Residential Staff

MacKenzie is originally from St. George, UT where she first began her journey as a youth mentor at another one of Innerchange’s programs for teenage girls. She was there for several years and held multiple leadership positions while also learning how to facilitate lasting change in youth and their families. Mackenzie enjoys working with the whole family system and being able to witness the moments when the family shifts towards a life worth living. While in St. George, Mackenzie studied both criminal justice and psychology at Dixie State University. In early 2018 was when MacKenzie eagerly accepted the Program Director position here at Chrysalis! Besides having the amazing opportunity to work with the staff and the students here at Chrysalis, MacKenzie is excited to take advantage of the snow and learn how to ski and snowboard. She also enjoys hiking in the nearby national parks, kayaking, traveling, and reading a good book.

Nick received his BS with a focus on Human Biology from Michigan State University. During this time, he worked at a resort in Northern Michigan as a professional ski and snowboard instructor and also in Big Sky, Montana where he specialized as a freestyle ski coach. His love for adventure and the outdoors coupled with zeal toward hospitality has brought him to pursue various interests including SCUBA/freediving, mountain biking, and many other outdoor activities.

For nearly five years Nick worked at an outdoor behavioral health program on the Big Island of Hawaii. He began as a program guide and shifted his focus to training the next generation of guides as a supervisor. He eventually transitioned to the role of Adolescent Program Manager, helping oversee daily operations and working closely with his Field Manager team. He has a passion for whole-person wellness and its clinical implications and sees nature as a creative canvas that helps motivate others to realize their potential.

Nick spent his childhood in the Czech Republic and learned to ski from a young age while visiting his grandparents in Switzerland. He fell in love with the mountains and nature, and realized that he wanted to find a way to inspire others in an outdoor setting. He is glad to use his passion for working with students through teaching and creating magical moments through the Chrysalis adventure program.

Jordan was born and raised in San Diego, California. She had been coming to Montana since she was 6 years old, spending the summers with her grandparents in Kalispell. When she turned 18 she officially moved to Montana. Jordan went to college to study psychology, and got a job at Kalispell Regional Medical Center as a CNA. She worked with the elderly and worked in the PICU. These positions are where Jordan realized her passion to help others, and she remained at the hospital for nearly five years

Jordan moved to Eureka with her husband, and has been working at Chrysalis for two years. She started as part time residential staff, and is currently the Residential Manager at Horse House. Jordan loves the work at Chrysalis, and has a passion for watching our students grow and flourish while learning about who they are as young women. She considers every day a new adventure. In her time off she Ioves to hike, camp, swim in beautiful Glacier National Park, and help with her husband’s construction business.

Sara was born in Colorado, but moved to Montana at the age of 5. She grew up in a log home built by her parents and learned to love exploring through the mountains and trees. Sara has experienced a lot in spite of the seclusion. Everything from traveling to many countries with Youth with a Mission (both as a student and a staff) to raising 4 kids while working full time. Throughout her adult life, Sara has had the opportunity to work voluntarily with youth and found joy doing so. Though she has owned and started many businesses and worked several managerial jobs, working with youth was the one thing she truly enjoyed doing When Sara started at Chrysalis in April 2015, she felt she had finally found a place where she could do the thing she loved and be able to raise her kids doing it. Working as Residential Supervisor at Horse House lets her share her gifts with the students and the staff. “There is nothing better than those quiet moments of connection with a student in need. Coming away from conversations truly feeling like you made a difference, however small, is the reason I am here” Sara enjoys cooking for both her family and her family at Chrysalis. She believes that a great meal is a perfect way to connect and let the stress of the day go. She also loves to paper craft and has shared it with the students in both a class setting and just a fun thing to do. Sara enjoys camping and swimming in the beautiful surroundings. She counts it a blessing to be a part of the Chrysalis Family

Melissa (Missy) brings fifteen years of mentoring youth – and the staff that supports them — to her role as Residential Manager of Transition House. She holds the young women enrolled at Transition House to high standards, as she knows them to be fully capable of meeting those standards. Her deepest joy is to lead a program that is helping these young women recognize their irreplaceable value to their families and to society.

After college, Missy ran a residential program in Massachusetts for fourteen girls in the state’s foster-care system, a position that required her to ensure the safety of both children and staff. She was also program director for a camp in Massachusetts, directly overseeing the special-needs campers, as well as director of a recreational program in Maryland serving adults and youth with medical and developmental differences.

In her free time Missy enjoys being with family and friends, biking, and traveling.