ALUMNI IN ACTION

Nancy Schlepp grew up on her family’s cattle ranch in Ringling, Montana. She is a graduate of MSU where she met her future husband, Chris. They inherited the ranch, which they have operated for 28 years, embracing the way of life as a wonderful way to raise their three children, Sarah (25), Ethan (20), and Dawson (16).

Outside the ranch, Nancy has always been employed externally to support the family operation. Her work history includes government relations, international trade, being the Executive Director of the Montana Taxpayers Association, and serving as a Meagher County Commissioner from 2010 – 2013.  In 2013, she took a position with Sandfire Resources America Inc., helping permit the underground copper mine near White Sulphur Springs. She has now been with the Company for 10 years and serves as their VP of Communications and Corporate Secretary.

Nancy was in the LM Class of 2017 (B17s!) and truly loved the experience leading her to become a gracious space facilitator and an inaugural member of the LM Indigenous Immersion Initiative. One of her favorite LM memories was hosting the Confluence in White Sulphur Springs and sharing the wonderful features and people of Meagher County with leaders from across Montana.

The best part of LM is the lifelong friendships that have been built through the organization. Her most powerful memory is the Invite the Stranger exercise of “Walk a Mile”  anonymously in someone else’s shoes, where she learned that several of her class had been impacted by abuse, suicide, discrimination, etc., yet were able to overcome these difficult situations to be successful.  Nancy believes strongly that more attention and light needs to be brought to these important issues.

The greatest impact LM has had on Nancy is her increased desire to build bridges wherever possible and to step up and lead when called.  Nancy believes the role of LM  is for people to gain tools and knowledge to find common ground.  When she walks into a room now, she wants to get to know every person, find commonality and build from it.

Her favorite challenge to herself and others is to complete truly random acts of kindness that are only known to yourself.