as P&G, AT&T, Visa, Intel, Allianz, GE, The Hartford, GM, CBS Sports, AEG, the NFL, and MLB. His teams earned multiple Sports Business Journal awards and other industry honors.
In 2017, Jan launched Little Britches Productions, LLC, focused on sports marketing and documentary film production. He has produced or executive-produced four feature documentaries, including the award-winning Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Story and PASANG: In the Shadow of Everest (both on Amazon Prime Video).
A longtime board member of the San Francisco 49ers Foundation and supporter of DREAM Adaptive Recreation’s Midsummer Night’s DREAM, Jan has lived in Whitefish, Montana, for 23 years, where he enjoys skiing, fly-fishing, hiking, and golf.
Casey Malmquist
Board Member
Casey's Bio
Entrepreneur • Developer • Sustainable Construction Leader
Casey Malmquist brings more than 40 years of experience in construction, development, and innovation to DREAM’s Board of Directors. As founder and principal of Malmquist Construction, for over three decades, he guided the Whitefish based construction company’s growth into one of Montana’s premier builders of custom homes, mountain retreats, and exceptional commercial projects. In 2012, Casey founded SmartLam North America, pioneering the production of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and helping launch a new era of sustainable, mass-timber construction in the United States.
A longtime advocate for community access, trails, and thoughtful city planning, Casey is deeply committed to giving back and supporting organizations that make outdoor recreation more inclusive. After an accident reshaped his own relationship with mobility and access, he developed a profound appreciation for creating opportunities that allow everyone to enjoy Montana’s outdoor spaces.
Within DREAM, Casey plays a vital role as the Owner’s Representative for the organization’s $16 million Mountain Center project at Whitefish Mountain Resort, applying his deep construction expertise to ensure the facility is designed and built to the highest standards of accessibility, functionality, and sustainability. When he’s not working or volunteering, Casey can be found tending his land, gardens, or exploring the outdoors with his dog, Caboose—living proof that adventure and connection to nature are central to a life well-built.
Phil Nelson
Board Member
Phil's Bio
VP, Branch Manager at Stockman Bank
Roger Rowles
Board Member
Roger's Bio
Retired – MD
Kim Solem
Board Member
Kim's Bio
Retired Corporate Philanthropist
Addison Vergara
Board Member
Addison's Bio
Financial Advisor – DA Davidson
Addison is a Colorado native and moved to Montana in 2014 to attend school and play football at Carroll College. After graduating, he spent two years in Washington for work, with the intention of returning to Montana. He moved to the Flathead Valley in 2021 and works as a financial advisor. Outside of the office, you can find Addison on the ski hill, on the water, or on the trail. As a lover of the outdoors, DREAM’s mission resonates with him. He is excited to contribute to an organization that provides the resources and opportunities for people to get outside and move, and to do so with others.
Emeritus Board
Jerry Mahugh
Retired – Real Estate Agent and Teacher
Jerry's Bio
Jerry joined DREAM back in the 80’s and has held just about every role imaginable. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors, Jerry still volunteers with DREAM’s winter Alpine Ski program and the motorized watersports program, which he started.
In his former life, Jerry was a teacher and real estate professional in the Flathead Valley.
