Michelle is a Florida transplant whose life took a big turn when she met Major while working for planning and development of Universal’s Islands of AdventureSM. When the park opened to the public, she left Orlando to return with Major to his native homeland on the Northern Cheyenne Indian reservation.

St Labre Indian School hired Michelle as their first ever grant writer, and later as their manager of revenue innovation. As their family grew and other opportunities presented throughout the state, Michelle accepted fundraising and communications roles with public and non-profit entities specializing in underrepresented and underserved communities, small business development, and economic and community development. 

In addition to her full-time commitment to the YWCA Helena, Michelle is co-owner of Sage & Oats Trading Post, achieving the Made in Montana Retailer of Year in 2019. She holds a BA in Organizational Communications from MSU Billings, has garnered two Governor’s awards for Excellence in Service, and a Jobs for Americas Graduate (JAG) public relations award.

Michelle received grant composition training through the Grantsmanship Center in Los Angeles and later hosted a series of basic and advanced grantsmanship classes through adult education with Helena College. While in the public sector she was editor of the Main Street Montana business publication for the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, was vice-chair and editor of the Interagency Committee for Change by Women (ICCW) newsletter and later served on the Governor’s Tourism Advisory Board.  Her greatest accomplishment, however, is earning the title of mom.