William (Bill) A. Hritsco, J.D.
PRESIDENT/CEO
Bill Hritsco is a Montana Native and was raised on family farms in the Dillon and Deer Lodge valleys of Montana. Bill graduated from the University of Montana School of Law in 1993 and practiced law in Dillon for nearly 25 years. His legal practice focused on property law and real estate transfers, agricultural and water law, wills and trusts, and assisting individuals and families with estate planning.
Bill actively served the community through the Dillon Jaycees and Montana Farm Bureau, as an officer and Board member for the Southwest Montana YMCA, and the boards of the Montana Water Resources Association and Barrett Hospital and Healthcare Foundation. He is also a member of the State Bar of Montana.
Bill became involved with Yellowstone Foundation in the early years of his practice, after several court appointments as guardian ad litem for abandoned, abused and neglected children struggling in the court system. Bill then joined the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Board of Directors where he served for eight years before transitioning to Yellowstone Foundation’s Board of Directors in 2008 where he served until 2016, with the last three years as its Chairman.
Charles Sanders, CPA
ChIef Financial Officer
Charles Sanders joined the Yellowstone Foundation in the fall of 2024, bringing with him over 37 years of accounting and financial leadership experience. A native of Northern California, Charles earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where he also excelled as a multi-sport athlete.
A seasoned CPA, Charles has served a wide array of industries, including healthcare, real estate, construction, nonprofit organizations, and employee benefit plans. Most notably, he dedicated 21 years to the Centre for Neuro Skills, a nationally recognized provider of traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, where he rose from Controller to Chief Financial Officer.
Driven by a strong commitment to advocacy for disadvantaged populations, Charles was drawn to the Foundation’s mission of supporting special needs and underprivileged youth. His passion for service and deep financial expertise make him a vital part of the Foundation’s leadership team.
Kristi Farver Oaks, CFRE
ChIEf DEVELOPMENT Officer
Kristi Farver Oaks a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, joined the Yellowstone Foundation in 2019 and brought with her over 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector.
A northeast Montana native, Kristi was with the American Cancer Society for over 20 years, starting as a field staff in eastern Montana and then serving as the state director for eight years before finishing her time as the Managing Director for the Great West Division, overseeing income staff in a twelve state area. After leaving ACS, Kristi served as a Senior Development Officer for the Montana State University Billings Foundation, assisting with the completion of the MSUB science building campaign and overseeing the annual fundraising drive.
Kristi was drawn to Yellowstone for our work in assisting special needs and underprivileged children, and as Executive Vice President, she assists Yellowstone friends with both annual and major gifts in addition to networking with the larger community to match individuals, businesses, foundations, and corporations with suitable Ranch projects.
Sara Hofer, J.D.
ChIef PLANNED GIVING Officer
Sara Hofer, J.D. joined the Yellowstone Foundation in 2019, where she was mentored by financial and estate planning expert Jim Soft. She is a graduate of The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and holds a law degree from the University of Wyoming. She is currently pursuing her Certified Financial Planner® certification.
Sara has a strong background in nonprofit work, with experience at organizations such as Parents, Let’s Unite for Kids (PLUK), Make-A-Wish Montana, and the American Cancer Society. Sara also serves on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Montana Chapter.
Passionate about personal growth, Sara is a facilitator and coach for “Transformation Groups” at her church, where she supports small group leaders. She and her husband own a cattle ranch north of Billings, where their three children are active in sports, church, and the family rodeo business.
As part of her role as Chief Planned Giving Officer at Yellowstone Foundation, Sara specializes in charitable planned giving. She provides planned gift analysis and proposals for donors and their advisors and supports other nonprofits by offering technical analysis, drafting of gift instruments, training, seminars, and public outreach.
Kyle Lantz,
Vice president of development
Kyle Lantz became part of the Yellowstone Foundation in 2024 and currently serves as Vice President of Development. With over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, he has dedicated his career to strengthening programs that support youth and families.
Abigail Uhrich,
Development Director
Abigail Uhrich joined Yellowstone Foundation in September 2023 as Development Director, leading donor stewardship, business campaigns, grants, and signature events like the annual Chili Cookoff. With a career spanning federal government, corrections, small business development, and nonprofit leadership, she brings a versatile skill set and a strong commitment to service.
A University of Idaho graduate with a B.S. in Psychology, Abigail has worked with both grassroots nonprofits and large statewide organizations. She serves on the boards of AFP Montana and West Rotary of Billings, volunteers through her church, and participates in Rotary projects.
Originally from Northern Idaho, she enjoys the outdoors, travel, and family life, and is proud of her experience as a surrogate for a UK family. Her passion at YBGR is simple: the kids. She is dedicated to raising awareness, building relationships, and securing funding to help children heal, grow, and thrive.
Jim FitzGerald,
Development director
Jim Fitzgerald joined Yellowstone Foundation in 2022 as a Development Director. His efforts center on fostering donor connection and stewarding their passion for this timeless, healing work with youth. Inspiring his work is the belief that if we want to impact the character of a child, we must begin one hundred years before they are born.
Before joining the Foundation, he served in various capacities at Intermountain, a Montana youth agency very much like YBGR. Over the years, his roles involved direct care, operations, program development, and friend and fund development.
He has a B.S. in Psychology and graduate degrees in Public Administration and Social Work. He currently serves with the Montana CASA/GAL State Board as well as the ZERO TO FIVE Montana board.
Jim is married with four children and eleven grandchildren. When not tracking birthdays, he enjoys non-fiction, cooking, motorcycles, old Chevy’s, and transformative ideas.
Zoe Friez,
Investment Accountant
Zoë Friez joined Yellowstone Foundation in 2024. She is a Billings native who recently graduated from Montana State University Bozeman, completing her undergraduate degree in Accounting in three years.
During this time, she worked for a Bozeman-based software company that focused exclusively on foundations and nonprofits, developing a passion for meaningful work and support of community-driven organizations. She then completed her Master’s in Professional Accountancy and plans to obtain her CPA license shortly.
Having grown up riding horses and moving cows, Zoë is excited to support children having those character-building experiences in an environment where they can grow and succeed despite the great challenges they face.
She looks forward to helping modernize the operations at the Foundation while still preserving its rich history in our treasured community.
Janell LaBelle,
Development Director
Janell LaBelle originally from western Montana, joined Yellowstone Foundation in the fall of 2021. As Development Director, she stewards donors across 42 states and Puerto Rico, ensuring continued support for the organization’s mission and growth. She holds a B.S. degree in Business Management which has provided a solid foundation for her work in nonprofit leadership and development.
Janell spent 10+ years at the American Cancer Society, where she developed a deep understanding of donor relations, event management, and fundraising strategies. Her extensive background in the nonprofit world has shaped her ability to create lasting connections.
She was drawn to Yellowstone Foundation because of their mission to provide a better path for disadvantaged youth. With her background in nonprofit development and her passion for helping young people, she feels deeply connected to the Foundation’s work and is committed to its vision of fostering positive change in the lives of those who need it most.
