Meet the Board

Lauren Ellingson Johnson

Board Member

Lauren, originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, has lived and worked in the Dillon, Montana community for over fifteen years. She has held various professional roles, from working with the Barrett Hospital Foundation to serving as Director of Field Operations at Great Harvest Franchising, where she spent thirteen years. Currently, she works for the statewide nonprofit Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies - the Montana Coalition, which supports families with children ages 0 to 3. Lauren’s education in Public Service and Administration, coupled with her career focus on community, connection, and communication, informs her work and volunteer choices. She resides with her family on their ranch near Dillon and enjoys exploring and fishing in the Pioneer Mountains during her free time.

Jake Mahan

Board Member

Jake Mahan is a dedicated graphic designer and entrepreneur, holding a BFA in Graphic Design from Montana State University. As the owner of Xterior Design LLC, he brings creativity and expertise to the business, shaping innovative design solutions. Beyond his professional endeavors, Jake is a devoted husband to Briggett Mahan and a proud father of two young children, ages five and one. Passionate about early childhood education, he has served on the board of Odyssey Early Learning Center for the past three years, contributing his time and skills to support the organization’s mission.

Estee Aiken

Board Member

Estee has been teaching for more than 20 years. She has taught in early learning centers, elementary schools, and colleges. She is a founding member of the Odyssey Board, and is honored to have the opportunity to support the center as it's interim center director.

Richard Reneau

Board Member

I have had the pleasure of living in Montana for 30 years. My wife and two daughters, ages 7 and 10, and I were very fortunate to move to Dillon in 2020. Our family loves to spend our free time hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and enjoying our lovely Dillon community.

When we moved to Dillon, our youngest daughter was enrolled in Odyssey’s program when we were known as Canvas Early Learning Center. Thanks to the curriculum and care she received during her three years in the program my daughter’s social, emotional, and problem solving skills grew. I joined the Odyssey Board of Directors in May of 2022 to help our center serve children, families, and the Dillon community. I am now serving as the Board Treasurer and have truly enjoyed my time on this board. Thank you for being part of our learning culture!

Jaime Ochoa

Board Member

More coming soon

Izzi Simonson

Board Member

Izzi is a lifelong resident of Dillon and is deeply committed to supporting and strengthening her community. She works at a nonprofit organization that provides essential services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. In this role, she demonstrates an unwavering drive to create safer, healthier environments for individuals and families in need. Izzi holds bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, equipping her with a comprehensive understanding of human behavior, social systems, and effective strategies for fostering positive change. As a parent to a young child, she integrates her professional expertise with her personal journey as a mom, striving to create nurturing, supportive spaces where children and families can thrive.

Grace Marchessaeult

Board Member

Grace is an ambitious mother of two wearing many different hats. Grace operates her portrait photography business here in Southwest MT which started as a love of capturing agriculture. She also works at Dillon Livestock Auction, for her family’s ranch, and horseback as much as possible. Her main passion is Agriculture and she has recently received her Masters in Agricultural Education. This has led her to have a deeper understanding and interest in education philosophy and experiences. Grace loves to learn as well and is excited to be on the board as she has some skin in the game with a child who currently attends Odyssey. Outside of work and motherhood, Grace enjoys being physically active and participating in all the seasonal activities Montana has to offer.