Board of Directors
The Headwaters Academy Board of Directors is responsible for the overall vision and long-term planning for the school. The majority of members serving on our Board have firsthand knowledge of the value of the school, as several have had students who attended the school. Board members also include community and business leaders. HWA has a well-rounded team of Board members dedicated to the school and its continued growth and success.
Aimee Dendrinos
President
Aimee moved to Bozeman with her family in 2017 after living in Steamboat Springs, CO and Cheyenne, WY. Her older son, George, started 6th grade at headwaters in 2021. After a brief stint as an attorney, she served as the Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer for Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. While in Steamboat, Aimee served on the board of Steamboat Springs Montessori Charter School, where she gained an appreciation for learning opportunities outside of the traditional public education model. Aimee enjoys watching her kids swim, yoga, hiking, and skiing when it’s 25 degrees and sunny, preferably with no wind.
Cate Wright
Vice President
Cate believes that a strong school community filled with engaged families gives students a deep sense of security, a safe platform for social and academic growth, and the tools to realize their full human potential. This has led her to be an active participant in her childrens' educational experiences, taking on volunteer roles in art, admissions and fundraising, and now serving on the Headwaters Board of Directors. Cate has a professional background in public relations and marketing and - fun fact - she worked as the Assistant Accessories Editor at Seventeen Magazine, where she learned more than she ever wanted to know about prom jewelry. Cate is passionate about progressive education and feels strongly about a school experience that addresses the health of the whole child: body, heart and mind. Cate's daughter has flourished at Headwaters and she hopes her work with the Headwaters Fund and the Board of Directors will ensure that many other children experience the same growth.
Jami Lorenz
Secretary
A structural engineer by trade, Jami has developed an extensive network of strategic relationships within the construction industry in Montana, across the Mountain Region and into the Pacific Northwest. After opening of the Bozeman office for Beaudette Consulting Engineers (now DCI Engineers) in 2005, Jami was fortunate to contribute to the Bozeman community as the Engineer of Record of numerous building projects, including Yellowstone Hall, Gallatin Hall and Hyalite Hall at her alma mater at MSU. After 18 years at DCI Engineers as a Principal, she worked with her close friends at SMA Architecture + Design as the Director of Firm Development, and most recently joined Haselden Construction as a Business Developer. In her spare time, she enjoys skiing and hiking in the mountains while serving on the board of directors for several community and national non-profit organizations, joining the Headwaters Academy Board of Directors in the fall of 2023 and acting as the Secretary.
Pam Wolf
Treasurer
Pam spent 25 years as the CEO and Founder of Harmony Family Center, one of the country's leading providers of pre- and post-adoption services. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Tennessee and is a retired clinical social worker. After adopting her daughter, Pam built Harmony with the dream of helping children live their best lives. Pam prides herself on being an innovator, creating unique and effective programs that change lives and have a positive impact on our community, and she strives to create an environment that supports and inspires the good work done by Headwaters' very talented team.
Julianne Williams
Past President
Julianne brings over 25 years of experience in hotel management, fundraising and community building to the board. Moving to Bozeman in 2006 Julianne has dedicated her time volunteering in the classroom, school- parent associations and several Bozeman school district committees. Julianne also served on the Museum of the Rockies board of directors and children’s task force that focused on the development of the Children’s Discovery Center. A mother to two boys both graduates of Headwaters Academy. Julianne is a true believer that a small supportive school fosters relationships and supports confident, capable students who will become our next leaders. Julianne joined the board in 2019 and is dedicated to the growth and governance of Headwaters Academy and to the community it serves.
Betsy Beauvais
Director
Betsy and her husband Pascal moved to Bozeman in 2010 after she completed her MBA at CU Boulder. Their son, Henry, was born in Bozeman and is now a student at Headwaters Academy. Betsy is the Chief Learning and Training Officer at MoFi, a nonprofit small business lender focused on financial justice and creating an inclusive financial system. She has been with MoFi for the last ten years, bringing her expertise in lending and training to the organization. Before MoFi, Betsy spent 13 years at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), where she taught leadership skills to a variety of audiences from college students to Google executives. She also served as a program director for NOLS in Patagonia, the Southwest and the Rocky Mountain regions. Betsy is strong believer in the power of experiential-based education and the importance of a supportive community in fostering the growth and development of individuals.
Outside of work, she enjoys getting outside, traveling to new places, and laughing with her family as much as possible.
Dan Bercu
Director
With a dynamic background spanning nonprofits, creative writing, real estate, and endurance sports, Dan brings a diverse and impact-driven perspective to every endeavor. He has taught life skills to housing-insecure residents at HRDC in Bozeman, led job interview training for underserved communities through Chrysalis in Santa Monica, and supported institutional self-defense training with Magen Am in Los Angeles. As a writer, Dan's work has appeared in HonestCooking.com, highlighting Southern California’s ethnic food scene, and in The Malibu Times, where he penned sharp political satire. He is also the creator of Uberman, described by Outside Magazine as “the world’s hardest race,” spanning ocean, desert, and mountain terrain. In real estate, he negotiated hundreds of leases for major brands including Starbucks and GAP Inc., and helped develop high-profile retail centers like The Brentwood Country Mart. He also launched The Chef’s Farm, a 22-acre project uniting top chefs with sustainable agriculture. Dan holds a BA and BS from the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School of Business.
Tanya Cunningham
Director
Tanya and her family have been proud to call Bozeman home since 2009. Tanya and her husband Peter are the proud parents of four HWA alumni. All four of their children look back at their time at Headwaters fondly and formed some of their closest friendships here. As a former Headwaters parent, she understands the inner workings of the school that make it such an exceptional place. She is excited to serve on the board and give back to the school that played such an integral role in her kids’ lives. Tanya grew up in Indiana and attended Ohio State University. She practiced in the area of recruitment and HR compliance for over 25 years with national consulting firms before retiring to become a full-time volunteer and mom to teenagers and her crazy dogs.
Roland MacNichol
Director
Roland served students and families in Washington State for 36 years as a teacher, school administrator, and principal. He served as a school and district leadership coach for Washington State working in school and district improvement. Much of this work was developing strategic plans rooted in creating healthy and safe school communities with strong social and emotional systems in place. A critical piece of this work was developing authentic partnerships with all stakeholders and nurturing equitable practices. He is excited to serve the Headwaters' community and help nurture and support the excellent work being done at the school.
Nina Jaeger
Director
Nina and her family called Bozeman home from 2003-2013 and are elated to have returned in 2022 after living and working in Jakarta, Indonesia and Philadelphia for 3 and 6 years respectively. The family joined the Headwaters community in 2009 when they were seeking a smaller and rigorous, yet nurturing, middle school experience for their oldest son. After he graduated in 2011, Nina joined the board to contribute some of her fundraising and advancement expertise as a way of giving back to this unique learning community. A commitment to educating the whole child, fostering educational access, and opening doors to higher education continues to be what drives Nina in her volunteer and professional life. She is a founding Board member of Horizons at SCH in Philadelphia, a summer enrichment program for K-8 children from under-resourced schools, and an active community volunteer for human rights, health equity, and pro-democracy efforts. Nina works in advancement for Montana State University Alumni Foundation.
