Meet the Board

Ron Gallardo, President
Ron Gallardo

President

Ron is a longtime Butte resident. He graduated from Butte Central High School and has a BA from Carroll College, Helena, MT. Ron and his wife, Mary, are the owner/operators of Shepperd’s Candies Inc., in Butte. They have one son, who is also a proud Maroon and Saint. Ron fondly remembers being on the Emerson school playground, watching Our Lady ascend up the East Ridge in 1985. Ron has been on the Our Lady of the Rockies board since 2000. He has served as Vice-President and as President beginning in 2025.

Julie Jaksha, Treasurer
Julie Jaksha

Vice President

Julie was born and raised in Butte, Montana, and has dedicated much of her career to fostering economic development and making Butte a stronger, more vibrant community. She is extremely proud of the Butte community and excited about the Our Lady of the Rockies future. Julie has over 32 years of experience with strategic planning, management, financing, and project execution. She has worked in both the public and private sectors and can help facilitate hard conversations and get the right people to the table when needed. Since joining the Lady of the Rockies Board in 2020, she has served as the Treasurer and now Vice President. She has been instrumental in securing a grant to build new restrooms at the statue, as well as improving the gift store in the Butte Plaza Mall.

 Julie shares three amazing children, three Goldens, and one crazy Springer Spaniel with her husband Steve. When she’s not working or volunteering on various boards, she loves spending time with her family, hiking, rafting, skiing, camping, boating, and fishing. She loves taking photos, traveling, baking, and listening to true crime podcasts in her free time.

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Andy Durkin

Secretary & Treasurer

Bio coming soon!

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Ron Ueland

Former President

Bio coming soon!

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Barb Cadena Kelly

Store Manager

Bio coming soon!

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Mike Cerise

Bio coming soon!

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Bob Leipheimer

Bio coming soon!

Patrick T Fleming
Pat Fleming

Pat Fleming is a lawyer in Butte, a second generation Board Member of Our Lady of the Rockies (his mother served on the Board), and a lifelong resident of Butte. He serves and has served on numerous Boards and considers the Our Lady of the Rockies Board one of the best.

Melissa O'Dell
Melissa O’Dell

Melissa is a dedicated community advocate and public servant. A wife and mother of two, Melissa balances her family life with a strong commitment to Butte and the surrounding areas. Her career spans impactful roles in Human Resources, Law Enforcement, Real Estate, and Court Security.

Melissa’s passion for community improvement is evident in her ongoing efforts to enhance housing, beautify neighborhoods and promote safety for all residents. She is a graduate of Oregon State University with a bachelor in Marketing Management and a minor in Behavioral Science.

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Angela Grinolds

Bio coming soon!