American Wildlands Staff

Pete Coppolillo Executive Director

Pete holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental conservation from the University of Colorado, and a Ph.D. in ecology from the University of California, Davis. Before joining American Wildlands, Pete spent ten years with the Wildlife Conservation Society. In that role, he helped develop and implement the “Living Landscapes” Framework for strategic planning of site-based conservation projects, then initiated and ran the Ruaha Landscape Program in central Tanzania and finally coordinated programmatic work in the Yellowstone Rockies of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. He has studied Ferruginous Hawks (Buteo regalis) in North America, avian community ecology in Kenya, large herbivore ecology and herding systems in Tanzania, and collaborated in the development of protected area strategies in Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina, Congo, Tanzania, the United States and Cambodia. Pete will provide strategic planning and programmatic oversight for American Wildlands.

Phone: (406) 586-8175 x106 E-mail Pete Coppolillo

Lisa Lenard Director of Development

Lisa is responsible for fundraising development and outreach. She has 12 years of experience in non-profit development. She previously held positions at the National Outdoor Leadership School, Wyoming Outdoor Council, Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy and the University of Montana Foundation. Lisa has a bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology from University of California, Santa Barbara. She likes exploring our magnificent Montana wild places with her daughter Ruby, masters swimming and chocolate.

Phone: 406 586-8175 (x107) E-mail Lisa Lenard

Dylan Taylor Conservation Director South

Dylan works on wildlife habitat connectivity and transportation issues affecting south and southwestern Montana and northwestern Wyoming. He has 10 years experience in conservation policy and wildlife biology in the Rocky Mountains. In addition to his current efforts in Montana, he has worked on transportation and wildlife movement research and advocacy in Banff National Park in Canada, on the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming and in the Vail Pass section of Interstate 70 in Colorado. Dylan received a bachelor's degree in environmental studies at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington and master’s of forestry at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Dylan spends his free time hiking, biking, climbing, skiing and exploring throughout the Northern Rockies.

Phone: 406 586-8175 x110 E-mail Dylan Taylor

Katie Meiklejohn Conservation Director North

Katie works on wildlife habitat connectivity and transportation issues effecting northwestern Montana and eastern Idaho. She gained her experience in Northern Rockies’ conservation through her work with the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative and the Center for Large Landscape Conservation. She holds a master’s degree in conservation biology from Columbia University where she studied songbird nest survival in riparian habitat corridors. In her free time, Katie can be found exploring the mountains of western Montana with her canine pal, Koda.

Phone: (406) 586-8175 ext. x109 E-mail Katie Meiklejohn

Jim Roscoe Program Coordinator, High Divide and Hub Regions

Jim coordinates our field projects and works with local landowners in southwestern Montana. Jim recently completed a 32-year career as a wildlife biologist with the Bureau of Land Management in Dillon, Montana. His work focused on the reintroduction of wolves, peregrine falcons and bighorn sheep; wetland development projects and extensive wildlife management on public lands in southwest Montana. Jim holds a bachelor's degree in wildlife management from Colorado State University and master's in fishery biology from Colorado State University.

Phone: (406) 925-3081 E-mail Jim Roscoe

Laura Code Director of Office Operations

Laura has a professional background in politics, foundation management, public policy development and corporate communications. She has worked in the public, private and non-profit sectors and holds a bachelor's in international relations from Lewis and Clark College.

Phone: (406) 586-8175 ext. 108 E-mail Laura Code

Josh Gage GIS Lab Manager/Community GIS Coordinator

Josh manages our GIS lab and community mapping program. His previous positions include work as a GIS analyst for Sonoran Institute and youth services program director in South America. He is also a professional photographer. Josh has a bachelor's degree in earth sciences and Spanish and a master's in earth sciences from Montana State University.

Phone: 406 586-8175 x103 E-mail Josh Gage

Gro Lunde Bookkeeper

Gro is a certified public accountant with a master’s in accounting from Montana State University.

Phone: (406) 586-8175 ext. 100 E-mail Gro Lunde