Jen, Steve, Roán and Obie
Jen Grace
Producer, Ecologist, and StrategistJen grew up "all over" with DOD scientist parents — the start of a path that would carry her through three different careers across the globe. She holds a BS in Biology and an MFA in Science and Natural History Filmmaking from Montana State University, where her graduate film won a national Student Emmy. A dual US/Ireland citizen, she was Ireland's first World Cup snowboarder (FIS athlete profile) and first nationally funded winter athlete of any sport; before that, she worked internationally as an Ecologist.
Since 2006, Jen has run Jen Grace Productions, LLC, an award-winning multimedia production company based in Bozeman. Her clients have included the Smithsonian Institution, The Jim Henson Company, the Turner Endangered Species Fund, PBS, the National BLM, Governor Brian Schweitzer, music legend Patrick Leonard, and numerous local arts, sports, and education nonprofits.
A property owner and landlord since 2002, Jen brings the same care to her rentals that she brings to everything else. She and Steve have spent 13 years lovingly maintaining their own Bozeman home, and for years Jen has also managed their condo community's HOA — turning around its finances and modernizing its bylaws to create a warm, well cared-for environment for residents there too.
She's conversational in French and Spanish, studies yoga, indigenous culture, and permaculture, and loves nature, music, dance, mountain biking, and hiking peaks. Jen volunteers with her son's schools and sports clubs and with HRDC (Human Resource Development Council), and started an alumni network for her MFA program. She's excited to have recently joined the Programming Committee of the Gallatin Canyon Women's Club, with the expressed intent of strengthening ties between the Big Sky and Bozeman communities.
Steve Persons
YC Manager, 4th-Generation Montanan Handyman & GuideSteve grew up in Whitefish, Montana, alongside his stepbrother, Olympic gold-medal alpine skier Tommy Moe, where his father, Clifford Persons — a legendary outdoorsman and carpenter — taught him the trades and how to adventure in the outdoors. He, his dad, and their broader community were ski pioneers on Glacier's peaks and kayak pioneers across Northwest Montana.
Steve has hands-on experience in landscaping, concrete, excavation, wildland firefighting, and as a backpacking guide in Glacier National Park — "the man you'd trust your life with in the woods." Whether on a trail or a jobsite, he brings the same respect, privacy, care, and craftsmanship to a property — always to code, and always knowing his limits and who to call.
He was named to the first US Snowboard Team in 1995, raced on the World Cup circuit through 1999, and was ranked number one in the world. He went on to be the head-coach for the US snowboard team, earning a coaching medal at the 2006 Olympic Games. Today he works as a ski instructor, trainer, and assistant manager of Outdoor Pursuits at his job in Big Sky, overseeing a team of 20 guides. He loves being a mentor to his guides and helping clients enjoy Montana safely — clients who come from all over the world and are in awe of the West, its open spaces, and its wildlife.
Steve also worked as a grip for Academy Award–winning key grip Dicky Deats, on location in Glacier, LA, and Las Vegas. His snowboarding career even landed him on a 1995 Sports Illustrated for Kids trading card.
Outside of work, Steve mountain bikes, climbs peaks, travels, and volunteers with kids, sports teams, and schools.
Roan Grace Persons
High School Sophomore & Freeride SkierRoán is a Montana multisport athlete and high school sophomore, currently a freeride skier competing with IFSA (International Freeskiers & Snowboarders Association) — see his FWT Junior profile (his profile picture is actually of Clifford catching major air back in the '50s!). A dual US/Ireland citizen like his mom, he's currently weighing whether to compete for the US or Ireland going forward.
He's in his second year as a camp counselor at his job in Big Sky, where he's earned a reputation as a "kid whisperer" — kind, gentle, and adventurous with the campers. He's also something of a dog whisperer, having trained two dogs himself, including Obie since Obie was two months old.
Roán is studying Spanish both in school and at home, holds a horsemanship certification, and has attended nearly every summer camp in Bozeman. On top of all that, he loves mountain biking.
Obie
The Family DogObie — short for Oberon, King of the Fairies from A Midsummer Night's Dream — is the family's five-year-old Shepherd mix, adopted from Heart of the Valley shelter at two months old. His shelter name suggested he'd stay tiny, like the fairy king he's named for. He's trained with Donoghue Dog Training ever since — he's incredibly well-behaved and even responds to commands in Spanish. Obie is also an emotional support dog for people with certified disabilities.
Obie's mom was a Shepherd-Dachshund mix, fostered by Roán's former teacher at Middle Creek Montessori, and his dad was, by all accounts, a rolling stone. The family expected Obie to stay small since he was the runt of the litter — but all that love apparently made him big, because he grew to 60 pounds instead.
Obie made local news when he alerted Jen to a mountain lion during a walk near their Bozeman home — read about it on KBZK.