About Benefit Big Sky
Our mission is to support initiatives in the Big Sky Community that benefit recreation, education, arts, environment, safety, public works, and infrastructure.
Benefit Big Sky is a Big Sky Owners Association-initiated nonprofit based in Big Sky, Montana. Our top priorities include community, recreation, education, arts, environment, safety, public works, and infrastructure. We are focusing on three major projects right now that fall within four of our initiatives: sustainability, community, recreation, and safety. We have staff members at Big Sky Owners Association who work hard to write grants and obtain funding for our projects and programs. A good portion of this funding, meant for community programs and projects, also comes from the BSOA and the greater Big Sky area community. Our goal is to better the quality of life in our community, including Big Sky residents, seasonal workers, visitors, and employees. These projects have a little bit for everyone, and we encourage more folks to get involved with contributing to these initiatives to move these projects and programs forward.
Our Mission
Our mission is to support initiatives in the Big Sky Community that benefit recreation, education, arts, environment, safety, public works, and infrastructure within a reasonable cost, and for any other lawful purpose under Montana State Law.
Our Bylaws &
Articles of Incorporation
Benefit Big Sky was started in March of 2022 as a subsidiary of Big Sky Owners Association in Big Sky, Montana. We are a non-profit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Montana.
Our Board of Directors
Benefit Big Sky is governed by a Board of Directors that is made up of four volunteer community members.
Gail Young
Chair
Gail is originally from Ohio, where she met her husband, Steve, at Miami University of Ohio. After living in Chicago for several years, where Gail attended law school, they moved back to Ohio to work and raise a family. In 2012 Gail and Steve retired in Big Sky as full time residents. Gail has previously served on the BSOA Board of Directors and as a member of the Nominating Committee. In Big Sky, she enjoys both alpine and Nordic skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer.
Michelle Horning
Vice Chair
Michelle earned her BS and MS degrees in Recreation Management from Ohio University. She taught wilderness survival and backpacking classes in college and became a white water rafting guide in North Carolina. With her eye on the mountains and a love for the outdoors, she eventually moved out west and has lived in Big Sky with her husband and daughter for 28 years. She was the founder/operator of several Big Sky daycares & preschools, was the business manager for a Big Sky construction company, taught children’s ski lessons at Big Sky Resort for a short time and ultimately ventured into real estate in 2003. As a real estate agent for almost 20 years in Big Sky, she has learned a great deal about development, architectural review, construction and the importance of community involvement in our small unincorporated mountain town. As a long time community member and now an owner in BSOA, she would like to give back and contribute her time in an effort to care for our community’s growth in a responsible way, while protecting it’s future.
Kenny Holtz
Treasurer
Kenny Holtz is business executive, finance professional and real estate developer. He and his wife Catherine and their children Finley (8), Susie (6) and Hadley (5) recently returned to Big Sky after a career change moved them out-of-state in 2016. Prior to that Kenny lived in the Meadow Village for 13 years where he worked at Yellowstone Club. He was elected to serve on the BSOA Architectural Review Committee in 2008 where he held the position for eight years. When asked about why he is running for the Board of Directors position, Kenny said the following: “The BSOA is a special place and it is our responsibility as members to do everything we keep it that way. It is a real privilege to serve my fellow members and I enjoy giving back to the community that has given my family and I so much.”
Stacy Ossorio
Director
Our Staff
Katie Darrow
Staff - Communications, Outreach, and Development Manager
Katie grew up in Connecticut, but moved out west to the mountains as soon as she could. She graduated from Whitman College in WA with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Humanities, where she pursued her interests in music, creative writing, and outdoor education. Following her graduation, she began working for NOLS as a backpacking instructor and developed a love for teaching students about the importance of natural spaces. She spent the next couple of years living in a variety of places, both abroad and within the contiguous United States, until she ended up in Bozeman, MT. She has lived in Bozeman since 2020, and has grown to deeply love the community as well as its access to beautiful outdoor spaces. In the summer, she spends her time rock climbing, biking, trail running, and reading books in the sunshine, and in the winter she skis, ice climbs, and plays music with her friends. She also recently adopted a dog named Chef who loves everyone and everything, and can spend hours running around on the Montana trails.
Email Katie at katie@bigskyoa.org
Suzan Phillips Scott
Staff - Executive Director
Suzan Scott joined the BSOA in 2012. She is a fifth generation Bozemanite and returned to the Big Sky area after spending numerous years working in government affairs and advocating for a great variety of public policy issues at all levels of government in the Northwest region, including Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Graduating with a Political Science degree from Montana State University, Suzan has extensive experience in non-profit and for-profit management and administration. She enjoys a variety of sporting and outdoor activities with her husband, Peter and their four children.
Email Suzan at suzan@bigskyoa.org