Kelly McDermott - President

Kelly grew up roaming the hill country and high deserts of west Texas, far from ice of any form. After earning her B.S. in environmental science and M.S. in aquatic biology, she spent 20 years as a field scientist with local, state, and federal agencies, working on everything from karst aquifers to clean air before switching careers to focus on fundraising and community development. Moving around the country, she fell in love with the mountains while living in Colorado, and found her forever home in Montana in 2019. While part of the Leadership Helena program in 2021, she participated in a learn to curl - and was hooked. She rounded up 4 unsuspecting friends and formed the Curling Dervishes. She enjoys sharing her love of curling with the community and introducing new people to the sport.

Neil Sauter - Vice President

Curling is Neil's favorite sport.  As a kid growing up in Michigan, he used to enjoy watching curling on the Canadian Broadcast Channel.  When he got married in 2008, his wife rented out a curling facility as a wedding present, and Neil decided that living near a curling facility was an essential aspect of where he wanted to live.  Helena having The Last Chance Curling Club is what convinced Neil to move here in 2022.  After years of curling on dedicated ice, He is looking forward to helping the club grow and eventually have a facility of our own.

Andy Welch - Treasurer

Andy was born and raised in Boise, ID in a family that enjoyed all things outdoors including camping, fishing, and skiing. Andy moved to the Big Sky state to attend Carroll College and has yet to find a reason to leave. When Andy first played around on ice, he was like a fish out of water. When one of his good friends asked if he wanted to join a curling league in Butte, he said, “Why not. Might as well give it a shot.” Through the thrills and spills he fell in love with the game of curling and the comradery that came with it. Andy is thrilled to serve on the LCCC board and to help build the curling community in Helena. 

 

Chandler Rowling - Secretary

Chandler is originally from the Chicago metropolitan area, and she moved to Helena, in 2019, to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA after graduating from Purdue University Northwest. Always eager to try new things and embark on new adventures, Chandler discovered curling in 2023 through the Last Chance Curling Club.She quickly fell rock-hard for the sport and has since helped bring new curlers to form teams. Chandler is excited to support the growth and expansion of the curling community in Helena and beyond, while spreading the word about this amazing sport and all the fun it has to offer!

Todd Myse

Todd is from "The Motherland" (aka Wisconsin). He was born in Appleton and went to college in Eau Claire. During his undergrad studies in geology, he started to visit The West and fell in love with the mountains. He moved out to Vermont to attend graduate school and found work in the area after his studies which brought him to New Hampshire. After about 11 years out East, he moved out to Montana in 2010. He enjoys live music, camping, hiking, backpacking, fishing, and many winter activities. In 2019, he was talking to a friend that was on the Copper City Curling Club Board. He mentioned the Club had just purchased two more sets of curling stones and were expanding their League Teams. Todd asked some friends in Helena if they wanted to form a team and try out this sport of curling. They were interested! Everyone was immediately hooked and fell in love with the sport and the curling community. The love of the sport and the community prompted many folks to bring a Club to Helena. Todd is extremely proud to be a part of that group and looks forward to bringing more curling opportunities and excitement to Helena. Good Curling!

Barry Bollenbacher

Barry was born in the Mid-west and attended Michigan State University Forestry School and graduated with a BS in Forestry. He migrated to Montana 50 years ago and worked for the USDA Forest Service in various locations in Montana for 45 years and is now retired. Bary and his spouse Chris have 8 kids between them. One granddaughter and another on the way. Barry has enjoyed all things outdoors but especially camping throughout Montana and western Canada. Barry played hockey growing up and in college but changed to curling 14 years ago playing at the Missoula Curling Club. Barry served on their Board for 10 years and served as Board President for 6 years. Curling is his most beloved sport and he has participated in 30+ Bonspiels over the years including many in Canada curing with Seniors there. He is super excited to be part of the Last Chance Curling Club and furthering the Chess on Ice activities at LCCC!!
 

Garrett Munson

Garrett hails from the Chicagoland area and is a proud midwesterner, but has been happily living in Helena for 30 years. He joined the LCCC at it's inception in early 2021 and has found the curling community and sport to be fun and rewarding for a guy heading into the twilight of the middle age years. When not on the ice, Garrett is usually chasing after his two bird dogs, two teenage daughters and a few wild trout.   

Katie Verderber

Kameron Kranse

Barb Wagner

 

Bios coming soon...