Ed’s association and meeting management career started in an unusual way. The complexities of travel, lodging, transportation, time management, performance tracking and team psychology were primary off-field duties in his 20 years as a collegiate football coach. He brought that experience to a second career owning and managing a travel company, adapting quickly as the industry transformed following the end of airline commissions. He partnered with Veronica Hayes to diversify and expand his business three-fold in the first two years. Today, as co-owner and CFO, Ed keeps the balance between the creative visions and financial reality.
Ed Schmidt
Chief Financial Officer
Always Happy to Help
Positive
Adaptable
After graduating from Western Washington University with a B.S. in Sports and Exercise Science, Audrey spent 8 years in the health and wellness industry as a personal trainer both in Seattle and Bozeman. She fell in love with Montana and moved into hospitality. Audrey spent four years in the Sales and Catering department of a local hotel, utilizing many of the interpersonal skills honed through her experience in the fitness industry. She believes in the strength of a relationship as a common denominator for trust, communication, and loyalty. Audrey is a strong force on our team who excels in organization, stays patient throughout complex projects and has a calm, professional demeanor.
Audrey Rinehart
Association Manager
Master of Details
Energetic
Networking Extraordinaire
Katie earned a Business Administration degree from Seattle Pacific University then joined the Peace Corps, working in Bulgaria for two years. She returned to the States and worked at a camp on Flathead Lake where she learned event planning and hospitality as the Retreat Coordinator. Katie is our flexible employee with a lot of skills. She helps with conferences, websites, sales, and everything between. As a key Account Manager, Katie leads our planning team to execute conferences with great attention to detail and, most importantly, with a great smile. She enjoys the diversity of the business and the challenge to go above and beyond.
Katie VanNatta
Account Manager
Organized
Multi-Talented
Up for Anything
Kura was raised in the same small town as her parents and their parents before them. Growing up, she learned about the power of community, the value and reward of a job well done, and discovered a passion for what Montana's versatile landscape and people have to offer. In 2001, she began a long-standing relationship with Big Sky Resort and the events industry. She worked with diverse clients: local professionals, national and international organizations, wedding and social clients, as well as event experts and partners. She is an energetic professional who loves problem-solving complex meeting schedules and creating events that spark conversations by both visitors and locals.
Kura Morris
Account Manager
Hospitality Driven
Problem Solver
Team Oriented
Lindsey’s life revolves around creativity. Growing up in a scenic arts and college town, she was always taking pictures, making home movies, writing stories, and even printing her own newsletter for teenage friends. She honed her design and marketing skills at the University of Montana's School of Journalism, including hands-on experience writing and managing its weekly newsletter. Lindsey is a hard worker who understands how to listen to clients to create content and materials that fit their unique style. She is calm and collected, a positive team member both in the office and at conferences.
Lindsey Keeley
Director of Marketing
Ambitious
Patient
Visionary
Kara grew up in small town Kansas, where her family introduced her to hunting and fishing when she was young. Kara quickly embraced the lifestyle because of the camaraderie among fellow hunters. It also brought her to work in science for more than 10 years, testing and reporting on environmental quality. But Kara wanted a change in lifestyle and moved to Montana in 2017. She has a cultivated a knack for customer service and makes sure every person is taken care of to the best of her ability. Kara manages our call center and ensures all event attendees are treated with the respect they deserve. Kara’s positive attitude and calm demeanor make her a beloved rock star of our team.
Kara Delzeit
Customer Service Manager
Professional
Thick Skinned
Quick Learner
Jillian went to Montana State University in Bozeman, where she graduated with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Business Management with a minor in Small Business and Entrepreneurship. While attending college, she found her true passion for organizing, internal accounting and problem solving. She first joined our team as an Administrative Assistant, but quickly advanced. Today, she manages accounting and has taken on long-time client account management.
Jillian Duffey
Executive Administrator
Loves a Challenge
High Standards of Perfection
Motivated
Britana spent much of her childhood on her family’s cattle ranch in central Montana where her love for all animals blossomed from years of riding horses. Britana graduated from Montana State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. Before joining Associations and Meetings by Design as Account Coordinator, she worked in the banking industry, where she developed great organizational and time management skills. She is a team player dedicated to being the go-to individual for everyone’s needs. She is new addition to the team, but has quickly become MVP among colleagues and clients.
Britana Clark
Account Coordinator
Active Listener
Goes the Extra Mile
Loves to Learn