BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lauren McMullen
Chair
Retired Librarian
Lauren is a sheep farmer and retired librarian living near Big Timber.
She has served on ASPEN's board for three years. She is glad to be partof an organization that helps so many people in our communities.
Rosemary Smith
Treasurer
Managing Director
Getting Better Foundation
In 2018, Rosemary and husband, Kent, sold their group of Northern Michigan based radio stations, relocating to Montana. Rosemary is the Managing Director for the Getting Better Foundation (GBF). Rosemary’s passion for making things better for everyone she meets and the environment she loves makes her a perfect fit for the Foundation and Park County. Her research, writing, networking, and communication skills are assets used to drive projects forward and bring others onboard.
“Empowering people is important to me. Without the very basic needs, we cannot become our best selves. That’s why I’m passionate about supporting ASPEN. Through housing, nutrition, movement, and mental well-being, ASPEN helps position people to rise above their circumstances… enabling them and their families to fulfill their potential.”
Mary Ann Bearden
Vice Chair
Retired State Court Judge
Mary Ann Bearden graduated high school in Dallas, Texas, in 1969, finished her B.A. in English Literature at Colorado State University in 1972, spent three years as a lineman for Chesapeake & Potomac Bell in the Appalachian Mountains, before starting law school at the University of Oregon in 1975. She graduated law school in 1978, passed the Bar Exam and went into private practice in Eugene, Oregon. After 20 years practicing law, she was appointed to the bench as a Circuit Court Judge in 1998, where she served until her retirement. The last ten years on the bench she served as the presiding judge for the second largest judicial district in Oregon. After retirement she moved to Park County full-time in early 2017. Mary Ann has been fishing here since 1969 and spent vacations here every year since 1990, building a home here in 2005.
Jessica Wilcox
Secretary
Community Health Coordinator
Livingston HealthCare
Jessica Wilcox is a Registered Dietitian and the Community Health Coordinator at Livingston HealthCare. Jessica has a BS in both Restaurant and Resort Management and in Dietetics from Colorado State University and graduated from Montana State University~ Bozeman with her Master’s in Nutrition in 2006. Jessica started her career at Livingston HealthCare in June of 2007 and created Café Fresh an in-house dining experience for patients, staff and guests of Livingston Healthcare and created a thriving Farm to Institution program. She facilitates the LiveWell49 Coalition and LiveWell49 Resilience Project, with the mission of enhancing a culture of health in Park County.
Jessica is also the Chair of City of Livingston Planning Board, and the Livingston Food Resource Center, and a board of director for both ASPEN and Windrider Transit.
Laurel Desnick
Member
Retired Physician
Internal Medicine and Pallative Expertise
Laurel Desnick MD is a primary care physician with extensive background in public health issues, especially those affecting women and children living in poverty. As a longtime resident of Park County, her experience with the community's strengths and challenges adds additional depth to Aspen's work and goals. Desnick has been on the ASPEN Board for the past 6 years.