Our Team

Georgia has been involved in intensive youth case management for over 28 years. Building strong relationships with youth and young adults is her passion. She is at her best when working with youth to problem solve through whatever they are experiencing at the moment. She prides herself on a strong work ethic that comes with a fun spirit. She has experienced many wins in her life and her greatest win and pride is raising an amazing young man. Georgia spent the first 16 years of her life growing up on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation where she learned a deep respect for the Native culture. Family is everything to Georgia and when she is not at work she is enjoying many great adventures with her family at her country home. She is most at home in her greenhouse, and with her chickens. Both bring her peace and great joy, not to mention the thrill of sharing in the harvest of vegetables and eggs with friends.

If you had a superpower, what would it be? I would be able to read minds. I find people and their stories that brought them to where they are in life fascinating. If I could choose to have two superpowers, the other one would be to be a genie so I could make everyone’s wishes come true.

What makes you laugh? Everything. I find humor in many things and most of all I love to make others laugh.

Adam brings nearly ten years of experience working with people living in poverty. During the past several years, that focus has shifted to ensuring that individuals and families experiencing homelessness are given every opportunity to succeed and better their situations. He enjoys spending time with his family, and as an alumnus of Belfry, small towns have a special place in his heart.

If you had a superpower, what would it be? Flying. How cool would it be to fly?

What makes you laugh? I really enjoy listening to any stand-up comedians.

A graduate of MSU-B with his Bachelor of Sciences in Psychology, Tony joins the Tumbleweed program with two years of case management experience focusing on youth services.

When not at work, Tony can be found hiking with his dog, an American Akita named Bushido or running along the Rims.

If you could have any superpower, what would you have? I would like the ability to fly. It would be an amazing experience to see the world from above.

What makes me laugh? I enjoy a television show with an irreverent sense of humor (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Hacks, Arrested Development to name a few).

What are you proud of? Buying a house. It means a lot to me to be in a position in my life where I am stable enough to have made such a large purchase.

Heide was born and raised in Billings, Montana. She moved to Bozeman to attend M.S.U. and earned her degree in education with a Family and Consumer Science major and a History minor. Heide returned back to the “Magic City” and accepted a job with the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch. Her position at YBGR was working with teenage girls at a transitional group home as a youth counselor. Heide taught part time at Skyview High High School for several years before transferring to Senior High School. For the next 27 years, Heide taught a variety of classes at Senior but enjoyed teaching the upper level culinary classes the most. She served as the department head for Family and Consumer Science her last 5 years at Senior and retired from teaching in 2020. Heide enjoys work with young adults, making connections and forming lasting relationships.

30 years of summers off has led to many traveling adventures. Her first summer vacation was spent in Cancun and then she continued to go back to Mexico as often as she could. Cozumel is where she spent most of her time. She loves to travel and learn about new cultures and live like the locals. Other things that she enjoys doing is spending time at her cabin just outside of Red Lodge, gardening, planting flowers and refurbishing old furniture. llShe loves making new friends and “catching up” with old friends.

If you had a superpower, what would it be? I would want to be like Samantha on Bewitched or Jeanie from I dream of Jeanie. Basically, I could do anything I wanted with just a twinkle of my nose.

What makes you laugh? Watching funny animal videos, hanging out with my besties is always a great time and classic skits from SNL- Mary Kathryn Gallager and The Spartan Cheerleaders and mad t.v.’s-Stewart. One of my all time favorite shows

Pete holds a degree in parks, tourism, and recreation management through the University of Montana’s School of Forestry and Conservation. He brings with him experience as Youth Development Coordinator at Flagship, a non-profit after school program for children based out of Missoula, MT. Pete loves interacting with people and believes that sometimes all it takes is a helping hand to change the course of someone’s life.

When you are not at work, what is your favorite thing to do? Outside of work I enjoy taking my dog Saul Goodboy, a silly Boxer mutt, on long hikes in the woods. I also love disc golf, playing video games, and spending time with friends and family.

If you had a superpower, what would it be? Super speed. Imagine all the things you could accomplish if you moved lightning fast!

What makes you laugh? I find humor in almost everything! I believe that a good sense of humor can bring joy to everyday situations and help navigate life’s ups and downs. Embracing laughter and joy in the small moments makes the world a better place.

Michelle Reed is a case manager in the drop-in center at Tumbleweed. Michelle comes with years of experience working with our most vulnerable population within our community. Michelle identifies as peer support. Michelle often speaks to others about her journey of recovery and how she overcame homelessness, addiction, and a mental health diagnosis. Michelle knows that youth are at times left alone to figure out how to navigate resources in our community and that can be overwhelming.

Our youth and their families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, struggle with mental wellness, and addiction are a few of the reasons she is here. Michelle’s believes it is a gift to be a part Tumbleweed.

Shelbi is a Chafee case manager at Tumbleweed and with her, she brings eight years of case management experience to the team. She is very passionate about working with our foster youth. She has herself been in foster care, and has 5 years of foster parenting experience with Youth Dynamics. She is excited to be serving our youth in foster care and is so happy to be a part of Chafee and the Tumbleweed team. Shelbi’s greatest achievement has been raising her son to become a very good person, and whom she is very proud of. Her family and friends bring much joy to her life and she loves spending time with them.When she is not working Shelbi can be found trying new recipes, she loves cooking and trying new food to share with friends and family. She also enjoys relaxing with a good cooking show and also likes a good crime show.

If you had a superpower, what would it be? If I had the superpower of being able to be in several places at once!! Talk about the ultimate multi-tasking power!!

What makes you laugh? My son makes me laugh every day! I really enjoy laughing with friends, family and co-workers! Life is so much more fun when laughing!!

Amber is a Tumbleweed Case Manager working in Skyview High School. Born in Cody Wyoming she moved to Billings with her family in the 2nd grade; and is now raising her 2 daughters Scarlett and Sienna in the same neighborhood she grew up in. She graduated from Billings West High in 2004 and MSU-Billings in 2008 with a B.S. in Human Services. Her professional career has been working with kids and families by connecting them to services and providing support in a variety of ways. After many years of work she prides herself on being able to engage children/teens/families in a way that makes them comfortable talking about all things with no judgement. Amber developed this skill through not only professional experiences, but also having to seek and access the very same supports she uses for anyone she works with. That unique ability to have walked in the shoes of who she is serving has allowed her the patience and understanding it takes for someone to be successful in a helping profession. Amber approaches all things with a smile and hopefully something to laugh at in the process.

When Amber is not at work, she is probably with her two daughters chauffeuring them to all their activities or taking their new puppy Ivory out for a walk. She enjoys binge watching shows on Netflix and hanging out with her family and friends.

If you had a superpower, what would it be: I would love to have the ability to travel back and forth in time. To be able to go back to moments that you wished you could have cherished more, or to go into the future and see what the outcome is would be AWESOME!

What makes you laugh: I laugh at ALL things. But my favorite thing to laugh at is my kids, animals, and awkward situations. Also the sitcoms The Office and Seinfeld make me laugh no matter how many times I have seen the show! Life can be serious and challenging, and laughter to her as silly as it sounds is the best medicine!

Tatiana is a Peer Systems Navigator at Tumbleweed, she comes to us with 19 years of experience working in education and youth based mental health environments, specializing in low-income, poverty and homeless youth and youth with behavioral needs. Meeting the youth where they are and showing great empathy are her best qualities. She strives to be a positive influence on the youth by relating to them through her lived experiences as a professional who grew up in a crime and drug filled area of California with little to no support as a child herself. Tatiana fought hard to prove her value as a professional for her 4 children and the youth she serves in the community by using her lived experience in overcoming abuse, addiction and homelessness. One of her biggest achievements has been raising her children as a single mother and watching them develop into mature and capable young adults.

When she is not working, she spends most of her time with her four teens painting, writing and being sarcastic towards one another. She also enjoys engaging in the community with a focus on diversity and love for the south side. She is Secretary of the board of directors for The Black Heritage Foundation providing a safe space for people of color to engage with their community and supporters. She is also a facilitator, working with Cross Community Reconciliation on building a better community that accepts and appreciates the diversity in Billings. She is also a VOICES committee member for The Northern Lights Family Justice Center where she utilizes her past experiences of domestic violence to work towards alleviating barriers and retraumatizing practices victims experience when working within the systems in our community.

If you had a superpower, what would it be? I would have the power to think anything into existence. That way I could ensure my family is safe and stable and we had less to worry about. I would fulfill a few selfish needs and then I would move forward in life seeing a problem and being a solution in the shadows. Contributing to the world without recognition or red tape.

What makes you laugh? My kids. Especially my daughter Bianca. She was gifted with comedic timing and the ability to execute sarcasm since she was small. When I am lucky enough to spend alone time with her, all we do is laugh and sing (and we laugh at our own singing).

Tammy Long is a dedicated and compassionate advocate for youth, bringing a wealth of experience and a heart for service to Tumbleweed. Her commitment to creating lasting change for at-risk and homeless young people shines through in everything she does. Tammy’s ability to connect with others, foster hope, and help build brighter futures makes her an invaluable part of the team.

If you had a superpower, what would it be? The ability to instantly heal — not just physical wounds but emotional ones, too.

What makes you laugh? Almost everything.

Ned comes to Tumbleweed with decades of life experience.  He has worked in human services now for six and a half years. Starting at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch as a Therapeutic Youth Mentor and a School-Based Behavior Specialist, Ned enjoys working with people and serving the community.

When you are not at work, what is your favorite thing to do? I am something of an optiphile and have a collection of microscopes, binoculars, and telescopes. Observing the natural world is my passion. I am always looking forward to seeing and spending time with my three adult children and playing with my dog Islay Jean (pronounced I-LUH-GENE)

If you had a superpower, what would it be? I would choose invincibility because who wouldn’t want to be invincible!

What makes you laugh? I laugh easily and often.

Misty is the Outreach and Engagement Coordinator with the Chafee program. She has an educational background in Psychology and Anthropology and has worked with youths with disabilities in the public school system. As an individual with a visual impairment, she is passionate about finding ways to help others overcome their personal roadblocks to attain success and life satisfaction. Her genuine curiosity, nonjudgemental attitude, and belief that everyone can succeed given the right tools and motivation, create an atmosphere that fosters open communication and creative problem solving. Her greatest achievement is developing the confidence to surpass expectations created by the stigmatizing cultures of poverty and disability.

Outside of the office she can be found hiking, camping, canoeing, or making elaborate meals for friends. She also spends time at home listening to audiobooks, playing with her guide dog and finding puzzles to solve.

What would your superpower be? If I could choose any superpower, it would be to heal and soothe the people whose lives I touch. I would love to be able to increase the joy and peace experienced in our world.

What makes you laugh? I find humor around every corner! Laughter is my greatest aid in coping with the stress and difficulties of everyday life. It gives me the strength and power I need to combat fear, pain, and despair by reminding me of the beauty that exists all around us

Afton Ahrens has dedicated nearly a decade of her professional life to working with at-risk teenagers. These individuals have consistently held a special place in her heart. The opportunity presented by Tumbleweed aligns perfectly with her aspirations and the challenging role she has prepared for through her education and life experiences.
Her grandparents played a pivotal role in shaping her upbringing, particularly during challenging times, and consistently encouraged her pursuit of higher education. Afton earned her undergraduate degree in human services in 2018. While she thrives in demanding work environments, her most fulfilling experience has been raising her three daughters.

Afton’s ideal weekend involves spending time at home, engaging in creative activities such as crafting or cooking, or sharing meals with her family. Brunch with her sister or dinner with friends would complete the weekend.
Afton enjoys spending time outdoors, whether it’s in the presence of mountains or the ocean. The outdoors offer a profound sense of energy and tranquility.

If she possessed a superpower, Afton would choose the ability to teleport. This would enable her to effortlessly travel to any location at any given moment, making travel an unparalleled experience. She believes that this power would allow her to accomplish a wide range of tasks and explore numerous destinations.

Afton’s source of laughter is the ability to find humor in even the most unexpected situations. She particularly enjoys dad jokes, which have a contagious quality and often elicit laughter from those around her. Her children are the constant source of joy and laughter in her life.

Dana is a dedicated student studying Psychology at Montana State University in Billings and has a deep passion for helping others. With a strong desire to have a positive impact on people’s lives, she intends to pursue a career as a mental health and addictions counselor. She is driven to provide support and guidance to those struggling. Having experienced the struggles of being a troubled youth and recovering addict herself, Dana brings a unique, empathetic perspective to her work. Her personal journey of overcoming adversity allows her to deeply connect with others facing similar challenges. When not at work, Dana is with her children, who motivate and inspire her to be her best self. She enjoys reading tarot cards, painting, spending time outdoors, writing poetry, and nearly all types of music.

If you had a superpower, what would it be? If I had a superpower, it would be time-travel or flying!

What makes you laugh? My daughter, Miley, is the silliest around! She keeps me laughing!

Nathan was born and raised in Billings, and he is proud to be raising his family here. His wife, Melanie, and he met while attending Rocky Mountain College, both of them having grown up in Billings and played soccer for Magic City Soccer. They have two wonderful sons — Noah (11) and Mason (9) — who bring them endless joy and keep them grounded in what truly matters. For the past 20 years, Nathan has dedicated his career to education, serving as a coach, teacher, principal, and superintendent. Service to youth has been at the heart of his professional and personal life, a passion instilled in him growing up in a family of educators. Both of his parents and all four of his siblings committed their careers to education, and he is grateful to continue that legacy of service in a new capacity with Tumbleweed. While he deeply values his time in education, he is eager to apply his skills and experience to help Tumbleweed grow and expand its services. He firmly believes that when a young person is in need, there is always a way to help — whether by providing direct support or by bringing people together to meet that need. Nathan’s commitment is to foster connections, build partnerships, and strengthen our community of supporters so that together we can make a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of the youth we serve.

When you are not at work, what is your favorite thing to do? Spending time with my wife and boys brings me happiness. We all love to build with LEGO, play soccer, and be outdoors.

If you had a superpower, what would it be? I would want to be able to fly. The view from the sky and the feeling of flying would be amazing.

What makes you laugh? I find humor in all areas of my life. I truly appreciate a good sense of humor and I believe that is a necessary attribute for survival.