Current Board of Directors:
From left to right: Anne Staudt, Pat Kimmel, Grace Young,
Rachel Thesing, Sharon Clarke, Andrea Scholz, Anne Chiles
Not Pictured: Shannon Becker

Rachel Thesing, President & Founder
Rachel grew up in Vermont and made her way to Montana via Denver, Colorado. After residing in Big Sky for several years, she founded Women In Action in 2005 as a result of her dedication to helping others. Rachel’s intention was to create a community based organization focused on improving the lives of children. She is inspired and driven by the belief that happy and healthy children and families makes for a better community. Rachel is married and has twin boys.

Lisa Beczkiewicz, Executive Director
Lisa Beczkiewicz joined Women in Action as Executive Director in November 2010. Lisa is thrilled to work for WIA and is a community organizer who is dedicated, passionate, conscientious, and a visionary leader. She brings 14 years of management and leadership experience from the development of The Flagship Program a community-based after- school prevention program in Missoula, Montana Lisa moved to Montana after receiving her undergraduate degree from Indiana University in Human Development and Family Studies. Lisa is married with two children Mia and Zoe.

Grace Young, Vice President
Grace was born and raised in Virginia. After travelling around the country with her husband Mason, they discovered Big Sky and fell in love with its easy access to, skiing, boating, biking, and hiking. They moved here in 2002 and have called Big Sky home ever since. Grace became involved with Women In Action at its inception and she continues to devote her time to this valuable community organization.

Pat Kimmel, Treasurer
Pat was born in Colorado but grew up on the east coast in Long Island, New York. She has lived in Big Sky since 1996. Pat is married with 2 kids and 4 grandchildren, all of whom love to visit her in Montana. She is happy to be on the WIA board and is dedicated to helping the children and families of this small community who are in need of financial assistance for healthcare, education and camp programs. She finds working with the women on the WIA board of directors a wonderful and enriching experience.

Shannon Becker, Secretary
Shannon was born and raised in Wyoming. She has lived in Big Sky for 16 years and is married to her husband Eric and they have one daughter named Riley Belle. She loves helping and giving back to a community that has given her so much!

Andrea Beringer Scholz
Andrea was born in South Bend, IN and raised in southern California. She has lived in Big Sky since July 2003. Andrea is married with three kids; Kevin, Anna & Gina. After retirement Andrea decided to join the WIA board as a way to help other families in her community.

Anne Staudt
Anne moved to Big Sky in 1998 from Pennsylvania, and was born and raised in Pittsburgh. She has been actively involved in the area and has worked for one of the local newspapers and the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce. She has been in real estate since 2002 and is a broker with Big Sky Sotheby’s International Realty.  She fell in love with Big Sky because of its instant access to the outdoors, its small town charm and the close-knit community. She shares her devotion to Big Sky with her husband, a local custom home builder, her young son Garin and their daughter Ava. 

Jennifer Reed
Jennifer Reed moved to Big Sky in 2004, and was born and raised in Grand Marais, MN. Jennifer has a background in financial markets trading and banking technology. Along with her husband, Bill, she avidly enjoys the year-round activities Big Sky affords its residents. Jennifer is pleased to join Women in Action and is delighted to be part of the team that has helped strengthen the community she has grown to love.

Sharon Clarke
Sharon was born On Lanai, Hawaii. She has made Big Sky her home for twenty years. Sharon is married and has four children and five grandchildren. She finds her involvement with WIA very gratifying and it is an opportunity for her to give back to a community she enjoys very much.

Sarah Phelps
Sarah was born and raised in Palmdale, California.  After completing her undergraduate studies at Cornell University, she traveled the world from Rancho Mirage, CA to Thailand, finally settling in Big Sky with her significant other Lee Griffiths in 2004.  Sarah was asked to join the Women In Action Board in 2010 and is anxious to share her enthusiasm and energy to promote and support this great organization.