Staff

Mike is the founder and executive director of theWhitefish Lake Institute. He has a biology degree from Luther College. Mike's professional career began with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks as a fisheries technician working in the Clark Fork and Blackfoot River drainages. Mike also traveled to Nevada to study Lahontan Cutthroat trout for the Summit Lake Paiute Tribe, and in Alaska he worked with sockeye salmon for the Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation. Upon his return to Montana, Mike was a partner at WatershedConsulting for eight years where he specialized in fisheries related issues in Montana, Idaho and Nevada. In 2009, Mike was presented an Individual Achievement Award by the Montana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society for his outstanding contribution to the protection and enhancement of fisheries resources in Montana.

Mike serves on the Flathead Basin Commission Monitoring Committee, the Flathead Aquatic Invasive Species Committee, Flathead Community of Resource Educators (CORE), and provides technical assistance to the Bigfork Stormwater Advisory Committee. He was a co-coordinator of the Montana Lake Book, now in its second edition printing.

As Science and Education Director, Lori ensures that Whitefish Lake Institute's science and educational programs perform to their potential. She has a Master of Science in Environmental Studies from Green Mountain College and a Bachelor's degree in Business Management. Lori has contributed to research in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in California, Colorado, and Montana. Her career includes diverse management roles across a variety of disciplines.

Lori is the author of the Flathead Watershed Sourcebook: A Guide to an Extraordinary Place, a book and companion website that illustrates the natural and cultural histories ofthe Flathead Watershed, while detailing biodiversity, water quality, land management, agricultural production, and economics. It identifies conservation and education resources and is being used by educators in grade schools, high schools, and colleges including the University of Montana.

Lori serves on the Flathead CORE Watershed Education Committee and is an Adjunct Instructor of Bioregional Theory & Practice for Green Mountain College. She is the recipient of the 2010 Partner of the Year award from the Northwest Regional RC&D and the 2011 Outstanding Writer Award from the Montana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society.

Josh Gubits: Environmental Scientist, Coordinator of NWMTVLMN
josh@whitefishlake.org

Josh is an Environmental Scientist for WLI. While in school, Josh worked as a fishing guide on the Blackfoot, Clark Fork, Bitterroot and Missouri rivers. After receiving his environmental studies degree from the University of Montana, he worked for the Audubon Society to develop education and outreach programs in Santa Fe. Before joining WLI, he worked for the Watershed Education Network as the Field Programs Coordinator. Josh spent the last four years teaching more than 10,000 teachers, students and volunteers about water quality, through the collection of chemical, biological and physical data on stream sites across Western Montana.
Josh has spent several years training, coordinating and working with volunteers in several capacities including water quality monitoring, database management, education, and curriculum development. Josh is a certified Montana Master Naturalist, and in 2009 he was the recipient of the Montana Water Teacher of the Year award presented by the Montana Environmental Education Association.

Chris has worked in the field of Water Resources since 1975 and spent part of his time as an associate environmental scientist at WLI. He taught Earth Science and Power and Energy Technology at Whitefish High School, where he was a teacher for 25 years. Chris' students were instrumental in converting a pontoon boat into the research vessel WLI uses today. He worked in Public Utilities, Water Rights, Water Quality, Agriculture, Recreation, and Adult Education.

Chris helped to develop the High School FREEFLOW Program focused on providing field experience in water quality for students and teachers throughout the Flathead Valley. In 2006, the Chris was awarded the annual Stewardship Award by the Flathead Basin Commission.