Montana Resorts | Glacier National Park Lodging

Meet the Staff

Meet Our Dedicated & Hard-working Team

Grouse Mountain Lodge is proud to have a dedicated and hard-working team with many long-term employees.  We would like to introduce our managers to you.  Please feel free to contact any of our staff for assistance.

Staff
Executive Chef Paul Alsippi

Paul Alsippi

 Originally from western Pennsylvania, Paul moved to Montana for a summer job in 1992 and forgot to return home.  After graduating from the American Culinary Federation’s Chef Apprenticeship Program in 1991, Paul worked in Glacier National Park for three seasons, two at lake McDonald Lodge and one at Rising Sun.  He has been with Grouse Mountain Lodge since 1995.  When not at work you can find Paul enjoying the Montana outdoors as much as you would if you lived here!

Karen Baker

Karen Baker has been working for Grouse Mountain Lodge since 2000.  She supervises the Reservations and Sales departments and is also a member of the Executive Committee.  Growing up in Whitefish Karen learned to love the outdoors.  In her spare time she can be found bowling, golfing, fishing, camping, or anything to enjoy the great outdoors.

Rod Wilkerson

Rod has lived in the Flathead Valley since 1984. He worked in the timber industry until 2001 when he then joined the team at Grouse Mountain Lodge as Maintenance Manager. After 7 full years he retired part time to enjoy all that Montana has to offer while still acting as our Safety Manager and a member of the Executive Committee. In his free time he can be found fishing, hunting or playing golf.

Marianne Rozar

Marianne keeps an eye on the hotel finances.  She has over 20 years of experience in accounting and enjoys working alongside all the dedicated long-term Grouse Mountain Lodge employees.  She and Sharon Wood in accounting work hard so that when it’s time to pay your bill, should you have any questions or concerns, they are quickly resolved.

Marianne has lived in Whitefish for the past 26 years with her husband and 2 daughters, now both in college.  She mostly enjoys all of the recreational opportunities and beauty northwest Montana has to offer.

Joe Johnson

Joe was born and raised in Northwest Montana and has been with the Grouse Mountain Lodge since 1998.  Joe went to the University of Montana and the University of Utah, managed at lodges in Grand Canyon National Park for 15 years and was a restaurant manager in Washington D.C. for 4 years.

Tim Noonan

Tim leads the professional banquet staff in taking excellent care of our groups holding meetings and meals at the Grouse Mountain Lodge.  Tim has been with Grouse Mountain Lodge since 1997.  When not at work you can find him out skate skiing on the Nordic trails or bicycling the roads and trails around Northwest Montana.

Katrina Simpson

Katrina is a Whitefish native, and after traveling far and wide, she found no place that could compete with her hometown.  She recently started her own family and cannot wait to pass on her love for the Flathead Valley.  Grouse Mountain Lodge has been her second home now since 2000.  Stop in and say hi to her at the Front Desk!

Jason Despain

Jason is the maintenance manager and has been with Grouse Mountain Lodge since 2006.  When not at work, Jason spends most of his time in the outdoors, fishing, hunting, camping or just spending time on the river with his family.  He enjoys it all, and the more remote the better!

Felicia Spencer

Felicia oversees the Montana Adventure Company, Concierge Services and the Grouse Nest Gift Shop, making certain that guests of Grouse Mountain Lodge are well informed and cared for.  She and her knowledgeable local staff can get you into the best restaurants, fishing opportunities, beautiful local hikes and lakes.  They also make sure to have great clothing and gifts onsite in the Grouse Nest Gift Shop.  When not busy overseeing these things, Felicia can be found out with her camera and kayak, always looking for new things to share about this beautiful area.

Tresha Scallen

Tresha is the Human Resource Director for Grouse Mountain Lodge and has been a member of the Grouse Mountain Lodge family since May of 2005.  She was born and raised in the beautiful Flathead Valley and has chosen to keep it her home with husband Matt and their two children, Garrett and Allie.

Wilson Maxwell

Wilson is originally from Austin, Texas, and arrived in Whitefish during the summer of 1994.  The idea was to take a year off from college to live and work in Glacier National Park during the summer and ski and work in Whitefish during the winter.  It was during that first winter in Montana that, in addition to a deep appreciation for powder days, one for cooking also took hold and became a way of life, which continues to this day.

Wilson believes that cooking food should be as straightforward and simple as possible with respect to the raw ingredients and the flavors they produce, resulting in a clean, natural progression of taste and enjoyment.  When not shackled to a stove in the lodge kitchen, you will find him skiing, mountain biking, fishing, having good food and a night out with friends, or some other form of trouble in the Greater Northwest Montana area.

Allison Newell

Allison joined Grouse Mountain Lodge in 1996 and is originally from Portland, Oregon, where she attended Western Culinary Institute.  She loves all aspects of the food service industry and enjoys the creative freedom that the Culinary Arts provide.  With a background in pastry, garde manger and wine, she looks forward to future travels to explore new flavor profiles and techniques.  While not working, Allison plays some golf and cooks for family and friends.

Joél Larsen

Originally from Snohomish, Washington, Joél found Whitefish and the Big Mountain in the winter of 1995.  After spending a couple of winters as a ski bum she decided to make Whitefish her home.  In 1997 she got a job at Grouse Mountain Lodge and discovered the summers here are as a great as the winters.  When not at work you will find Joél snowboarding, fly fishing or golfing.

Joan Gephart

As the dedicated Conference Service Manager at Grouse Mountain Lodge, Joan is the key contact  in planning and overseeing all conferences and events held here.  With many years of service between Joan and the banquet staff, you are assured a worry-free event, with every detail finely planned and flawlessly executed.

Edna White

Edna grew up in Pennsylvania and moved to Missoula, Montana, in 1993, where she attained a BA in English Literature at the University of Montana.  She has lived in Whitefish since then and greatly enjoys the spectacular outdoor recreational opportunities the area has to offer, especially mountain biking, hiking in Glacier National Park and snowboarding. 

Edna is a Senior Sales Manager and works with ski/winter sport groups, corporate meeting clients for October through May, wholesale accounts, tour groups, school and sports events, and she also handles the Preferred Corporate Program.  Edna has been with Grouse Mountain Lodge since 1998.

Jeff Laverdiere

Jeff is a Senior Sales Manager and has been with Grouse Mountain Lodge since 2002.  He’s been in the hospitality sales and marketing business for 11 years.  Starting in the spring, you can find him on the rivers of Montana and Idaho white water rafting, on any golf course available, hiking in Glacier National Park or sailing on Flathead Lake.

Jeff’’s works with all groups interested in comming to beautiful Whitefish Montana between June and September.

John Persem

John is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, and has been with Grouse Mountain Lodge since 2010.  While in Atlanta, he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Kennesaw State University.  In 2009, he moved to Missoula, Montana, and attained a master’s in business administration from the University of Montana.  Now living in Whitefish, when he is out of the office, John can be found snowboarding, hiking in Glacier National Park, golfing, and enjoying all the wonderful outdoor activities that beautiful Montana has to offer.

 John works with Montana corporations, government entities and associations visiting Grouse Mountain Lodge anytime during autumn, winter and spring.  John’s ultimate goal here at the lodge is to bring the quintessential Montana experience to each and every one of his valued customers.

Tony Wilkerson

Tony moved to Whitefish in 1984 and has been employed by Grouse Mountain Lodge since 1989.  He enjoys fishing, hunting, camping, skiing, and spending time with his family, friends and church.  Tony has fun at his job and enjoys meeting new guests and working with repeat customers.  So make it easy on yourself and don’t drag your stuff through the airport or load it into your car!  Send Tony your luggage, golf clubs, skis, display cases, meeting supplies and anything else you may need to make your stay here more enjoyable.  He will hold your shipment in a secure storage area and deliver them to your meeting or guest room when you arrive.  After your stay, Tony can ship everything back to your home or office.  He looks forward to working with you!