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Board Members
Committed to the Cause
Elizabeth Terrel
Board President
Elizabeth moved to Laurel in 1982 spending her childhood here in Laurel, graduating with the class of 1997. After high school, she moved to Portland, Oregon, and attended Culinary Arts School at Western Culinary Institute through the Le Cordon Bleu program. She spent about 10 years in Portland working in some amazing upscale restaurants before returning to Laurel in 2008. Elizabeth is a wife and mother of 3 daughters. She is excited to serve her community and is dedicated to making LARC a reality for the community she loves.
Mary Riesinger
Board Vice President
Mary Riesinger is a laurel native who’s family ties in laurel have ran 4 generations deep. She Graduated from LHS and MSU-B. Mary is in her 20th year of her nursing career. A mom of 4 and a love for her community keep her busy in her free time .
Past community involvement include
Serving on the The Laurel Chamber of Commerce board, participating in the creation of Town Square and Community Mural with Laurel Alive, as well as the early years of Rock the Block . Christmas to Remember committee, as well as many other volunteer efforts .
She has a passion for her community and helping people . She is very excited to continue the efforts in making the LARC vision a reality for our beloved town.
Evan Bruce
Secretary
I grew up in southeast Montana on a cattle ranch. Then went to college in South Dakota and got a degree in Desktop Publishing and Mass Communication. I started my career in newspapers in Gillette Wyoming. I was there for two years before moving back to Montana.
I have lived in the Laurel area for the last 6 years working at the Laurel Outlook. I first joined the Chamber of Commerce and the Park Board. I helped create the Laurel Riverside Master Plan and the receiving of the Flood and Oil Spill money that went to rebuilding the campground at Riverside Park. I also joined the Yellowstone County Preservation Board as Laurel’s representative and the City/County Planning Board.Â
But, wanted to see more public space for events and activities in town, I joined LARC hearing that they wanted to build a pool and rec. center. After a couple of years of not seeing much movement, I started the planning of the event Laurel FoodFest. With the help of several new board members, it turned into one of the largest events we have ever held.Â
It was great to see such a successful event in Laurel. While living in Spearfish, SD for college, I saw many large public events put on by non-profits on campus and in town. Then in Gillette, Wy, they had a huge public event complex, the CAM-PLEX, that held a wide variety of fun events. Such events like a Cooking expo, Fireworks Competition, a Halloween carnival the had thousands of people show up, and so much more. I hope to see such a variety of positive public events in laurel in the future.
Collette Decker
Treasurer
Hometown: Cody, Wyoming
Has resided in Laurel since 1982.
She graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor's in Business Administration. And retired from Midwest Software Inc. after 30 years.
Served on YMCA Board, original LARC board, Laurel School Board. Volunteered in schools, church and community.Â
Mother of two and five grandchildren.
Opal Gomer
Board Member
My name is Opal Gomer and I have been on the LARC board for approximately 6 years. My husband, Ken, who passed away this January, got me involved and I am committed to continuing his vison of a recreation center for Laurel. I taught Special Education in Billings Public Schools for 20 years before retiring and moving to Laurel. To keep myself busy and involved in the community I am a member of several other service groups in Laurel, including being the current President of Laurel Exchange Club .
Matt Heinz
Board Member
Matt grew up in Colorado and after a couple moves in the Midwest landed in Laurel MT with his significant other Bernadette who is a Montana native. Matt has a love for the outdoors and enjoys hunting with their bird dog Sidney whenever possible. Matt became active in the Laurel community in 2020 when he joined the team at the local IGA supermarket. He has since moved on to a General Manager role for a small independent grocery company but continues his involvement in the Laurel community at the chamber of commerce as well as LARC. If its not hunting season and work allows you can catch him enjoying some fine bourbon whisky at their homestead just northwest of Laurel.
Lyle Parks
Board Member