MEET THE TEAM
KAI ROCHE
Executive Director
Kai Roche brings a grounded, people-first leadership style shaped by more than a decade of work at the intersection of youth development, outdoor behavioral health, and experiential education. He has spent his career building programs where healthy relationships lie at the core of the process and where outcomes follow from consistency, accountability, clear expectations, and a deep respect for the realities families are carrying.
His approach to executive leadership is practical and relational: strengthen existing systems, support staff, grow sustainable funding, and protect the mission with integrity and clarity. He is known for bringing structure without losing heart, and for translating big vision into steady, measurable progress.
Kai is currently completing his Master of Social Work through the University of Montana, where his focus includes rural service delivery, trauma-responsive practice, and the long arc of prevention work that mentoring represents. He cares about community trust, strong partnerships, and building programs that feel accessible to families across a wide geographic footprint.
Outside of work, Kai is a lifelong outdoorsman who feels most at home in the mountains and on the water, learning or sharing his outdoor experience. He’s known for saying yes to invites and making even the toughest experience enjoyable and gratifying in Montana’s year-round beauty regardless of the weather. If you run into him in the Flathead Valley, it might be on a trail, training his dog Bendito, or enjoying a great cup of local coffee and conversation with friends and colleagues.
Kai believes mentorship is one of the most practical forms of hope our communities can offer: consistent presence, honest encouragement, and a relationship strong enough to hold change. What kind of community do we become when every young person has at least one steady adult in their corner?
Erin Burke
Site-Based Program Coordinator - Missoula
After making her way west from Virginia over a decade ago, Erin has called Missoula home and feels grateful to be raising her young son in such a special place. She has dedicated much of her career to working with Montana youth, first as a wilderness therapy guide and later as an attorney specializing in cases involving Child and Family Services. Erin sees mentorship and building strong support systems as some of the most powerful tools for creating resilience and lasting change.
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A lifelong learner, Erin is always seeking new challenges. Outside of work, she is usually outside hiking with her dogs, camping, mountain biking, paddleboarding, or skiing. At home, she enjoys playing with her son, sharing meals with her beautiful blended family, and curling up with a good book.
Melissa Miller
Program Coordinator - Kalispell
Melissa is a Montana native with a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of Montana. She has spent her career supporting children and families through coaching, outreach, and technical assistance—always with a focus on turning connection into impact. She’s passionate about building inclusive communities and believes that strong support systems help families—and entire communities—thrive.
Melissa has a knack for making people feel seen, heard, and supported.
In her free time, you’ll find her with her husband and kids playing card games, chasing sunshine at the farmers market, or curled up with a good book. She believes strong communities start with strong relationships, and she’s here to help make that happen, one card game or conversation at a time.