Board of Directors

Ben is a husband to Kim, father to Isaiah, Dominic, Lincoln, coach of many sports, and jack of all trades. He joined Lone Mountain Land Company in 2015 with 12 years’ experience in the construction industry and a Master’s of Architecture from Iowa State University. As Director of Property Management, he oversees all of LMLC’s residential and commercial properties from Big Sky to Four Corners. Since moving to Big Sky, Ben has been actively involved in building community through service on multiple non-profit boards and committees.

Maria is originally from Wisconsin but her love for Yellowstone National Park took her to West Yellowstone in 2016 where she worked as a Summer nurse for Community Health Partners. She then took a position in the emergency department at Big Sky Medical Center (BSMC). She has been a part of the Bozeman Health system ever since and currently serves as the Assistant Director of Nursing at BSMC. Maria lives in Big Sky with her husband Todd, and their six-month-old son, Owen. As a parent of an MLC student, she is excited to serve on the MLC board to help support and strengthen MLC’s mission and vision for the Big Sky community.

Jonathan has lived in Big Sky full-time since 2021, when he and his wife relocated from Maui, where he spent twelve years building a career in luxury hospitality. Originally born in Southern California and raised in North Texas, he completed his studies in Minneapolis and Eau Claire, Wisconsin, earning a degree in marketing. Jonathan and his wife are now raising their two daughters, both of whom attend MLC. In addition to his professional background, he has experience in music education, instructing marching drumlines and percussion ensembles in Wisconsin and Hawai‘i. He has been actively involved in community service throughout his life, including volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, supporting food banks, and participating in beach cleanups on Maui. Jonathan is committed to strengthening his involvement in the Big Sky community and is proud to serve on the MLC Board of Directors.

Alec LaBelle was born and raised in Woodstock, IL 60 miles northwest of Chicago. He graduated college in 2019 with a Civil Engineering degree and minor in Business Administration from the University of Iowa. With nine years of experience in the construction industry he is overseeing commercial construction projects as a Project Manager for Jackson Contractor Group. When Alec has free time you can find him in the Big Sky community taking part in his favorite hobbies which include but aren’t limited to backcountry snowmobiling, fishing, and attempting to become a scratch golfer.

Stephanie Kissell grew up in Washington State and moved to Big Sky with her husband in December 2005. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education with an Elementary Education endorsement and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a Literacy Specialization. She taught elementary grades at Ophir School for eight years before taking time off to raise her children.  In 2016 she became the Executive Director of Morningstar, however, she desired to serve MLC in a different capacity after the birth of her son.  Becoming a member of the board seemed a logical way to merge her passion for education with service.  She hopes that her background as an educator and as former director of MLC will be an asset to this board and to the children and families of Big Sky.

Emily moved to Big Sky in 2014 to take advantage of the incredible outdoor opportunities the area offers. She lives in Big Sky with her husband, Bradley, and their two children, Wesley, who attends Ophir Elementary, and Eleanor, who is a student at Morningstar. Emily serves as the Operations Manager for The Big Sky Chapel and also works as a bookkeeper and administrative assistant for All Saints in Big Sky. She is dedicated to supporting families in the community and sees Morningstar Learning Center as a vital resource for local families.