Board of Directors

Alternatives, Inc. is governed by a 25-member Board of Directors. The directors, who serve without compensation, are committed to improving their communities by providing offenders support, supervision, and opportunities for self-improvement. The Board draws its membership from the business community, elected officials, social service agencies, institutions of higher learning, and the community at large.

Officers

Picture not available President: Tom Hanel (Montana Real Estate Brokers)
Tom Hanel served on the Screening Committee of Alternatives, Inc. for seven years as a representative of the Billings Police Department. Upon retirement and a move back to Billings, Tom joined the Board of Directors in 2005 and presently serves as 1st Vice President. Tom is a Miles City, Montana native who moved to Billings in 1973. He has a B.S. Degree in Sociology, is a local Real Estate Broker, and President of the Billings Association of Realtors. Tom serves on other local Boards and State committees as well.
 
Picture not available 1st Vice Pres.: James "Ziggy" Ziegler (Billings Businessman)
Ziggy originally joined the Board of Directors in 1981 and served on the Screening Committee. He returned in March, 2007 and now serves on the Screening Committee for Passages, as well as the Public Relations Committee. Ziggy served 16 years as Yellowstone County Commissioner before retiring in 2003. He is married with five children and 11 grandchildren and is the co-owner, with his wife of 52 years, in a bakery/restaurant business. He was born and schooled in Los Angeles, eventually settling in Montana in 1974 when he purchased the KOA Kampground. Ziggy serves on the State Foster Care review board, the Downtown Billings Association, and is chair of the Montana Catholic Conference and Catholic Social Services of Montana. He has 31 years of prison and jail ministry experience.
 
Picture not available 2nd Vice Pres.: John Felton (Exec. VP, Operations - RiverStone Health)
John Felton joined the Board in 2007, has served on the Finance Committee, and was elected 2nd Vice President in 2010. He is the Executive Vice President of Operations for RiverStone Health and also serves as Yellowstone County's Deputy Health Officer. Originally trained as an occupational therapist at the University of Puget Sound, he has served healthcare organizations in senior administrative roles in Cincinnati and Billings. John has earned graduate degrees in Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati and in Public Health from the University of Montana. John and his wife Robin married in 1983 and have two adult children.
 
Picture not available Secretary/Treasurer: Susan Riplett (First Interstate Bank Billings)
Susan Riplett has been on the Board of Directors for Alternatives, Inc. since 1986. She has been employed by First Interstate Bank for 26 years and is currently Vice President and Manager of the Commercial Loan Department in the downtown Billings bank. She has a B.S. Degree in Education from MSU Billings and enjoys working out and investing in the stock market.
 
Picture not available Past President: Susan L. Stewart (Certified Public Accountant)
Susan L. Stewart, CPA has served on the Board of Directors since 2002. Susan professional experience encompasses a diverse spectrum of business areas but she concentrated her efforts in specializing in Not for Profit auditing, accounting and tax issues. Both Billings natives, Susan and her husband, Don love the culture, history and people of Montana.
 

Board Members

  • Walt Backer (Northwestern Energy)
  • Beverly Bilyeu-Carkeek (Billings Job Service, Retired)
  • Cliff Brophy (Stillwater County Sheriff)
  • Shawn Byrne (Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch)
  • Kathleen Candelaria (Realtor)
  • Reno Charette (MSU-B American Indian Outreach)
  • Dr. Paul Cimmino (Professor, Walla Walla University)
  • Duane Demars (Food Broker)
  • Becky Ketterling (Workforce Development Consultant)
  • Dr. Dan Lennon (Criminologist)
  • Reed Marton (Conoco Phillips)
  • Alex Nixon (Carbon County Attorney)
  • Verne Petermann (Retired, Billings Police Department)
  • Kenneth D. Peterson (Attorney)
  • Jim Reno (Yellowstone Co. Commissioner)
  • Penny Strong (Attorney)
  • Judy Towlerton (Retired, Billings Job Service)
  • John Williams (Adult Probation & Parole)

Advisory Board (ex-officio)

  • Rowena Foos (Education Consultant)
  • Randy Gowen (Retired, Adult Probation & Parole)
  • Eric Nord (Attorney)
  • John Prinkki (Carbon County Commissioner)

 

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