LYNETTE ST. CLAIR

Shoshone linguist, cultural preservationist & education consultant on the Wind River Reservation

Lynette St. Clair grew up in Ft. Washakie, Wyoming, on the Wind River Reservation. A linguist, cultural preservationist, former educator, and education consultant, Lynette is passionate about preserving and sharing the Shoshone language with the next generation and with the world. In 2015 she was awarded the National Johnson O'Malley Teacher of the Year distinction for her implementation of technology to enhance language instruction for the children of the Wind River Reservation.

Lynette serves as a contributing lesson plan writer for the Wind River Education modules and represents an authentic voice for Indigenous people through her involvement with statewide standards initiatives to address how contributions of American Indians are taught in Wyoming classrooms. Lynette's cultural projects include Art for the Sky, HOPA Mountain Cultural Exchange, Five Buffalo Days, and the creation of a language app, Newe Daygwap, for all to learn the Shoshone language. She collaborated with Fort Washakie high school students to develop the first mobile tour of the Wind River Reservation with the travel app, TravelStorys.

Most recently, Lynette works an indigienous consultant for movie and network series to ensure cultural authenticity, historical accuracy, and language coaching for the Eastern Shoshone language.

DR. DIANE NOTON

Emergency Room Physician & Rural Doctor

Dr. Diane Noton Coale knew by the time she was five years old that she wanted to become a doctor and practice medicine. She has dedicated her professional life to serving small towns in Wyoming. She studied human nutrition at the University of Wyoming, received her medical degree at Creighton University School of Medicine, and completed her residency in Casper, Wyoming in order to connect with doctors in the state and start her own clinic. She’s been a family medicine physician in Saratoga, Wyoming, later in Meeteetse, and now as an emergency room physician in Worland, Wyoming. 

While in Saratoga, Dr. Diane ran the medical clinic as well as the nursing home and ambulance service. She was the only doctor within a 40-mile radius. She left Saratoga to open a medical clinic in Meeteetse, a community with a population of less than 500 people. Most recently she practices emergency medicine in Worland, Wyoming and thrives on the intensity, pace, and structured schedule of the ER. She is also a Reiki Master. In her commitment to serve small towns in Wyoming, Diane has fulfilled her childhood dream of helping to make rural Wyoming communities healthier and happier.

REV. BERNADINE CRAFT

Episcopal priest, former state senator and community advocate in Rock Springs, Wyoming

Rev. Bernadine Craft is an Episcopal priest, former state representative, psychotherapist, and the Executive Director of Sweetwater BOCES in her hometown of Rock Springs, Wyoming. In her multiple community service roles, Bernadine's primary concern is being a voice for the voiceless. As a state senator and representative, having served in both Wyoming's House and Senate, Bernadine pushed forward legislation concerned with human services issues, including domestic violence, animal abuse, and advocating for the rights of children, the elderly and disabled. As a priest, Bernadine's faith belief is open, inclusive and pledges to respect the dignity and worth of every human being.

During our interview, Bernadine and I talk about her journey home to Rock Springs, the importance of being open to change and life's possibilities, and her passion for representing underserved voices in her community and across the state.

LORI MATERI

Director of the Upton Municipal Airport, backcountry pilot & rural airstrip advocate

Lori Materi came from a flying family in Upton, Wyoming. Her father served as a navigator on a B-29 during WWII, and later piloted their family in a PA-11, a Skywagon, and a Piper Navajo as their primary mode of transportation around Wyoming and the country. As the youngest child (with a twin sister) however, Lori was afraid to fly. It wasn't until she moved back to Upton with her family that the urge to fly became so strong she couldn't ignore it. She took a discovery flight and was hooked.

Formerly a teacher and archivist at the University of Wyoming, Lori has been instrumental in keeping the Upton Airport viable within the state-wide aviation system. As the Director of the Upton Municipal Airport and Wyoming State Liaison for the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF), Lori leads a statewide task force that works to preserve rural airstrips around Wyoming and open new ones. In this position, Lori opened a dirt landing strip along the famous “Miracle Mile” fishing area of the Platte River. Her twin daughters continue to be one of her biggest motivators to fly and why she continues to pursue her passion for aviation.

In addition to her advocacy work to save small, general aviation strips around the state and in the backcountry, Lori is also an instructor at Gillette Community College in the Adult Education program. Lori is pictured with Papa Charlie, a Citabria, which she loves to fly into remote areas of the state and country.

MEGAN GRASSELL

Founder & CEO of Yellowberry

Megan Grassell is a teen founder and the CEO of Yellowberry- a bra, underwear, activewear and loungewear company for girls ages 8-14. Megan grew up in Pinedale, Wyoming and later in Jackson as a competitive ski racer. She founded Yellowberry when she was 17 years old after discovering the only option for her younger sister's first bra was a leopard print push-up or a sports bra. Determined to create a non-sexualized, stylish first bra option for young girls, while supporting young girls to own their ambition and ideas, Megan launched Yellowberry to national acclaim. Now in her 20s, Megan's revolutionizing the bra industry for young girls from Wyoming. She's partnered with American Eagle, has been featured on Good Morning America and the Today Show, and been named to Time's 25 Most Influential Teens, Yahoo's 24 Millennials to Watch and Forbes 30 Under 30 lists.

During our interview, Megan and I talk about how growing up in Wyoming influenced her entrepreneurial journey, her mission to become the brand that girls grow up with, and her passion to help other girls realize their ambition and own their unique strengths and talents.