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Arts Missoula’s staff is a passionate team of arts advocates and professionals dedicated to supporting and growing the local arts community. They manage programs, events, grants, and educational initiatives, working behind the scenes to connect artists, organizations, and the public. With expertise in arts administration, community engagement, and creative programming, the staff ensures that Missoula’s vibrant arts scene continues to thrive.
Our Team
Ms. Adams started her artistic journey in Phoenix dancing at South Mountain Center for the Performing Arts High School, Lydia Torea Spanish Dance, Phoenix School of Ballet and Ballet Arizona before venturing to Philadelphia, PA, where she earned her BFA in Dance from the University of the Arts.
Embracing the vibrant energy of New York City, Heather embarked on a journey of professional growth, training at Alvin Ailey and Paul Taylor. However, the allure of the Montana mountains beckoned her in 1999. Since then, she has been an unwavering advocate for arts education, performance, and cultural enrichment within the Missoula community.
She directs and choreographs musical theater productions both locally and regionally and has produced non-profit fundraisers.
Heather’s love for the arts transcends the stage, sharing her expertise in various styles at local studios and the University of Montana as well as across the region and as far as South Africa and Malawi. Recognizing the transformative power of dance, she founded the Downtown Dance Collective and served as its Executive Director for 13 years, nurturing budding artists and fostering a thriving dance community, producing an Artist in Residence series, and creating an inviting space for people to engage in and support the arts.
She currently serves on the University of Montana College of Arts and Media Advisory Council and is in the role of State Captain for Montana in the esteemed Americans For The Arts organization based in Washington, DC. In this capacity, she actively champions the importance of the arts on a national level, advocating for the preservation and advancement of creative expression in communities across the country.
Maddy is a Western Washington native and a proud graduate of the University of Montana College of Business. With a background in event management, marketing, and social media, she has worked closely with a variety of organizations and community events throughout town like the Missoula Downtown Association, Missoula Makers Collective, Missoula Paddleheads, and Missoula Broadcasting Company. She is excited and passionate about supporting the art and artists that make Missoula so special and unique.
Maddy currently sits on the Board of Directors of Making Missoula.
Outside of work, she enjoys running the river trail, playing tennis at Fort Missoula, and snowboarding in the surrounding mountains.
Originally from Oregon, and most recently from British Columbia, Fiona has been an avid supporter and appreciator of the arts since she was putting on one woman plays in her parents’ basement. With a background in stage management, event coordination, and community outreach, she has been involved in the arts scene in Missoula for as long as she has lived here.
When not at work or calling shows from the booth at MCT, she can be found skiing, reading a book, birdwatching, or going on walks that turn into reading a book outside. Possessing the unshakeable belief that the arts are the basis for a strong, connected, and empathetic community, she is honored to be a part of such a vibrant and diverse city as Missoula.
After growing up in Los Angeles and New York, Lucy and her family moved to Missoula during the COVID-19 pandemic and quickly fell in love with the community. With parents deeply rooted in the Broadway theater world, Lucy grew up surrounded by the arts and developed a passion for creative work from an early age.
Lucy has an extensive background in musical theater performance and has also worked professionally on film and television sets as both an actor and a Key Set Personal Assistant. Local audiences may have recently seen her as Cinderella in Missoula Children’s Theatre’s production of Cinderella, or on screen alongside J.K. Simmons in the thriller You Can’t Run Forever.
Her experience working behind the scenes on film and television sets has given Lucy a strong foundation in organization, communication, and adaptability. She brings those skills to Arts Missoula, where she is excited to support the organization’s mission of fostering connection, inclusivity, and community through the arts. She looks forward to helping Arts Missoula grow and connect with people throughout the Missoula community—whether they identify as artists, arts enthusiasts, or simply curious members of the community.
Outside of her work with Arts Missoula, Lucy enjoys participating in local musical and University productions, baking, attending college, and creating all kinds of artistic projects on Canva.
Board of Directors
Laura Buchholtz
President
Government Consultant
Laura grew up in Missoula and was heavily involved in the Missoula Children’s and Community Theater, dance, and choir in the 1990’s, including Junior Miss Missoula 1997. In 2000, she enlisted in the Air Force as an Arabic linguist until 2005. She graduated from the University of Montana in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in English Linguistics and subsequently from the University of Montana School of Law in 2011. She was commissioned in the Air Force in 2012 as a Judge Advocate and separated after four years as a military prosecutor. In 2016, she joined the Montana Air National Guard where she currently serves as the Staff Judge Advocate of the 120th Airlift Wing and a Legal Advisor at the Office of Complex Investigations, National Guard Bureau. She spent six years in private practice from 2016-2022 as a family law attorney and insurance defense attorney.
Laura advises community organizations, local and state government organizations, and educational institutions on military and veteran issues. She is involved in the legal and law enforcement communities both as a spouse and member. As a military professional with a background of working with individuals from different cultures, Laura is an advocate for cooperative creativity, voice, and understanding.
Laura has been married for 25 years to her high school sweetheart, Dan, and has two daughters: Josie and Addie. They have two rescue dogs and two adopted cats. Laura enjoys travel, reading, running, hiking, cooking, skiing and paddle boarding.
Shannon Flanagan
Past president
Business Development Officer
Stockman Bank
Shannon was born and raised in Missoula. He has served on a bundle of volunteer boards including Bare Bait Dance / Westside Theater, the UofM College of Arts and Media Advisory Council, United Way, Headwaters Dance Company, The Partnership for Children, and MoTrans Dance Company. Most of his life was spent growing up and living in the Rattlesnake neighborhood where he currently lives with his wife Lisa. His two grown children are wrapping up college. He is currently the Business Development Officer for Stockman Bank in western Montana.
Miranda
Ming
Treasurer
Chief Financial Officer
WGM Group
Miranda is a native Missoulian and the CFO of WGM Group, with over 20 years of experience in accounting and a knack for turning numbers into narratives. Beyond the spreadsheets, she’s a runner, reader, and traveler. Her travels have taken her from bustling street markets to quiet galleries, always in search of stories told through food, art, and human connection. Miranda believes that culture is the heartbeat of community, and she’s proud to support organizations that celebrate creativity in all its forms.
Bridget Smith
Board Member
Associate Director
Cognizant
Bridget Smith is a Principal Program Manager for the Worldwide Commerce Strategy Team at Veeam Software, where she leads global, cross-functional initiatives that support scalable growth and operational excellence. With a BFA from the University of Montana and a minor in vocal performance, Bridget’s foundation in the arts remains a driving force in her life. Music and theatre continue to be passions she pursues whenever possible, enriching both her personal creativity and her connection to the Missoula community. In her free time, she explores Missoula’s cultural and natural landscapes, seeking opportunities to watch, engage in, and appreciate the art that surrounds the city. Bridget is grateful to be part of Arts Missoula, an organization she believes is essential to keeping creativity accessible and celebrated. She looks forward to contributing to its mission and, like witnessing a piece of art come to life, is excited to watch its impact continue to unfold.
Courtney Blazon
Board Member
Artist and
Illustrator
Courtney Blazon is an artist and illustrator living in Missoula. She is strongly motivated to help make Missoula a place where creatives of all kinds can thrive and be their best selves. She is proud to serve on the Arts Missoula board, as it is a concrete way to help out with that mission.
Cynthia
Rust-Greaves
Board Member
Globetrotter and Retiree
An experienced writer, editor and public affairs professional, Cynthia Rust-Greaves is retired and enjoying her freedom to hike, travel, make collages, drink tea and read. Most recently, she worked with UM’s College of the Arts and Media (CAM) as executive assistant to dean, where she managed internal and alumni communications, social media, and assisted with myriad special events. A huge fan of theatre and visual arts, Cynthia joined the Arts Missoula Board of Directors in 2024 to contribute her enthusiasm for the creative arts any way she can. Her favorite thing is BINGO at Missoula on Main! Back when spelling and punctuation mattered, she earned her degree in Literature and Communications from Butler University, Indianapolis.
Laura Bovard
Board Member
Retired, Missoula
international School
She excited to rejoin the Arts Missoula board of directors. She’s passionate believer in the ability of arts education and an arts focus to build connection and strengthen community. She spent over 15 years at the Missoula International School where she got to see first hand the impact of arts education on the students there. She proudly serves on the boards of the Missoula Children’s Theatre and Sculpture Missoula as well. In her own artistic journey, she’s played in a handbell choir for the past 25 years and once toured Ireland playing the viola. She believes- “If you can’t make art, be on a board and promote it”
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The Team
At Arts Missoula, we believe that art and culture are vital to the strength and growth of our community. We are dedicated to seeing strong arts and cultural programs in our schools, to increase public and private support for local arts and cultural activities, and to connect and engage our community through these creative and educational experiences.