Meet the Team

Julie Tickle - Executive Director

Julie Tickle, Executive Director

Julie joined the DREAM team in January 2017 in a program-facing role and moved into the Executive Director position in June 2018. She grew up near balmy Buffalo, New York as a four-season fresh air kid. She was a two-sport and All-American athlete in college, earning a B.S. in Psychology and M.S. in Sports Administration.

Julie’s career in adaptive sports began in 2007 in Colorado, where she worked for the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee.  Highlights of her tenure included supporting the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver, the 2011 Para-PanAmerican Games in Guadalajara, and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Her free time was spent exploring the Rockies where she fell in love with mountain life.

The daughter of two teachers, one in special education, Julie was taught at an early age the importance of inclusion and in ensuring people with disabilities are represented in all aspects of the community.

Committee involvement:  City of Whitefish-Bike & Pedestrian Path Committee; Safe Trails Whitefish

Certifications: Wilderness First Responder, PSIA Alpine Level I, PSIA Adaptive Level I, Avy 1

Rainey Dyreson, Program Coordinator

Rainey joined Team DREAM in December 2024 in a Program Coordinator role. Growing up in Twin Falls, Idaho, Rainey spent nearly all of her free time outdoors. Whether she was playing softball, kayaking on the Snake River, or snowboarding in the Smoky Mountains, her passion for being outside started at a young age.

Rainey graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and a Softball Mountain West Championship ring. After spending six years in Boise, Idaho, she relocated to Montana to be closer to the mountains. Her passion towards the outdoors led her to DREAM. Rainey strongly believes in inclusive recreation because everyone deserves to experience the positive benefits of being outdoors.

When she is not working, she enjoys fly fishing, biking, snowboarding, and dancing to live music.

Anna Fake, Program Coordinator

Anna joined the Team DREAM in May of 2025 as a seasonal program specialist with an emphasis on supporting the bike programs and stepped into the Coordinator role fall of 2025.

Originally from Telluride, Colorado, Anna grew up immersed in the outdoors-running, biking swimming, and both alpine and nordic skiing. Her love for skiing took her to Montana State University, where she competed as a Division I nordic skier, graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and earned All-American Honors.

Before heading north to Whitefish, Anna let Big Sky’s local Nordic Program, sharing her passion for skiing and community. Through her experiences as both a coach and student, she discovered her drive to help everyone enjoy the outdoors in way that work for them-a mission she’s excited to continue with DREAM.

When she’s not working, you’ll likely find Anna rafting whitewater, exploring trails by bike, flying down nordic trails, or adding another gem to her ever-growing costume bin often crafted with her sewing machine and bedazzler.

Amy Good, Operations Specialist

Amy joined the DREAM team in 2023 and was first introduced to DREAM through the Veteran programs.  She participated in the Going to the Sun bike rides and paddle programs and was quickly hooked. Amy grew up in Northern California, Placerville, riding horses and participating in 4-H and FFA before enlisting in the Army after graduating High School. Amy served 23 years in the Army before deciding to retire in 2021 to enjoy some family time and outdoor activities.

Amy earned a B.S. in Business Management through Penn Foster College and also a certification in Professional Golf Course Turf Management through Rutgers University. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, working-out, golf, scuba diving, biking and watching football (Go Broncos!).

Amy is mom to one goofy fur baby, Winnie, a french bulldog, she is married to Glen, has two stepchildren, Jake and Taylor, and is a proud grandparent to their grandchildren, Ryder and Damon.

Kate Heston, Event Coordinator

Kate joined DREAM Adaptive Recreation in February 2026 as our new Events Coordinator, and we are so excited to have her energy and talent on board.

Growing up in the Midwest and Texas, Kate made her way to the Mountain West after graduating college and has not looked back. Kate graduated from the University of Iowa in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications and International Relations. After graduation, she moved to Northwest Montana to work as a journalist for the Daily Inter Lake, where she spent three years diving into and writing about the Flathead Valley community.

As Montana became home, so did a deep love for the outdoors. That passion for recreation, access, and storytelling naturally led her to DREAM. Kate brings strong event planning skills, community engagement experience, and a storyteller’s heart to our team. She believes deeply that access to the outdoors can change lives, and she is committed to helping create experiences where everyone can feel a sense of belonging and adventure.
Outside of work, Kate can be found hiking, climbing, reading a book by a body of water or singing karaoke and dancing with friends.

Trevor Hildebrand, Instructor/Lead Trainer

Trevor has been a part of the DREAM family since 2019 when he moved to town from Steamboat Springs where he managed an adaptive sports program.  He was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, and upon turning 18 and graduating High School promptly left for the mountains without ever looking back.  Trevor attended college at Montana State University gaining a degree in Spanish, which has helped him travel to many countries through Central and South America.

Trevor’s journey in the adaptive sports field began in Bozeman at the turn of the century, and was hooked after being a gatekeeper at the Disabled National Downhill Championships at Big Sky.  He has been a part of the adaptive sports industry ever since being a part of programs across Colorado, Montana, California, New Mexico and Oregon.  He is captivated by sit equipment and the techy side of adaptive, but is ultimately here to empower the students to be the best they can be.

Certifications: EMT, PSIA Adaptive Assessor/Clinician, AASI Adaptive Assessor/Clinician, AERIA Avy 1

Photo coming soon!

Ellen Mering, Development Specialist

Ellen joined DREAM in 2025 as the Fundraising and Events Specialist. Growing up in Idaho, she enjoyed camping, hiking, rafting, and skiing with her family. In college she studied forestry and agriculture, while also working as a rock climbing instructor for the college outdoors program.

After graduation, Ellen spent seven years working for the US Forest Service across the West.  Her favorite Forest Service job was working as a forester.  In this role, she had the opportunity to work on fire mitigation projects, timber sales and reforestation projects.  The annual highlight was using ropes to climb trees to collect pine cones for reforestation. Ellen truly values access to public lands and is excited to support DREAM’s mission to provide outdoor adaptive recreational opportunities.

Since 2023, Ellen has been working at nonprofits while also running a small vegetable farm with her husband, Andrew. She enjoys connecting with community members, whether at events or the farmers market. When she’s not working, you’ll find her hiking, floating the river, or skiing with friends and family.

Erich Spitz, Development Manager

Erich joined the team in February 2024 in the role of Development Manager.  Growing up in Buffalo, New York, he immersed himself in volunteering with adaptive sports organizations, which fostered his deep appreciation for the outdoors and inclusive recreation. After graduating with a B.S. in Business Management from Roberts Wesleyan University in 2019, Erich spent five years working for a youth development nonprofit in Western New York.
Drawn by his love for the mountains, Erich came to Whitefish looking for a place to pursue both his personal and professional passions. When not working, he enjoys fly fishing, hiking, biking, playing golf, and cheering on his beloved Buffalo Bills and Sabres!
Dream program director, Madeline

Madeline Westbrook, Program Director

Madeline moved from the Mt. Hood area of Oregon to join the DREAM Adaptive Team in September 2020. She has been working in the outdoor industry as a professional ski patroller/Assistant Patrol Director and ski racing coach on Mt. Hood for the last three years. Prior to this, she was working for the U.S. Forest Service as a seasonal recreation staff member in various locations in Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Washington. She graduated from the University of New Mexico with a B.S. in Athletic Training.

Madeline was born in Saratoga, Wyoming, and moved to the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado as a second grader where she learned to alpine ski; then she and her family moved to the Mt Hood area. Madeline has grown up alpine skiing, whitewater rafting, and hiking; her family spent any time they could outside exploring rivers, mountains, and the local areas they lived in.

Certifications: Wilderness EMT, Emergency Medical Technician, PSIA Level 1 Alpine, PSIA Level 1 Adaptive