Staff

• Barbara Stiffarm

  Barbara Stiffarm

  Barbara Stiffarm joined Opportunity Link as Development Director in August 2006. Barb has an extensive background in providing community and economic development services. Previously, Barbara served as a senior staff writer for RJS & Associates, Inc. (RJS), an American Indian-Owned Consulting Firm located on the Rocky Boys Indian Reservation in Montana. Barb’s major responsibilities included researching, identifying, and securing sources of funding for public schools, tribal governments, tribal colleges, Indian Housing Authorities, economic enterprises, and private businesses. In addition, she conducted external evaluations, feasibility studies, needs assessments, and market studies. Direct client services included management training, strategic planning, preparing development plans, and providing project management services.
  
  Barb was previously employed by the Fort Belknap Indian Community Council as the Tribal Planner/Community Development Block Grant Coordinator. In her position, she served as the research and development manager for established and non-established Tribal services. The position required the continual collection and analysis of data relating to local manpower, social, economic, and environmental factors to conduct the planning, obtain the funding, and implement tribal projects to support the community development needs of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Projects included housing rehabilitation, building construction, sanitary facility construction, public services, and numerous economic development ventures.
  
  Barb is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe and has resided in Harlem, Montana since 1982. She is married with three children.
  
  To contact Barb, call the main office at 265-3699 or by email at bstiffarm@opportunitylinkmt.org.

• Korrin Fanning

  Korrin Fanning

  Korrin Fanning joined Opportunity Link as Director of Finance and Operations in May 2011. She brings with her a wealth of accounting and operations experience that is key to Opportunity Link's sound financial management.
  
  Kori worked with the Montana Lottery as an Accountant and Accounting Tech. She attended Western Montana College in Dillon, MT, Utah College of Massage Therapy in Salt Lake, and MSU Northern in Lewistown, MT.
  
  Kori enjoys being with family and spending time outdoors. E-mail Kori at kfanning@opportunitylinkmt.org

• Day Soriano

  Day Soriano

  Cristina Day Soriano joined Opportunity Link in November 2007. Day worked as a Programme Assistant in CITYNET, an international organization based in Japan that addresses urban development issues in the Asia Pacific region through technical cooperation programs. Some of her projects at CITYNET included poverty reduction and waste management programs for Asian cities and a regional training center for urban managers in Kuala Lumpur.
  
  Day has an MA in Policy Management from the University of Tsukuba in Japan, an MS in Environmental Science and a BS in Statistics from the University of the Philippines. She is originally from the Philippines and has lived in Tsukuba and Yokohama in Japan and in Raleigh, North Carolina. She moved to Havre with her daughters, Hana and Anya, and her husband in July 2007.
  
  E-mail Day at dsoriano@opportunitylinkmt.org.

• Starlaen Perkins

  Starlaen Perkins

  Starlaen Perkins joined Opportunity Link Inc. as the Community Development Assistant in November 2007. She graduated from MSU-Northern in Havre, with a BA in Community Service and a minor in Communications, in May 2007.
  
  Star is a mother of seven children, a native of Montana growing up as a born and bred country girl, working and raising her children on the family ranch/farm in Broadus, MT. She is actively involved in advocating for families with special needs children. She is taking time off from her studies, but is interested in pursuing a Masters Degree in Community Development. This will continue to help her reach out to her community and develop a better repertoire with the people.
  
  E-mail Star at sperkins@opportunitylinkmt.org.

• Carrie Lynn Johnson

  Carrie Lynn Johnson

  Carrie Lynn Johnson was born and raised in North Western Montana and has a BS in Business Administration-Finance from the University of Montana. In 2010, Carrie accepted an Energy Corps AmeriCorps position at Opportunity Link in Havre, where she would aid North Central Montana in raising energy efficiency awareness through community activism. During the term, she coordinated energy fairs, weatherized homes, assisted in the development of community recycling opportunities, and initiated a school-based, energy efficiency outreach program
  
  Carrie is eager to begin the next stage of her work, which will include expansion of her Energy Corps projects, as well as increasing housing and homeownership opportunities in North Central Montana. She very much values input from the community and would like to encourage you to email her anytime at carrie@opportunitylinkmt.org.
  

• Eric Fanning

  Eric Fanning

  Eric Fanning joined Opportunity Link recently as a Program Support Specialist in November 2011 mainly working in the Finance Department, while doing some IT work as well. Prior to joining Opportunity Link, Eric worked at Office Equipment Company in Havre.
  
  Eric was born and raised in Havre, Montana. He has attended both Montana State University-Bozeman and Montana State University-Northern concentrating his studies in the Business Administration and Business Marketing fields. In his spare time, Eric enjoys playing softball, golfing, listening to music, watching movies, hanging out with his friends and family, and cooking. He also enjoys watching football, baseball, and basketball.
  
  E-mail Eric at efanning@opportunitylinkmt.org.
  
  

• Lisa Marie Smith

  Lisa Marie Smith

  Lisa Marie Smith joined Opportunity Link in January 2010, as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member. She is working with Opportunity Link in promoting and implementing the “Workin’ With Tradition,” a soft-skills training program that aimed to help Native American employment seekers in North Central Montana.
  
  Lisa is from the Philadelphia area, and has a BA in Psychology from West Chester University. Before Opportunity Link, Lisa worked as an Employment Training Specialist at Community Integrated Services, a non-profit in Philadelphia that works to help people with disabilities find suitable, competitive employment. Her responsibilities included conducting situational employment assessments in various settings and on-the-job coaching to help people work towards independence on the job. She also worked as a one-on-one aide for a middle school student with Autism in Downingtown, PA.
  
  In her spare time, Lisa enjoys music, the great outdoors, traveling, and has a passion for Green Building, and wants to someday build her own eco-friendly cob house. She is very excited to work with Opportunity Link, and experience life on the Hi-Line!
  
  Email Lisa at lsmith@opportunitylinkmt.org.
  

• Steven Eagle Feathers

  Steven Eagle Feathers

  Steven is currently a junior at Montana State University Northern pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering. Growing up in Browning, Montana, Steven is no stranger to the Hi-Line. He was a participant of Opportunity Link’s Project Green Build and has been working as Community Development Assistant for Opportunity Link since August 2010. Steven plans on contributing to the Opportunity Link team as an Energy Corps member.
  
  Steven has two children – 3-year old Peyton and 1-year old Silas. He enjoys spending time with his family, learning new things, reading, basketball and watching football on the weekends. Steven is a proud member of the Northern Cheyenne and Blackfeet Nation.
  
  E-mail Steven at steven@opportunitylinkmt.org.
  

• Jay Ball

  Jay Ball

  Jay Ball is a proud member of the Assiniboine tribe and was born and raised on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation.
  
  Jay majored in Secondary Education at Montana State University-Northern, and joins Opportunity Link as a member of the Montana Energy Corps team. He looks forward to developing a well-rounded curriculum for use by Energy Corps and fostering a great relationship with local schools, as well as gaining valuable personal and professional development while at Opportunity Link.
  
  Jay plans on continuing his education to build a career in Education Administration. Jay also plans to someday soon start his own business.
  
  His hobbies include horse racing, multi-level sports, music, reading, and spending time with friends and family. Jay is the proud father of three bosy, Ethan 10, Julius 8, and Jacoby 5.
  
  E-mail Jay at jball@opportunitylinkmt.org.

• Jim Lyons

  Jim Lyons

  Jim Lyons joined the Opportunity Link team as the Director of the Northcentral Montana Transit System in June 2009. The NCMT System is a public transportation system, operated by Opportunity Link, which serves the counties of Hill and Blaine. Opportunity Link was designated as the lead agency for the NCMT system in a partnership between local government, social service, academic and other area agencies. In December 2009, Jim became Director of Transportation when he took on the management of the Havre-Hill County Airport under the NCMT umbrella.
  
  Jim comes to us with over thirty years of transportation experience with emphasis in the area of scheduling, industrial engineering and operations. He has worked with both Class 1 and Regional rail carriers and public transportation providers. He is passionate about providing quality transportation and customer service that meets the demands of the riding public.
  
  Jim is the father of five daughters. He coaches girls' fast pitch softball, enjoys all sports and anything that allows him to be in the Montana outdoors.
  
  For more information on the North Central Montana Transit System, please visit www.ncmtransit.org or call 877-332-3699.
  
  E-mail Jim at jlyons@ncmtransit.org or transit@opportunitylinkmt.org.

• Rana Weber

  Rana Weber

  Rana Weber started with the North Central Montana Transit and Opportunity Link in November 2009. She takes on the dual role of transit operator/assistant and FAA ompliance officer for the Havre-Hill County Airport that NCMT now manages. Rana was a bus driver for Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District in Houston, Texas for five years and moved to Havre in August 2005. Rana was a regular driver, paraprofessional, substitute teacher and district enrollment clerk for Havre Public Schools.
  
  Rana is a Retired Master Sergeant with the AirForce/Air National Guard with 21 years of experience in Airfield Management and Flight Management. She has two children, Rachel and Luke. Rana is happy to come on board the Opportunity Link/North Central Montana Transit family.
  
  E-mail Rana at rweber@ncmtransit.org or call (406) 265-3699.
  

• Bruce James

  Bruce James

  Bruce James joined the North Central Montana Transit team in August 2009 as one of its very first drivers. Bruce helped establish NCMT bus routes and he now oversees day-to-day operations of the transit system.
  
  Bruce worked as a locomotive engineer for BNSF Railways for over 30 years until he retired in 2005. Bruce had his Associates Degree in Elecrical and Education from then Northern Montana College.
  
  Bruce and his wife of many years are very proud of their children. They try to spend as much time as they can with their wonderful grand children.

• Jim Leeds

  Jim Leeds

  Jim Leeds began working for Opportunity Link/North Central Montana Transit as a Transit Operator in October of 2010. Jim runs the Blue Line route that runs from Havre to Box Elder and Rocky Boy, twice daily.
  
  Prior to working with Opportunity Link/NCMT, Jim worked for Hill County Electric and Triangle Communications for 32 years. Since his retirement, and along with operating his bus route, Jim has worked on several different ranches - training horses, cattling, and haying. In between his routes, Jim builds rocking horses for his much adored grand children.

• Dan Lenhardt

  Dan Lenhardt

  Dan Lenhardt started working as a Transit Operator with Opportunity Link's North Central Montana Transit in June 2011. He operates the Red Line bus from Havre to Fort Belknap and back each day. His favorite part of his job is the people. He picks up a group of nice passengers that he has gotten to get to know.
  
  Before joining Opportunity Link, Dan farmed South of Chinook for 40 years. He also delivered the US mail. Dan gets everyone laughing with his humor and infectious laughter. Both his passengers and our staff are happy to be working with him.

• Damon Maravilla

  Damon Maravilla

  Damon Maravilla joined Opportunity Link in December 2009. He works in Operations and FAA Compliance at the Havre City-County Airport, managed through Opportunity Link. His main responsibilities include maintaining the airport, including snow removal and grounds keeping, and ensuring the safety and security on the runway and throughout the airport.
  
  Damon grew up in California, and spent a lot of time in his early years working in the fields with his father, who is a migrant worker. Damon is currently working towards his Bachelors degree in Networking at the University of Phoenix. He has four children, and when he is not working, he enjoys spending time with them. Damon's goal of finishing his education is motivated by the support and love of his wonderful family.

• Justin Whitford

  Justin Whitford

  Justin Whitford joined the Havre City -County Airport through an Operations contract with Opportunity Link in the winter of 2009. Justin is in charge of airport operations and services. This includes ensuring that everything is operating correctly, removing snow from runways, and conducting security.
  
  Before working with Opportunity Link, Justin worked in road construction, and worked at the Many Glacier Hotel's maintenance department in Glacier National Park. Justin grew up on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation at the foot of the Rocky Mountains.
  
  Justin is currently finishing an Associates Degree in Sustainable Energy at Montana State University Northern, and hopes to become a wind turbine technician. He is married and has two beautiful daughters.