Our Team

Sierra Riesberg

Executive Director

Sierra Riesberg has over 10 years of experience in the social services field, working in both rural and urban communities, as well as within behavioral health, intellectual/developmental, and aging populations. She is a systems-level thinker and wants to break down barriers for anyone who needs to access services, as well as barriers for service providers to be able to provide the services that community members need. Additionally, she believes that complex problems cannot be solved by one person or one agency alone; unique perspectives and collaboration are key to the progression and development of our social services system. 

portrait of Sierra Riesberg.

Pat Noonan

Advocacy and Policy Director

Pat Noonan is a third-generation Butte native that has spent fifteen years working in mental health and developmental disability services.  After serving four terms in the Montana State House of Representatives, he began Highlands Consulting and has continued to provide government affairs services with healthcare, social services, small businesses, and high tech corporations.

Over the course of 15 years, his experience has provided him the opportunity to work with mental health and disability services from entry-level positions inside therapeutic group homes, to executive and board positions.  Furthermore, his experience and leadership expanded into legislative services that aided in access to more resources and standards to ensure access to quality and consistent services across the state of Montana.

Board of Directors

BHAM’s board is structured to ensure equal representation across the four sectors that make up the Alliance: two seats each for Adult Mental Health, Children’s Mental Health, Substance Use Disorder, and Tribal Behavioral Health, plus three At-Large seats.

Adult Mental Health
Brenda Kneeland, Chairperson — Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center
Chantelle Plauche — L’Esprit

Children’s Mental Health
Jamie Palagi — Intermountain
Amy Schaer — Youth Homes & Partnership for Children

Substance Use Disorder
Lesli Asay — New Day Inc.
Shari Rigg — Stepping Stones Behavioral Health

Tribal Behavioral Health
Two seats open. BHAM is actively seeking Tribal Behavioral Health representation on our board. If you’re affiliated with a Tribal behavioral health program in Montana and interested in serving, contact Sierra Riesberg at [email protected].

At-Large
Carrie Krepps, Vice Chair — Florence Crittenton Community Services
Danielle Dunn, Secretary — Alternatives Inc.
Matt Bugni — AWARE

Past Presidents: Mike Chavers, Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch; Lenette Kosovich, Rimrock; Jim FitzGerald, Intermountain; Jodi Daly, Western MT Mental Health Center

BHAM thanks the Arthur M. Blank Foundation West for its past support of board leadership training through Babson Entrepreneurial Leadership Training.