The Whitefish Lake Institute is committed to science, education, and aquatic resource initiatives to protect and improve Whitefish Lake and area water resources today, while providing a collective community vision for tomorrow.
Meet The Whitefish Lake Institute Staff
Mike is the founder and executive director of the Whitefish Lake Institute. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Luther College. Mike's career began in the fisheries division of Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks working in the Clark Fork and Blackfoot River drainages. Mike then traveled to Nevada to study Lahontan Cutthroat trout for the Summit Lake Paiute Tribe, and in Alaska, he worked for the Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation. Upon his return to Montana, Mike was a partner at Watershed Consulting for eight years where he specialized in fisheries issues.
Mike currently serves as a governor appointed member and chair of the Western Montana Conservation Commission. His past service includes governor appointments to the Water Pollution Control Advisory Council, Flathead Basin Commission, and the Upper Columbia Conservation Commission. At the Flathead Basin Commission, Mike served on the Executive Committee and chaired the On-site Wastewater Treatment Committee and Technical Committee. At the Upper Columbia Conservation Commission, Mike chaired the Aquatic Invasive Species Early Detection and Monitoring Committee.
Mike also served on the Montana Watershed Coordination Council Board and the Whitefish Climate Action Plan Committee. Mike was a co-coordinator of the second and third editions of the Montana Lake Book. He is a past recipient of the Montana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society’s Individual Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to the protection and enhancement of fisheries resources in Montana.
Prior to WLI Cassie got her Masters in Biology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. There she worked with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to help ensure the safety of drinking water in their Catskill Reservoirs. She also participated in long term monitoring programs on three lakes located in the Pennsylvania Poconos. Cassie has worked in Grand Junction Colorado doing riparian vegetation monitoring along the Colorado, Dolores, and Gunnison rivers. Prior to that she worked on a roving trail crew throughout Arizona and Utah for the Arizona conservation corps. Cassie also attended Elizabethtown College in Eastern Pennsylvania where she played field hockey and duel majored in Environmental Science and French. Cassie was born and raised in Maine where her lifelong love of lakes began. She spent many summers swimming and exploring Baxter State Park in Northern Maine, where she fostered a love for the outdoors. Cassie is looking forward to researching and protecting Whitefish Lake and getting to know this exciting community. In her free time, Cassie enjoys hiking, swimming, and running.
Jennifer Parsons joined the Whitefish Lake Institute in 2025, bringing over 13 years of nonprofit experience in finance, administration, and organizational development. She oversees the Institute’s financial management and operational systems that support its mission to protect and enhance Whitefish Lake and the surrounding watershed.
Before joining WLI, Jennifer served as Associate Director at the Abbie Shelter, where she helped shape fiscal planning, grant compliance, and staff development during a period of organizational growth. Her work balanced operational practices with mission-driven values, fostering collaboration, transparency, and strong team culture.
Deeply rooted in the Flathead Valley, Jennifer is grateful to invest her skills in the place she calls home. With her heart in the mountains and her mind on the lakes and watershed, she is proud to contribute to the Institute’s work protecting the natural systems that sustain her community. For Jennifer, every day at WLI is an opportunity to combine professional expertise with her personal commitment to environmental stewardship and the long-term health of the valley she loves.
Before joining WLI, Jennifer served as Associate Director at the Abbie Shelter, where she helped shape fiscal planning, grant compliance, and staff development during a period of organizational growth. Her work balanced operational practices with mission-driven values, fostering collaboration, transparency, and strong team culture.
Deeply rooted in the Flathead Valley, Jennifer is grateful to invest her skills in the place she calls home. With her heart in the mountains and her mind on the lakes and watershed, she is proud to contribute to the Institute’s work protecting the natural systems that sustain her community. For Jennifer, every day at WLI is an opportunity to combine professional expertise with her personal commitment to environmental stewardship and the long-term health of the valley she loves.
Born and raised in Ohio, Eric’s love for the environment was sparked at a young age through time spent in the Cleveland Metroparks and their nature centers. After earning a Bachelors in Geology from The College of Wooster, he spent several years as a research technician at a few different universities across the country. During this time, he explored his passion for watershed science while building a strong background in outreach and science communication, field sampling, laboratory analyses, and research. His adventures right here in the valley at Flathead Lake Biological Station, across the Great Lakes region, Washington, and Alaska inspired him to pursue a graduate degree at University of New Hampshire, where he is completing a Masters in Natural Resources: Ecosystem Science. His graduate work focused on modeling watershed responses to shifts in climate and land-use over time. Those investigations involved a variety of catchments, from temperate suburban rivers under increasing pressure from human impacts to remote mountain stream systems in the tropics. Passionate about sharing his love of nature and science with others, Eric is excited to connect with the community here in northwest Montana. Beyond work, he can often be found cozied up at a coffee shop, working through his ever-expanding reading list, spending time in nature, and capturing moments with his camera.
