staff
jessica karjala
Jessica Karjala
Executive Director
Phone: (406) 880-9594
Email: jessica.karjala@footloosemontana.org
Executive Director
Phone: (406) 880-9594
Email: jessica.karjala@footloosemontana.org
Jessica served in the Montana House of Representatives for 8 years. The first bill she sponsored defined capture, spay/neuter, return programs from trapping and Footloose Montana supported the bill. At the end of her first term, Jessica was selected by House leadership to represent Montana at the National Conference of State Legislatures at a National Summit. In her 3rd session, Jessica passed legislation to appropriate millions of dollars to provide grant funding for suicide prevention for which she was honored alongside Senator Tester with the Impact Award by the Montana Conference on Suicide Prevention. Jessica was also selected as one of 20 lawmakers nationwide to participate in a fellowship with The Lawmaker Network. Prior to serving in the Legislature Jessica worked in the finance and investment industry, as a small business owner, and in the nonprofit sector. Jessica has a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Montana with minor studies in Spanish and Nonprofit Administration. She resides in the Bitterroot Valley with her husband and 2 dogs who all hope to live within the city of Missoula within the next year. Jessica enjoys spending time with her daughters, stepsons, and grandson and enjoys hiking, camping, floating and skiing.
Savannah Johnston
Development & Outreach Specialist
Savannah is devoted to safeguarding Montana's public lands and promoting healthy wildlife populations. With a B.S. in Wildlife, Fish & Conservation Biology from U.C. Davis (2019), she has actively contributed to conservation efforts across Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado. In 2023, Savannah embraced the role of development and outreach specialist at Footloose Montana, dedicated to fostering meaningful connections in the greater Missoula community and connecting donors with vital wildlife conservation initiatives. Outside of work, you can find her trail running, snowboarding, fishing, and mountain biking, immersing herself in the same landscapes she works to protect.
Development & Outreach Specialist
Savannah is devoted to safeguarding Montana's public lands and promoting healthy wildlife populations. With a B.S. in Wildlife, Fish & Conservation Biology from U.C. Davis (2019), she has actively contributed to conservation efforts across Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado. In 2023, Savannah embraced the role of development and outreach specialist at Footloose Montana, dedicated to fostering meaningful connections in the greater Missoula community and connecting donors with vital wildlife conservation initiatives. Outside of work, you can find her trail running, snowboarding, fishing, and mountain biking, immersing herself in the same landscapes she works to protect.
BOARD of DIRECTORS
Connie Poten
Board President
The Humane Society of Western Montana honored Connie and her husband with the 2014 Ken Shughart Humanitarian Award. Connie, B.A. English, is an award- winning writer and documentary filmmaker who won the Genesis Award for her National Geographic investigative cover story, "A Shameful Harvest: The Illegal Trade of Wildlife in America,” and worked on the successful ballot initiative campaign to end game farming in Montana. She is associate producer of the documentary film, “Trapped,” in production. Connie ran the 2015-16 Montana Trap-Free Initiative campaign, which qualified I-177 for the ballot.
Board President
The Humane Society of Western Montana honored Connie and her husband with the 2014 Ken Shughart Humanitarian Award. Connie, B.A. English, is an award- winning writer and documentary filmmaker who won the Genesis Award for her National Geographic investigative cover story, "A Shameful Harvest: The Illegal Trade of Wildlife in America,” and worked on the successful ballot initiative campaign to end game farming in Montana. She is associate producer of the documentary film, “Trapped,” in production. Connie ran the 2015-16 Montana Trap-Free Initiative campaign, which qualified I-177 for the ballot.
Carla Bonetti
Board Director
Carla was on the founding board of the King Mountain Open Space District that raised $3.5 million to purchase 300 privately-owned acres designated for high density housing, in Larkspur, California. It is now open space. She has been an executive director for the American Red Cross, the United Way, and AnimalSave in Grass Valley, California. In Grass Valley she served as a board member for the American Red Cross and the Neighborhood Center of the Arts. She has also served as the Northwest Regional Director and Major Gift Officer for Heifer International.
Board Director
Carla was on the founding board of the King Mountain Open Space District that raised $3.5 million to purchase 300 privately-owned acres designated for high density housing, in Larkspur, California. It is now open space. She has been an executive director for the American Red Cross, the United Way, and AnimalSave in Grass Valley, California. In Grass Valley she served as a board member for the American Red Cross and the Neighborhood Center of the Arts. She has also served as the Northwest Regional Director and Major Gift Officer for Heifer International.
Rae Peppers
Board Director
Rae Peppers holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Information Systems, an M.S. in Communications and Information Processing, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Indigenous and Rural Health.
Rae Served in the Montana State Legislature as House District 41 Representative for 8 years between 2013 to 2020 and is planning to run for Senate District 21 Senate in 2024. While serving Rae passed bills addressing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons in Montana, including the first piece of legislation to address MMIP in Montana and the United States. She also passed 3 bills to support veterans in the state of Montana, 1 economic development bill, and 1 bill to increase pay for Tribal Historical Preservation staff when required by state to investigate Indigenous matters.
Rae has years of experience working for Chief Dull Knife College, the Crow Tribe, Lame Deer School, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and has owned and operated a construction company with her husband for 20 years. Currently Rae is the Finance Manager for the Northern Cheyenne Development Corporation.
Rae has also volunteered to Create the Crow Tribe Veteran’s Park and managed various construction projects at the request of the Tribal Chairman. She participated in the fight to enforce the Community Reinvestment Act, resulting in putting a First Interstate Bank on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, hired an Attorney pro bono to assist with defending Native kids accused of hazing in Colstrip Schools, Led the fight against the closing of school borders to Reservation children, and worked with a private transportation company to transport children back and forth to Colstrip schools.
When she is not working, volunteering or serving in the Montana Legislature, Rae and her husband operate a haying and Cattle operation on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation where they’ve been hands on in all aspects of the business for 30 years - feeding, calving, running equipment, and caring for the sick. They also raise big horses for ranch and trail riding purposes.
Board Director
Rae Peppers holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Information Systems, an M.S. in Communications and Information Processing, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Indigenous and Rural Health.
Rae Served in the Montana State Legislature as House District 41 Representative for 8 years between 2013 to 2020 and is planning to run for Senate District 21 Senate in 2024. While serving Rae passed bills addressing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons in Montana, including the first piece of legislation to address MMIP in Montana and the United States. She also passed 3 bills to support veterans in the state of Montana, 1 economic development bill, and 1 bill to increase pay for Tribal Historical Preservation staff when required by state to investigate Indigenous matters.
Rae has years of experience working for Chief Dull Knife College, the Crow Tribe, Lame Deer School, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and has owned and operated a construction company with her husband for 20 years. Currently Rae is the Finance Manager for the Northern Cheyenne Development Corporation.
Rae has also volunteered to Create the Crow Tribe Veteran’s Park and managed various construction projects at the request of the Tribal Chairman. She participated in the fight to enforce the Community Reinvestment Act, resulting in putting a First Interstate Bank on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, hired an Attorney pro bono to assist with defending Native kids accused of hazing in Colstrip Schools, Led the fight against the closing of school borders to Reservation children, and worked with a private transportation company to transport children back and forth to Colstrip schools.
When she is not working, volunteering or serving in the Montana Legislature, Rae and her husband operate a haying and Cattle operation on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation where they’ve been hands on in all aspects of the business for 30 years - feeding, calving, running equipment, and caring for the sick. They also raise big horses for ranch and trail riding purposes.
Shani Henry
Board Director
Shani Henry is a retired veterinarian from Helena. She practiced small animal medicine for 25 years. She served on the FWP Trapping Advisory Committee and has advocated for pets, their owners and wildlife during multiple legislative sessions.
Dr. Henry and her family are avid "outdoors people" and recreate in beautiful Montana with their beloved dogs.
She is dedicated to the ethical treatment and use of all animals.
Board Director
Shani Henry is a retired veterinarian from Helena. She practiced small animal medicine for 25 years. She served on the FWP Trapping Advisory Committee and has advocated for pets, their owners and wildlife during multiple legislative sessions.
Dr. Henry and her family are avid "outdoors people" and recreate in beautiful Montana with their beloved dogs.
She is dedicated to the ethical treatment and use of all animals.
Joy Stevens
Board Treasurer
ND, JD, PE Joy is the founding President of the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter (YVAS) in Billings. A past petroleum engineer, Joy worked all aspects of oil and gas from drilling and completions to building pipelines to working in refineries in Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Washington. She received a law degree and a doctorate in naturopathic medicine and currently works as a Naturopathic Physician in Billings, specializing in tick borne infections.
Board Treasurer
ND, JD, PE Joy is the founding President of the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter (YVAS) in Billings. A past petroleum engineer, Joy worked all aspects of oil and gas from drilling and completions to building pipelines to working in refineries in Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Washington. She received a law degree and a doctorate in naturopathic medicine and currently works as a Naturopathic Physician in Billings, specializing in tick borne infections.
Anja Heister
Co-Founder and Advisory Board Member
Born and raised in Germany, Anja holds an M.S. in Biology from the Johann Wolfgang von Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, and a Ph.D. in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Montana, Missoula, Montana. Before she moved to Missoula 25 years ago, Anja spent several years backpacking across Europe and through Africa, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Anja is a co-founder of Footloose Montana and created our trap-release workshops. She brings experience as a former campaign director and as a board member of a nonprofit organization working against animal cruelty before becoming an independent researcher and writer for social change for animals as well as a life coach. Anja is the author of Beyond the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation: From Lethal to Compassionate Conservation. Anja strongly believes that trapping must end and that cultivating empathy and compassion for animals will get us there. If she is not roaming through forests with her dogs, Anja enjoys running, reading, and vegan cooking for herself, her husband and friends.
Co-Founder and Advisory Board Member
Born and raised in Germany, Anja holds an M.S. in Biology from the Johann Wolfgang von Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, and a Ph.D. in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Montana, Missoula, Montana. Before she moved to Missoula 25 years ago, Anja spent several years backpacking across Europe and through Africa, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Anja is a co-founder of Footloose Montana and created our trap-release workshops. She brings experience as a former campaign director and as a board member of a nonprofit organization working against animal cruelty before becoming an independent researcher and writer for social change for animals as well as a life coach. Anja is the author of Beyond the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation: From Lethal to Compassionate Conservation. Anja strongly believes that trapping must end and that cultivating empathy and compassion for animals will get us there. If she is not roaming through forests with her dogs, Anja enjoys running, reading, and vegan cooking for herself, her husband and friends.
We are dedicated to trap-free public lands
After hearing too many stories about dogs being horribly injured or killed by legal traps on public lands, in the winter of 2007 a group of Montanans who enjoy hiking, fishing, hunting, skiing, boating and recreating on Montana’s public lands and waterways gathered to discuss how we could help keep those lands safe for people and their pets.
As we shared stories of encounters with trappers and traps, it became apparent how few Montanans understand the danger that trapping poses to people and their pets. Because each trapper can set an unlimited number of traps, a total of tens of thousands of traps –steel-jawed foothold traps, body-crushing Conibear traps, and wire snares– can be present on public lands across the state. Virtually all popular waterways have traps along them at some point. Traps, we came to understand, kill not only our pets, but valued and endangered wildlife. From those initial gatherings and discussions rose Footloose Montana, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, driven by an interest in informing Montanans about the scope and danger of trapping on public lands, funded by local individuals contributing from their own checkbooks. You and your pets are not immune from the danger of traps. If you ski, hike, fish, hunt, kayak, raft, or just stroll along Montana’s public lands, you may run into traps—and when a companion animal is trapped, you may not be able to save it in time. Footloose wants Montanans to know about trapping on our public lands, and we want to enlist you in our mission.
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