The Gardiner Chamber of Commerce's mission is to serve our community through developing local tourism while endorsing stewardship of the Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Executive Committee
Terese Petcoff
Executive Director
Originally from the small farming community of Garrett, Indiana, Terese Petcoff first came to Gardiner for a summer retail internship in 2014. The Purdue University graduate immediately fell for the town’s eclectic feel, like-minded residents, hiking trails, and abundant wildlife—and she’s been here ever since. When she’s not managing the Gardiner Visitor Center and Chamber of Commerce office, Terese can be found spending time with her family or chasing down her cat Hoot, who famously enjoys roaming around the Gardiner School grounds. She also loves hiking and trying new foods, and she never misses a Purdue basketball game.
Mike Skelton
President
Mike has served on the Chamber Board since 2019. He is the owner of Yellowstone Wonders LLC, offering private tours of Yellowstone National Park and the company is based here in Gardiner. He was the President and CEO of a privately held corporation in the Dallas, TX area for over 20 years. He has served as President of a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, educational organization in the past as well.
He and his wife Ann became full-time Gardiner residents in 2015. They both continue their volunteer work at the Heritage and Research Center that first began in 2014. They have supported local organizations such as Yellowstone Forever, North Yellowstone Education Foundation, Electric Peaks Art Council, the Mammoth Community Center and the Livingston Center for Art and Culture.
Mike believes that the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce is an indispensable asset to the local businesses and a valuable resource for our visitors. “The efforts of the Chamber, directly and indirectly, benefit our entire community”.
Sarah Ondrus
Vice President
Sarah came to Yellowstone in the summer of 2000, since then she met her husband, started a family, and established Gardiner as her permanent home. With over twenty years of tourism industry experience, Sarah enjoys co-owning & operating Paradise Adventure Company and Yellowstone Rafting Company alongside her husband Patrick. She began her story in the area in Yellowstone by spending four summers working at the Roosevelt Corrals & Lodge. She is thankful to serve our vibrant community, is always seeking ways to support our town, and embraces its thriving tourism industry.
Mike Keller
Treasurer
Mike Keller is the General Manager for Xanterra Parks and Resorts in Yellowstone National Park, WY. He has lived and worked in Yellowstone for over 30 years, starting as a volunteer at Norris Geyser Basin in the summer of 1984. Mike began his career with the Park concessioner in the winter of 1987-1988 as a room attendant. He worked at Old Faithful Inn during the fires of 1988 and spent the following 19 years building his Concessions career at Old Faithful. In 2006 he became the Executive Director for Xanterra Parks and Resorts, leaving in 2014 to become the General Manager for Crater Lake National Park Lodges at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. In 2016 he moved to the Grand Canyon South Rim and was the General Manager for Delaware North Companies before returning to Yellowstone in April of 2017. Mike served as a volunteer for 20 years in Yellowstone in thermal cleaning and monitoring and was President of the Geyser Observation and Study Association from 2010 – 2014. He currently lives in Mammoth Hot Springs with his wife and two children.
Board of Directors
Chelsea Deweese
Chelsea is a born-and-raised Gardiner area resident who holds a BA in print journalism from the University of Montana- Missoula. Chelsea held a career as a print reporter until 2008 and worked for a variety of newspapers–including the Arizona Daily Sun, Missoulian, and Dow Jones (Wall Street Journal)--before she transitioned into a career as a Colorado River guide in Grand Canyon during summer and a ski and wildlife guide in Yellowstone during winter. Chelsea currently lives full time in Gardiner, where she helps operate her family’s business, The Yellowstone River Motel. She brings knowledge of area organizations, individuals, and businesses and can pair new developments in the community with existing strongholds.
Amanda Hagerty
Born and raised in southwest Montana, Amanda is an enrolled member of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe. Amanda and her family have lived in Gardiner since 2018, where she is the Director of Education at Yellowstone Forever. She has been working professionally in the field of environmental interpretation and education for nearly 20 years with a variety of federal, state, and non-profit organizations. In addition to serving on the board of directors for the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce she has also served on the board for Montana Environmental Education Association, Lewis & Clark Caverns Association, and regional representative for the National Association for Interpretation. Amanda and family have a deep love and respect for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, to include a strong passion for connecting and engaging with the Gardiner community. Go Bruins!
Brian Koski
Brian was born and spent almost forty years in the Northeast as a homebase working, raising a family and spending time in the mountains. He travelled most of the country during his 30 plus year career working with large corporations and spending the last 15 years in private equity investments to acquire and grow various businesses. Once he arrived in Gardiner late last winter on an early retirement walk-about , he just could not leave. When the flood happened he decided to stay in the community and run the newly acquired campground for the investors as he felt a draw to the community. He now looks to utilize his experience in an effort to help the local businesses and community continue to grow as we attract visitors from all over the world on their way to Yellowstone. When not at the campground , he is taking advantage of our paradise valley by cycling, hiking, trail running or watching the wildlife and learning from the locals what it means to be in Montana.
Debbie Mackey
Debbie came to Gardiner in 1993 to manage the Best Western in Gardiner and has since stayed and raised her daughters. She loves Gardiner for having a great school and a vibrant community you would never find in any other corner of this State. She has served in the hospitality industry for over 25 years; and additionally worked successfully with the National Park Service, Fish, Wildlife & Game, and other government departments. She successfully marketed the Best Western - increasing the Winter & Shoulder business year after year.
Trina Smith
Originally from Mississippi, Trina came to Yellowstone National park in the summer of 1998 to complete her college internship. Upon graduation later that fall she knew she must return to experience winter. From then on she never looked back and feels fortunate to call this special place home. After working many seasons in Yellowstone, Trina now oversees the guest operations at B Bar Ranch, an organic cattle ranch just north of Gardiner.
Trina is very passionate about sharing her love of the great outdoors and the abundant wildlife that calls it home with the many visitors to the area. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the area while hiking with her dog or while riding her favorite horse.
Billie Taylor
Billie Taylor worked as a wrangler and corral manager in Yellowstone National Park for a decade and has been actively involved in the Gardiner community since 2006. After seasonal jobs in the horseback realm took her all over the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest, she was drawn back to the heart of Montana and the wildness of Yellowstone National Park. Purchasing and operating Yellowstone Roughriders was her calling, fitting together the puzzle pieces of her passions for people, horses, and business together.
Chamber Staff
Zondra Skertich
Newsletter Coordinator
A native of Gardiner, MT, Zondra has traveled the world and lived abroad, but has always returned to the mountains of Montana – her favorite place in the world.
Building on her experience as a whitewater rafting photographer on the Yellowstone River, Zondra graduated from Montana State University with a degree in photography. She uses her background in graphic design and photography every week when putting together the Gardiner Community Newsletter. Zondra is also a massage therapist with her own practice in downtown Gardiner. An avid musician, Zondra can often be found performing around Gardiner, and throughout the region. She sits on the board of the Electric Peak Arts Council and enjoys promoting music and the arts in Gardiner.
When not working or playing music, Zondra can be found recreating in the local outdoors – hiking, bicycling, skiing, boating & gardening. She has hiked every trail in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and boated (raft, canoe & kayak) most of the Yellowstone River.
