Board of Directors
Myrna Adams Dumontier, President
Myrna Adams Dumontier is a dedicated cultural coordinator, educator and liaison for her Salish tribe. She served as a CSKT Councilmember representing her native Arlee district from August 2018 until January 2020. Myrna graduated from the University of Montana with a Bachelors degree in Social Work with emphasis in addiction and psychology studies and received an honorary degree from Salish Kootenai College in Native American Studies.
Myrna has worked in Drug and Alcohol Prevention and addictions treatment much of her forty plus year career on the reservation and attributes her cultural knowledge to growing up in a traditional family. That traditional knowledge has been applied to curriculum development in various work environments such as Head Start, resulting in the first ever language immersion classroom, and continues to benefit ongoing efforts in her community to preserve and perpetuate the Salish Language, culture and lifeways.
Born out of the knowledge of ancestral homelands, Myrna’s favorite recreation is packing into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. She is a certified Wilderness Packer and hopes one day to devote her time to explore more of the wilderness with tribal people.
Emily Thueson, Secretary
A resident of Columbia Falls, Emily Thueson's commitment to animals and nonprofits is boundless. Her passion for nonprofit work was inspired through years of association with the Glacier Conservancy and the Glacier Natural History Association. Over the years, she has harnessed her connections in the Glacier Park community to support valuable nonprofit projects and rescue the most down-and-out animals who needed a second chance.
Emily is excited to serve ARC's Secretary.
Marquetta "Kitty" Felix
Marquetta Felix, known affectionately by her friends as Kitty, currently serves as a CSKT Social Worker helping reunite families. She recently completed 13 years of service as a Social Worker and Case Manager with the Missoula Health Department’s Healthy Families Program. Kitty also has a 30+ year association with ARC’s former fiscal sponsor, the Missoula Urban Indian Health Center, where she served as a long-time Board Member, a Health Coordinator and a Case Manager. Kitty holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services and Rehabilitation from Salish Kootenai College.
Kitty loves to create traditional crafts inspired by the Salish culture. She considers herself a dog lover and knows first-hand that canines know when one is not well. She believes in the therapeutic power of owning a dog and is a proud owner of a beloved pit bull.
Holly Swenson
Holly Swenson holds a BSN from Montana State University and a certificate in Nursing Education from MSU. Holly has worked as a Registered Nurse at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula in the Neuro Department.
Holly has previously served on three local boards: Dunrovin Ranch, The Girls Way, and the Sussex School Board. She is joyfully raising four beautiful boys with her husband. She currently works as the Community and Business Development Officer at the Bank of Montana.
Holly has a deep love for all beings and wants to work to ensure humans and animals alike have their needs met emotionally, physically and spiritually. Serving and supporting the uplifting of Indigenous peoples, culture, and animals most in need, resonates with Holly greatly, and she is pleased to help promote a program that will make a difference on the Flathead Reservation.
In her personal time, Holly loves the outdoors, hiking, gardening, yoga, riding horses, spending time with family, knitting, and learning something new every day. She also holds RYT 200 HR Yoga Certification.
STAFF
Filip Panusz - Founder & Executive Director
Filip has spent roughly 15 years working on animal related issues in the nonprofit field. He holds a B.S. in Wildlife Biology and an M.A. in Environmental Ethics. He has served as Executive Director for three separate nonprofits including the Mission Valley Animal Shelter on the Flathead Indian Reservation.
Filip feels drawn to nonprofit work that helps both animals and people - particularly those who have faced injustice or pain.
He lives with his beloved wife, daughter and two senior shelter mutts in western Montana where he arrived 25 years ago, seeking a freer, slower, and more genuine life that was down-to-earth and just a tad less civilized.
In the rare moments he finds for himself, Filip enjoys admiring the beauty of birds, wildlife and remote wild landscapes.
Leslie Camel - Executive Assistant
In 2018, I began working for the Mission Valley Animal Shelter, and it was the most rewarding job ever! Having accepted a position at ARC in October 2022, I'm glad to be working with friends who are passionate about helping animals and people. As a member of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, I am excited to see ARC in our community and carrying out its healing mission. I look forward to applying my experience in graphic design, photography, and clerical duties work to furthering ARC's mission.
Board Alumni
Rhonda Hamerslough-Koester
Rhonda Hamerslough-Koester
Rhonda Hamerslough-Koester
Dr. Rhonda Hamerslough-Koester (Aug '19-Jun '21) is a business owner and Certified Professional Dog Trainer. Rhonda holds two BS degrees (Health Science and Registered Dental Hygiene) and an MS in School Counseling. She completed an Educational Specialist Degree in School Psychology and a doctorate in Educational Administration and Leadership at Loma Linda University (LLU). After 15 years of teaching, Rhonda moved to the Pacific Northwest where she served on the Board of Directors for an animal shelter in Idaho and was subsequently hired as Executive Director and tasked with building a new facility. Today, she continues this work through her Pawsitively Social Emotional Learning curriculum, which has been adopted by schools throughout the United States.
Rachel Andrews-Gould
Rhonda Hamerslough-Koester
Rhonda Hamerslough-Koester
While serving on the ARC Board, Ms. Andrews-Gould was the Director of the Business Program at the Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, MT. More recently she was promoted to the position of Dean and had to take leave from her ARC Board role to accommodate her new and vast responsibilities at SKC. She looks forward to continuing her support for ARC in other ways, and we hope to welcome her back to the Board in the future. She holds both a B.A. and M.A. from California Coastal University.
Kirsten Holland
Rhonda Hamerslough-Koester
Kristen Desjarlais
Kirsten Holland (Aug '19-Mar '20) was one of ARC's founding Board Members. She came to the organization with a deep passion for canine rescue, having been the Executive Director of the Flathead County Animal Shelter in the past. Kirsten also had extensive professional nonprofit fundraising experience, most recently with Swan Valley Connections.
Kristen Desjarlais
Kristen Desjarlais
Kristen Desjarlais
Kristen Desjarlais (Mar '20-Dec '22)
has a passion for children and animals and their well-being. She works as the head Counselor for Ronan Middle School on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Kristen is a firm believer in the importance of mental health support and the power of Social & Emotional Learning within schools. She is a First Generation Descendant of the Salish Tribe.
Alina Graves
Kristen Desjarlais
Alina Graves
Alina Graves (Mar '20-Mar '22) is a native of Ronan and a First Generation Descendant of the Salish Tribe. She currently works as a Social Studies teacher at the Ronan Middle School.
Alina's association with ARC stems from her passion for teaching children and her passion for animals. She has volunteered for the Mission Valley Animal Shelter for a number of years, which is where she met ARC's founder during his time running that shelter. At the time, Alina volunteered to serve on an Advisory Council for Community Canines and adopted an adorable homeless corgi mix pup who has since become a beloved family member.