Patrick Sweeney, Director
Pat is a third-generation Montanan and a graduate of the University of Montana in history. He has been a community organizer on natural resource and family farm agriculture issues in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain Region since 1972. He has helped build WORC into a regional network of seven community-based groups with over 10,000 members, 65 staff and 50 local chapters in the states of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, North and South Dakota and Wyoming. He currently serves on the Board of the Organizers’ Forum, Environmental Support Center, Steering Committee for the Western Mining Action Network, and Rural Montana Voters PAC.
John Smillie, Campaign Director
John is a graduate of Stanford University. He was an organizer and research coordinator for the Northern Plains Resource Council from 1979 to 1984, and has been program director for WORC since 1984. During that time he has been a trainer for WORC's Principles of Community Organizing sessions, writer and editor of many WORC publications, and lead staff for several regional and national campaigns on agricultural and natural resource issues.
Kevin Williams, Director of Organizing
Kevin is a graduate of the University of Idaho with a Master of Science Degree in Forest Resources. As Director of Organizing, Kevin is responsible for coordinating a multi-faceted training program for members and staff, and delivering a wide range of capacity building assistance to WORC’s member groups. Kevin has 25 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector. In addition to his current job, he has held a variety of other positions within the WORC network including community organizer, staff director and field organizer. Prior to his employment in the nonprofit sector, Kevin worked for the U.S. Forest Service in Montana and Colorado, and in several agriculture related jobs. Kevin and his wife Brenda reside in Montrose, Colorado where they live in an energy efficient, passive solar home, grow organic food, and attempt to live lightly on the land.
Sara Kendall, DC Office Director
Sara is a 1990 graduate of Middlebury College with a B.A. in Environmental Studies. In the summer of 1990, Ms. Kendall interned for WORC and authored Uncertain Fortune. She also interned for Northern Plains at the 1991 Montana Legislature. Ms. Kendall worked for two years as the coordinator of recycling and reuse programs for the Rutland County Solid Waste District in Rutland, Vermont. She was the member services coordinator for Public Citizen in Washington, D.C.
Anna Lucas, DC Representative
Anna Lucas joins WORC in the Washington office, tracking legislation and monitoring policy decisions that affect WORC's members and member groups. She is a graduate from the University of Maryland with degrees in Sociology and Women's Studies and has previously worked at the Human Rights Campaign as a Regional Field Organizer where she spent time in Montana working on the 2006 midterm elections. Prior to joining WORC, she served in Kenya with the U.S. Peace Corps.
Kevin Dowling, Communications Director
Kevin has been with WORC since 1995. He has served as WORC’s Development Director and is currently the Communications Director. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland, with a B.A. in Political Science. His experience includes work as a field organizer for a Congressional campaign, as a staff assistant in a Congressional office, and as Director of Northern Plains Resource Council's Montana Rural Electric Cooperative Project. He serves on the board of directors for Community Seven, a community access television station, and the Good Earth Market, a co-op grocery store for health food.
Kerri Nelson, Development Director
Kerri joined the WORC staff in May 2002 as an Intern researching and writing on food safety and genetically modified wheat issues. She currently writes grants, does layout and design of WORC's publications, and is the editor of the WORC's newsletter, the Western Organizing Review. Kerri is a graduate of Rocky Mountain College with a B.A. in English and Writing.
Jeri Lynn Bakken, Regional Organizer
Jeri Lynn Bakken is responsible for the Regional Fair Trade Campaign. Prior to joining the WORC staff in December 2002, Jeri Lynn worked as a community organizer for Dakota Resource Council and Dakota Rural Action beginning in 1994. She is a graduate of Dickinson State University in Dickinson, ND with a B.S. in English and Communications Education. Jeri Lynn works in the field office near Lemmon, SD, where she and her family farm and ranch.
Margie MacDonald, Regional Organizer
Eastern Montana native Margie MacDonald, facilitates campaigns on Clean, Renewable Fuels, Factory Farms, and Local Foods. She returned to the resource council community after a 20-year hiatus during which she served as Executive Director of the Montana Association of Churches and the Montana Office of Community Service. She worked for the Northern Plains Resource Council for nine years, culminating her tenure there as staff director. Margie holds a bachelors of science in Journalism from the University of Montana, where she was recognized in 2001 as a Distinguished Alumni.
Eileen joined the WORC staff in April 1986 as the Administrative Assistant. She is a graduate of the Billings Vo-Tech Center. She currently works three-quarters time as the comptroller, and she handles audits, financial, tax, accounts receivable/payable, and payroll.
Marvel Karch, Office Administrator
Marvel has been with WORC since September 1995. Marvel graduated from May Technical College in 1993 and has a wide array of business and computer training. Since joining WORC she has incorporated a new database program, specifically designed for non-profits, helps do the organizational budget each year and keeps track of staff time and percentages on specific issues for grant reporting processes.
Tim Ennis, Regional Technology Coordinator
A third-generation Montanan, Tim delivers technical expertise and direction for WORC and its members. A Novell Certified Network Engineer, he has been involved with computer technology since 1979. He has participated in numerous technical training classes from Canon and Novell and is well versed in the range of office technology, including printers, copiers, faxes, and telephone systems.
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