Rachel Schmidt, Director of Innovative Alliances
A river rat at heart, Rachel is a lifelong resident of Montana who enjoys what some might consider too many outdoor hobbies. With a degree in resource conservation and watershed management from the University of Montana (that Rachel summarizes as “overeducated fly fisherman”) she has spent her career roaming the world in organic agriculture and the outdoor recreation industry to include a variety of roles in fly fishing, rafting, ski and firearms. From 2017-2020 Rachel created one of the United States’ first offices of outdoor recreation for Montana’s Gov. Steve Bullock and became the country’s first female director in that office. Her passions that took her to public lands and waters led her to early involvement with and membership in BHA, including a seat on BHA’s North American board of directors. She lives in Montana with her two sons Maclean and Schafer, and when she is not hunting big game, fly fishing or floating a river she is chasing her German wirehair, Hal, around the prairie of Eastern Montana.
Britney Fregerio, Controller
A native Montanan, Britney earned both a B.S. in business administration and master of accountancy degree from the University of Montana and is a certified public accountant. Prior to joining BHA as controller, Britney was an auditor with Deloitte & Touche in Seattle and an assistant controller with Washington Corporations. Britney and her family feel fortunate to call Montana home and utilize public lands to hunt, fish and hike. She believes the conservation work BHA does is critical so that future generations are able to experience public lands in the same ways that they have.