Staff

KIM NIETERS

Vice President of Operations &
Auction Director

Cody, Wyoming

Kim, is a proud Summit Life Member and began her career at WSF, which was then known as FNAWS, as the membership coordinator in 1988.

During her time at WSF, she has managed various aspects of the Foundation, including membership, merchandise, raffles, awards, and auctions. Her hard work and dedication led to her promotion as Vice President of Operations. In this role, Kim has had the opportunity to deepen her understanding of the Foundation at a higher level and build relationships with her fellow team members.

She credits her success to the generosity and trust of WSF’s donors, exhibitors, sponsors, and members, who have provided immense support throughout her career. Throughout her many years with WSF, Kim has discovered that her passion is driven by the inspiring members of WSF. She always says, "I work for them."

Kim enjoys spending time with her two beautiful daughters, Shelbie and Emma, and her grandson, Zavier.  She loves being in the Wyoming mountains, fishing, camping, and hiking with her dogs and boyfriend, Patrick.

KEITH BALFOURD

Director of Marketing and Communications

Bozeman, Montana

Prior to join in WSF in 2019, Balfourd has spent the previous 18 years as the Director of Marketing for the Boone and Crockett Club.

“Keith has been a friend to our conservation community and WSF for many years,” said Gray N. Thornton, President and CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation. “He’s as well respected, talented and dedicated as they come. We’re thrilled to have Keith on our team.”

Balfourd has worked within the hunting, flyfishing, and conservation communities for the past 40+ years in various capacities as an outdoor communicator, marketer, publisher, television producer, instructor and guide. He currently resides in Ennis, MT with his wife and two daughters.

“I’ve been fortunate to be able to turn my passion for wildlife and the outdoors into my life’s work, which has been both rewarding and humbling,” Balfourd explained. “The most grounded, genuine, caring and giving people live and work in this space. Not a day goes by that I’m not engaging with someone that truly wants to see wildlife thrive, are committed to doing something about it, and want their friends and family to enjoy the same outdoor lifestyle that defines them.”

JULIE TRIPP

Awards & Publications Director

Lolo, Montana

Before joining WSF in 2023, Julie began her wildlife conservation career with the Boone and Crockett Club. In 1994, she launched Fair Chase, the organization’s first-ever quarterly magazine, and went on to serve nearly 30 years as Director of Publications. Her role spanned content strategy, graphic design, book publishing, and leading the Club’s design and communications team. Over the years, Julie earned 18 book publishing awards for excellence in design and production, with notable honors for Theodore Roosevelt: Hunter-Conservationist and North American Wildlife Policy and Law.

At WSF, Julie is proud to be a Life Member and part of a team deeply committed to conservation. She produces the Foundation’s key publications, including Conservation Impact and Keeping Wild Sheep Healthy, and was recently named Editor of Wild Sheep magazine. She also leads design initiatives and serves as project manager for WSF’s website. Julie coordinates WSF’s awards programs, including Ram Awards, FNAWS, and Mountain Monarchs, connecting her with hunters and conservationists whose stories are a highlight of her work.

She and her partner, Matt, live in Montana, where they enjoy trail running, wake surfing, and skiing in the changing seasons.

TERRY ZIEHL

Finance Director

Cody, Wyoming

As a Life Member of WSF Terry Started with FNAWS in 1987, (now known as WSF) as a part time receptionist.  “I guess you could say she really enjoyed working here 38 years later!”

Born in Cloquet, Minnesota, she left in 1981 to go to Casper, Wyoming and landed a job as a receptionist with PA Incorporated.  Then in 1986 Terry’s husband working for Marathon Oil, was transferred to Cody, Wyoming.

Working many positions with WSF she ended up as Finance Director, which she still enjoys the challenges it brings today. Terry especially looks forward to the convention each year where she loves catching up with the many friends she has made and looks forward to making new ones. 

Terry still resides in Cody, Wyoming, and part time in Red Lodge, Montana.  Still married to her high school sweetheart (Terry) she has two beautiful daughters Sami and Kimberly.

MIKE AIAZZI

Expo and Exhibits Manager

Reno, Nevada

Mike Aiazzi grew up in Elko, Nevada, where he developed a love for the outdoors through hunting, 4-H, and exploring the Great Basin. He credits his stepfather, a soil scientist, for inspiring his interest in conservation. While attending the University of Nevada, Reno, Mike became active in various conservation organizations, leading to a 14-year career with Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops. He was recognized with the Cabela’s Community Champion Award for his community outreach.

Mike and his wife, Brandi, are raising two boys with a shared passion for the outdoors. Hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, or spending time at the family ranch are favorite pastimes—always as a family.

Mike continues to volunteer with conservation groups and serves on the board of Nevada Outdoorsmen in Wheelchairs, coordinating antelope hunts for wheelchair-bound hunters. A longtime WSF exhibitor, he joined the Wild Sheep Foundation staff in October 2021 and works closely with convention exhibitors.

MEGAN COSTANZA

Banquets and Events Manager

Reno, Nevada

Megan grew up north of Orlando, FL where much of her childhood was either spent at the beach or camping. She moved to Reno, NV in high school where her love of being outdoors and exploring all the lakes and hiking trails that Northern Nevada has to offer grew. 

A graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, Megan recently joined WSF after working at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino the past 14 years as a Convention Services Manager. There she helped WSF with their convention on the hotel side. 

Outside of work you will see her attending either her daughter’s cheer competitions,  son’s baseball games or just doing anything mom does. 

PAIGE CULVER

Development Manager

Bozeman, Montana

Paige Culver has proudly served as the Development Manager of the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) since 2017, where she has been a driving force behind the organization’s fundraising growth. With a deep passion for wildlife, wild places, and WSF’s dedicated members and donors, Paige has played a central role in securing critical support for programs that directly benefit wild sheep populations across North America and around the globe.

A strong collaborator, Paige enjoys working across all levels of the organization. She has successfully partnered with numerous WSF committees to raise funds for high-priority initiatives such as disease research, habitat restoration, translocation projects, and youth education. She feels most successful in her role when she can help align mission-driven goals with the financial resources needed to achieve them. Her efforts have contributed to the growth of a strong, sustainable culture of giving that advances WSF’s mission.

Outside of work, Paige enjoys making the most of life in Montana with her husband, Graham, and their two active teenagers, Vivienne and William. Her time outdoors—whether hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, floating, or simply exploring—continues to inspire her commitment to preserving wild sheep and the wild places they call home for generations to come.

MATT DWONCH

Marketing and Content Strategist

Bozeman, Montana

Matt joined the Wild Sheep Foundation in 2024 as Content and Marketing Strategist. Born and raised in Boise, Idaho, he was hooked on wildlife and wild places from a very young age. He was blessed to grow up with family and friends who fostered his love for the outdoors and encouraged him to get outside and into trouble. At age 5, he started “hunting” bugs in the backyard.  A couple years after that, he was gifted a fly rod and taken on his first big game hunt. He has not looked back or missed a hunting season since. 

In hopes of spending as many days bowhunting as possible, he stayed in-state for college and graduated with a BBA in Marketing and Finance from Idaho State University. While attending, he nurtured an interest in writing and looked for opportunities to blend this passion with his love for hunting and fly-fishing. This search led to an editorial and communications internship with the Professional Outdoor Media Association, where he made valuable connections and started building his resume as an outdoor writer. 

Prior to joining WSF, Matt worked as a wildland firefighter and a freelance outdoor writer, with articles published in Field Ethos and Northwest Sportsman Magazine. He is proud to use his storytelling abilities to tell the story of the Wild Sheep Foundation! When he isn’t on the job, you can try to find him a few miles into the backcountry, bow or fly rod in hand, chasing cutthroat in mountain lakes or screaming bulls through alpine timber. 

JUSTIN PHILLIPS

Graphic Designer

Cody, Wyoming

Justin grew up in the small town of Thompson Falls in northwest Montana. He was surrounded by hunting, fishing, shed hunting and camping.

He graduated with an Associate’s degree in Multimedia from the Art Institute of Seattle in 2001 and continued his education at Montana State University receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Graphics & Design in 2006.

After fighting fires for seven years on the Lolo National Forest, Justin accepted a position with FNAWS in 2007. He has worked diligently for Wild Sheep Foundation in several capacities ever since. His biggest WSF success would be being a catalyst in the creation and momentum of the <1 Club (The only club you join to get kicked out). This will be his 18th convention doing graphics for the Wild Sheep Foundation.

Justin lives in the great state of Wyoming where you can find him ice fishing, hunting, and exploring the Bighorn Basin in search of history with his wife Dakota, and son Fletcher.

MADDIE RICHARDS

Membership Manager & <1Club Manager

Bozeman, Montana

Maddie grew up in Minnesota, where hunting and fishing became a way of life early on—joining her parents in the duck blind at just 10 months old.

In 2017, her passion for wild places brought her west to Bozeman, Montana, where she earned a B.S. in Business from Montana State University in 2019 (though she spent plenty of time on the river and in the mountains). Her involvement with the MSU Student Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation led to a full-time role after graduation as Registration Coordinator and Store Manager.

Today, Maddie serves as WSF’s Membership Manager and <1 Clubs Manager, working to grow a passionate conservation-minded community. Her hunting adventures have taken her across North America and Africa, but her proudest title is mom. She and her daughter, Chase, are already making outdoor memories together—Chase proving to be a good luck charm. Maddie’s ultimate goal: to be “kicked out” of the <1 Club!

JAIME TEIGEN

E-Commerce & Office Manager

Bozeman, Montana

Jaime grew up in northern Idaho where her love for the outdoors flourished with skiing, camping, fishing and playing ghosts in the graveyard with the neighborhood kids. She went to Western Culinary Institute in Portland, OR and quickly became an Executive Chef right after graduation.

She met her husband, Caleb, in Jackson, Wyoming, and that’s where she began her journey with hunting and learning the whole process of truly knowing where your food comes from, sharing that with others, teaching their daughter Lillian the importance of conservation and why we do what we do.

Jaime currently is a freelance chef, an instructor for wild game cooking for OutdoorClass (an e-learning platform for hunters and outdoorsmen/women), an Ambassador for Montana Wildlife Federation and the featured chef for Carnivore’s Kitchen for RMEF’s Bugle Magazine.

REBECCA ANNE TUTHILL

Membership Assistant

Bozeman, Montana

Rebecca “Reb” grew up in Northern Minnesota and was introduced to the outdoors at a young age. She grew up enjoying deer and bird hunting with her dad, walleye fishing, and volunteering with various outdoor organizations.

She moved to Montana to attend Montana State University in 2015 and quickly realized she didn't want to leave. She was introduced to WSF in college and became a student volunteer at local events and at Sheep Show. After acquiring a Business Management degree in 2019, she has had various jobs in the outdoor industry but always kept in touch with WSF.  When a part-time position became available, she jumped at the opportunity to become a member of the team.

She lives in Bozeman with her husband, Scott, and pets Wiz and Noodle. When she is not working at WSF Headquarters, she is at her small business across the street helping clients with their skin.