Join me in welcoming some of our newest members - Anne Christ, Jim Patton, and Stu Hornung.

Anne Christ

During the 18 years my husband and I owned and operated Bridge Creek Backcountry Kitchen and Wine Bar in Red Lodge, customer experience and hospitality were always top of mind. While in Red Lodge, I also served as Program Director with the Boys and Girls Club, and chair of the Red Lodge School Board. When Peter decided to attend Luther Seminary in Minnesota in 2008, I decided that was a good time for a career change for me, as well. I graduated from the University of Minnesota's Mortuary Science program in 2015, and spent ten years working in a busy family-owned funeral home in St. Paul. Now that Peter is president of the foundation of St. John’s United, I am glad to be back in Billings, serving the families of my home state in their time of need. I am fortunate to have landed at Michelotti-Sawyers Funeral Home and Crematory. For both Peter and me, our call to provide hospitality for our neighbors has only expanded in these fields.

Jim Patton

James W. “Jim” Patton serves as President & CEO of the Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch Foundation in Billings, MT, joining the Foundation in February 2026.

A first-generation college graduate from rural Kentucky, Mr. Patton brings over twenty-five years of senior- level expertise in advancement, legal affairs, and government relations across healthcare institutions and higher education. He graduated from the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville through a prestigious dual-competency program, earning both his Juris Doctorate and Master of Divinity simultaneously, with concentrations in ethics, social justice, and Native American policy.

Stuart “Stu” Hornung

I started my career in the office technology industry with J&H Office Equipment in Bozeman shortly after graduating from Montana State University’s College of Business in 2001. What started as a job after college has somehow turned into a career of more than 20 years, which means I've spent a considerable portion of my life talking about copiers and printers. I can assure you that selling copiers wasn't one of my choices at the middle school career fair, but it has turned out to be a rewarding career. After J&H was acquired by Kelley Connect, I continued working in the industry for several years before making a change and joining Finding Freedom, a nonprofit organization in Bozeman. I eventually moved back to my hometown of Billings, where I worked for Camping World before the opportunity to join Peterson Quality Office came along. I really enjoy working for a truly local, family-owned company that places such a strong emphasis on excellent customer service. I also have a passion for helping businesses take a more strategic approach to their print and document environments, finding ways to streamline their equipment, improve efficiency, reduce costs, and make things easier for the people who use them.

Sibanye-Stillwater's Montana operations with Heather McDowell

Heather McDonald, General Counsel and head of Legal and External Affairs for Sibanye-Stillwater’s Montana operations, delivers a comprehensive update to the Rotary Club on the company’s role as the sole primary producer of platinum and palladium in the United States, its sustainable mining practices, economic impact, challenges in the global market, and efforts to differentiate its ethically sourced metals. Sibanye-Stillwater operates the only primary platinum and palladium mines in the U.S., located in Montana, with the highest-grade deposit (JM Reef) in the world. This geological formation contains the highest known concentration of platinum group metals (PGMs) globally. The company began operations at Stillwater in 1886, though the current mining methods are modern. Mining follows a narrow, seven-foot-wide ore body akin to "the frosting in a layer cake," necessitating precise underground navigation through complex terrain. The ore is extracted using drilling and dynamite, then crushed into fine powder at on-site concentrators. The material is transported to a metallurgical complex in Columbus, MT, where it is dried and smelted. A key environmental advantage is that the ore naturally binds with sulfides, reducing acid leaching risks in tailings, unlike many other mining operations. Sibanye-Stillwater integrates recycled catalytic converters with mined ore in its smelting process. For the past 12 years, the company has recycled more material than it has mined. Spent catalytic converters—decanned and powdered—are sourced primarily from the U.S. and mixed with mine ore in the smelter. The process produces a concentrate that is 68% platinum and palladium, with trace rhodium.

United States Senator Tim Sheehy opened with a lighthearted tone as he joked about the impeachment of our Rotary President and welcomed attendees. After a Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer for U.S. Navy personnel and Montana, numerous guests were personally acknowledged, including local leaders, veterans, and the speaker’s father-in-law, Mike Clancy. Tim promoted the Billings Air Show, featuring the Golden Knights, Red Bull Air Team, and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. He also honored Jory Thomas, a 14-year-old Montanan, who saved a man from drowning in the Yellowstone River using a lasso during a camping trip—earning him a senatorial service award. He then introduced Assistant Secretary Ben, a former Navy fighter pilot (F-18) and veteran of the USS Nimitz, now responsible for manpower and reserve affairs. His emotional recount of seeing a U.S. supercarrier during a flight to Hawaii reignited his pride in naval service.

The Honorable Benjamin C. Kohlmann, the 20th Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs discuss the current state and future of the U.S. Navy, its recruitment, shipbuilding challenges, and workforce development—particularly in Montana. The Navy’s mission extends beyond combat: it ensures global maritime dominance, enabling free trade, navigation, and American prosperity, and despite operating $15 billion carriers and $3 billion destroyers, the speaker emphasized that “without the people, nothing happens.” The U.S. Navy is experiencing strong recruitment and retention, driven by renewed national purpose and leadership. There is a critical shortage in naval shipbuilding capacity exists, with China outpacing the U.S. by a factor of 232 times in ship production. Workforce development for skilled trades—welding, pipefitting, electrical work—is essential to rebuild the naval industrial base. At this time, Montana has a high rate of veteran participation but low representation in service academies, indicating a need for greater awareness and outreach. The Assistant Secretary believes the reserves offer a pathway for skilled professionals to serve part-time while maintaining civilian careers. This model supports mission-driven service without sacrificing income, particularly appealing to veterans who miss the purpose of military life. Currently, AR/VR simulations are being used to engage high school students, allowing them to virtually experience shipyard work.

Wildlife Contraception Presentation — Kimberly Frank, Science and Conservation Center

The Science and Conservation Center (SCC) is located on the grounds of Zoo Montana, the zoo's original conservation biology arm. Became a separate 501(c)(3) in 2001 to manage grant money independently. Jay Kirkpatrick, former Dean of Arts and Sciences at Eastern Montana College (now MSUB), founded the Center and pioneered wildlife contraception research starting in 1988. Kimberly Frank joined as a volunteer in 1993, became a conservation biologist, and has been Executive Director since 2016.

Yellowstone County Commissioner Mike Waters shares an update on the proposed Yellowstone County Jail Expansion

The Yellowstone County Commissioner delivered a detailed presentation on the critical state of the Yellowstone County Detention Facility. The facility, designed for 434 inmates, currently houses 681, a level of overcrowding that poses serious risks. This overcapacity creates unsafe conditions for both staff and inmates, limits emergency response capabilities (e.g., inability to relocate inmates during plumbing or electrical failures), and disrupts proper security classification—some medium-security inmates are held in general population, and high-risk individuals may lack appropriate placement due to space constraints.

The overcrowding directly impacts public safety by weakening the power of arrest. Law enforcement officers and judges must consider jail space before making arrests, even for repeat offenders and domestic violence cases. This undermines accountability and allows low-level and non-violent offenders to remain on the streets unchecked. The county currently has over 11,000 outstanding arrest warrants, many for non-violent misdemeanors, with little enforcement due to lack of jail capacity.