Our Staff
Meet the Families First Team! These experienced and dedicated people bring their passion for enriching the lives of families to work every day. Whether you’re looking for advice for helping a teething toddler or a testing teen, or your family seeks fun experiences to learn through play – these are the people who are there to listen, teach and create programs that are helpful, safe and inclusive of all families.
Hannah Zuraff, MPA Executive Director |
Hannah graduated with her Masters in Public Administration, with a focus in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Montana. She has degrees in Psychology and Sociology: Inequality and Social Justice, which fuel her passion for making a difference in our community and in the lives of the families FF serves. Hannah is currently a student in the Masters in Social Work program at the University of Montana where she hopes to focus her studies on intergenerational trauma in families and public health impacts. She is very passionate about partnering with other organizations to provide a coordinated approach to social services in Missoula and surrounding areas.
Hannah is particularly interested in impacting generational poverty, empowering women, and educating families in order to strengthen the likelihood for positive life outcomes later on. In her spare time, Hannah is with her dogs, Gunner and Bentley, exploring Western Montana. Email Hannah. |
Katie Little child enrichment Director |
Katie joined Families First in 2018. Before working for the organization, she volunteered on the Families First Board of Directors. Katie has been in Missoula working for Non-Profit Organizations for almost 20 years. Her biggest passion is spending time with kids and families, especially her own two children.
Katie’s hidden talent is fort building or, so her son thinks. She loves the magic of play, especially when it comes from the minds of kiddos. Katie can’t wait to explore and dream up fun with you and your family. Be on the lookout for our our new mobile exhibits! Email Katie |
Katie Samuels Family Education Director |
With a decade of experience in education and over a year in advocacy for survivors of domestic violence, Katie has become a trusted resource known for her active listening skills and unwavering desire to help others. She excels in differentiating support and is a passionate advocate for forming meaningful relationships. Katie wholeheartedly believes in the transformative power of education and the potential of every child, regardless of their background, to make a meaningful impact on our world. She is passionate about educating and empowering families.
Outside of work, Katie is an avid adventurer who loves exploring with her pup, Arthur, hiking, skiing, and traveling. Email Katie |
Nick Ehlers Teen program director |
Nick is an ecologist and educator passionate about authentic learning through student-driven Project-Based Learning (PBL). He has a degree in biology from Oregon State University and a masters in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies from the University of Northern British Columbia. As an ecologist, he has conducted research with his wife and kids on coral reefs and mangrove forests in Panama and the Bahamas, impacts related to sea turtle ecotourism in Costa Rica, and wolves and ungulates in Yellowstone National Park and British Columbia Canada. As an educator, he is a credentialed teacher who taught 7th-12th grade PBL/STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) in Alberton MT, high school science with Missoula Online Academy, and 11th grade biology and environmental science PBL at High Tech High Chula Vista in San Diego County. He is a passionate guide-on-the-side/facilitator ready to prove to students and adults that our youth are ready to go, do, build, write, create, problem solve, innovate, and Dream Bigger!
In his spare time, Nick enjoys being outside hiking, rafting, floating, skiing, and playing basketball. Email Nick. |
Hannah Wright Lead Educator: Prevention Services (Counselor in training) |
Hannah graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in Communication Studies with a concentration in Organizational Communication, and a minor in Business Administration. She has worked with numerous Missoula-based organizations and nonprofits since graduating from the university; her focus always being with youth and families and outdoor recreation. She is passionate about community and togetherness and is especially excited to be surrounded by like-minded folks that share her passion for helping and supporting families. In her spare time, Hannah loves skiing, mountain biking, trail running, and yoga.
Email Hannah W. |
Clay Vernon Teen Program Manager & Prevention Services Educator |
Clay is a firm believer in the power of hands-on learning being the greatest teacher. He has lived all over the United States building experience in many different fields. The two most meaningful for him have been mentoring disadvantaged youth and outdoor recreation. Clay comes to us with an eagerness to engage and support our community through education and harm reduction. When not facilitating programs at Families First you can catch Clay at the Kettlehouse Amphitheater or exploring new hot springs! Email Clay
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Brittany Simonich Associate Director- Lake County |
Brittany joined the Families First family in 2023 as the Family Education Coordinator in Lake County. She has taught elementary and middle school for 13 years and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Carroll College. Brittany strongly believes in the power of community and is excited to share the incredible work that FF is doing with Lake County.
Brittany and her family have lived in Polson for the last 14 years, and she enjoys being an active community member. She serves as a North Lake County Library Foundation board member and has directed musical productions for Polson High School. In her free time, Brittany enjoys playing pickleball, running with her friends (as long as it ends with coffee), and cheering on her daughters at their sporting events. Email Brittany |
Dylan Wright, LCPC, LSC Counselor |
Dylan is a National Certified Counselor™ with an M.A. in Counselor Education from the University of Montana. As our Wellness Education Coordinator, Dylan provides individual counseling, couples counseling, group supervision and facilitation, parenting consultations, and public presentations. He also commits a great deal of time and energy to developing programs, providing supervision, and conducting research for the Montana Happiness Project.
As a counselor, Dylan believes that it is his job to support his clients in their path to personal discovery, and when necessary, recovery. He has completed higher levels of training in Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) and uses this as a foundation for his work, especially with couples. When taking a break from all the “irons in the fire,” Dylan relaxes with long bike rides, and by spending time with his very supportive wife and daughters. Email Dylan |
Jessica Carrol Child Enrichment Coordinator |
Jessica started with Families First in 2022 when she first moved to Missoula. She is continually inspired by the kids she gets to interact with and learn from in the Missoula Public Library. She is passionate about early childhood education and literacy programs. In the summer she enjoys facilitating a Reading & Eating program for in-need communities, providing free books to Missoula children.
Jessica enjoys helping out in animal welfare programs and women in science organizations. Her goal is to be a fun, positive, and productive addition to the community. In her free time she enjoys exploring western Montana! But she always has time to sit down with a good book at the end of the day. Email Jessica |
Corinne Garrett Teen Coordinator |
Corinne is an Oregon-native and world traveler, but in 2015 Montana captured her heart while cycling across the United States with friends. She has been drawn to Missoula ever since; she also studied Social Work at the University of Montana. In addition, Corinne brings years of experience mentoring adolescents through a bicycle co-op youth program. Also a former wild-land firefighter, Corinne has logged many trips in the backcountry during which she learned group safety skills and undeniably fell more in love with working with teens, the outdoors, and its growth-inspiring magic! Corinne believes whole-heartedly in the transformative power of the natural world, human connection, and taking a moment to stop and reflect. When not hiking (or running with her dog, Mordecai!) through the forest, she loves making baskets, exploring new places, and being silly with friends. She can’t wait to share in the beauty of the backcountry with students and walk alongside them, both literally and metaphorically! Corinne runs the Dream Bigger and Teen Mentorship program. Email Corinne
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