Board Members

Don Christman is an Assistant Superintendent at Lockwood School District who works to ensure the effective implementation of educational programming and policy related to individuals with disabilities, and provides leadership in addressing issues of education for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities through local, state and national activities including work to support the Special Education Legislative Summit as a state representative, volunteering as a member of the Montana Delegate Assembly and as a member of the Council of Administrators of Special Education Policy and Legislative Committee.

In addition to directing special education programming, Christman procures grants and oversees federal programming and focuses on reducing food scarcity and improving access to medical care for students and families in the community he serves.

Prior to joining the staff of Lockwood School District, Christman served as principal of elementary schools on the Northern Cheyenne and Tohono O’odham Reservations in Montana and Arizona and as a special education teacher in school districts across the Northwest. Christman also served as an adjunct professor at City University of Seattle in the special education administration program.

Christman graduated from City University of Seattle with a master’s in Special Education Administration and in Educational Leadership. He received a Bachelor’s Degree from Eastern Montana College. He holds certification as both supervisor and director of special education, principal EK – 12, and is certified as an EK – 12 special education and a K – 8 regular education teacher.

Angela Groves joined the Friends of the Children network in 2013 as the inaugural Executive Director of the Klamath Basin, Oregon chapter. She transitioned to her role on the National Team in 2017. Angela leads a diverse portfolio of expansion and resource development functions for National, playing a key role in our goal to ensure that every child who needs a Friend has one as we grow to 45 locations by 2025.

She leads expansion to various communities, specializing in regions that desire to bring our model to rural populations beyond urban centers. Her expansion role spans from raising capital seed funding and securing cross sector support, through full launch and implementation activities in the early years. Angela represents our work in rural communities and regions nationally, leading conversations and initiatives around rural service navigation and best practices.

She oversees the National grants team, which is tasked with securing funding for National operations, expansion seed capital funding, and providing contracted grant writing services to over 20 Friends of the Children locations across the US. Angela developed our unique contracted grant services support model, which incorporates a combination of strategic consult and high-quality content creation with a focus on collaborative relationships.

Angela’s successful tenure as an Executive Director in the network provides experience and expertise that informs her approach to working with and supporting our growing network of chapters and leaders. This includes onboarding new leaders, as well as providing ongoing consult and support of development efforts both at National and across the network.

Angela graduated from Portland State University and is a Leadership Klamath and Ford Institute Leadership alumnus. Angela and her husband and two boys reside primarily in La Pine, Oregon and also call Miles City, Montana home.

Stephanie is a member of the Sicangu Oyate from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in Rosebud South Dakota and of the Aaniiih Anin from the Fort Belknap Indian Community in Montana.  

Stephanie is married with one daughter and one son. She is also Unci to two beautiful granddaughters.  She enjoys spending time with her family and is an avid Dallas Cowboys fan.  

Stephanie brings 20 years of experience working with Tribes in the great state of Montana.  

Her past ten years have been spent working with the Montana Office of Public Instruction as the American Indian School Wellness Coordinator.  Her career and life's work have been focused on collaborating with Montana Tribes to address health disparities through the utilization of our cultural strengths. 

Stephanie's innate cultural value systems allows her to focus on building positive progressive relationships for the common good of all people.

Karla Méndez represents a wide variety of clients in matters involving commercial and business transactions, estate planning, and contract disputes for Moulton Bellingham, PC. She is a member of the State Bar of Montana.

Karla grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico, where a majority of her family still lives. From a young age, Karla participated in National Sports competitions representing her home state as a Modern Pentathlon athlete. Karla attended law school for the first time in Mexico, where she graduated with honors. During law school, Karla interned for an international law firm working in the tax department. After graduation, Karla joined the same firm as an associate and continued to work in the tax department until she moved to Michigan in 2018.

Karla went on to attend Michigan State University College of Law. During law school, Karla interned for the MSU College of Law Alvin L. Storrs Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic. She also participated in the NHBA 2021 Moot Court Competition on behalf of MSU's top ranked moot court program. Karla obtained her second law degree from Michigan State University College of Law. She graduated top of her class, earning Dean's list and Cum Laude Honors.

Karla moved to Billings in September of 2021 after her husband joined SCL as a new family medicine physician. Karla started employment with Moulton Bellingham after passing the Montana Bar Exam. In her free time, Karla enjoys reading, running, biking, and discovering new trails with her husband and two dogs.

Bill Underriner is the CEO/President of Underriner Motors in Billings, Montana. He has been in the automobile business since 1984 and took over the family business in 2001. He currently owns Honda, Hyundai, Buick, and Volvo franchises in Billings, as well as Walla Walla Valley Honda. Previously, Bill served three terms as Treasurer of National Automotive Dealers Association and on the association’s Executive, Industry Relations, Dealership Operations and Membership committees. He also served as chairman of the association’s Finance and Convention committees. Bill held a variety of offices with the Montana Automobile Dealers Association, including chairman of the board. He was a member of the Dealers Election Action Committee’s Presidents Club for five years.

Active in his community, Bill served as past president of the United Way of Yellowstone County and served on the boards of directors for the following organizations: Yellowstone Art Museum; ZooMontana; National Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse; American Cancer Society Relay for Life; and Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Helena branch. Bill is also a former chair of the Billings Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Bill and his wife, Mary, are active supporters of the Billings Symphony, Festival of Trees, Boy Scouts of Montana, Billings Chamber of Commerce, and the Billings YMCA. They have two grown sons, Blake and Kyle.

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Tra is the Director of Nursing and Medical Clinic Operations at the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch (YBGR). He completed his undergraduate nursing degree at Washington Adventist University and his master’s in nursing from Norwich University. He also has a master’s degree from Montana State University Billings in Education and is a member of the second cohort of the Murdock Trust Green room Board Leadership and Development program.

Tra has had a variety of clinical and administrative positions which have benefitted YBGR in the growth and expansion of medical services across the organization. Tra is dedicated to promoting the physical, mental, behavioral, emotional and spiritual development of youth for positive outcomes through his work at YBGR, the Billings Medication Center as a mediator in family relations, as a coach in high school sports, and youth mentor.