Arts
Our first storyteller is Kellie Grandone, whose creative father fashions some homemade skis as a Christmas gift when times were tough at the Grandone household. Kellie Grandone was born and raised in Polson, Montana, and now calls Great Falls home. She is a mother to 4 wonderful, creative children, and has been married to her husband Ryan for 21 years. Kellie teaches 7th-grade art in the Great Falls Public Schools and has been teaching art for the last 10 years. In her spare time, Kellie loves to read, draw, paint, travel, and spend time with her family enjoying Montana’s outdoors. Our next storyteller is Jen Certa, who, after years of hating the tattoo on her foot, endeavors to have it covered up with a more meaningful piece of artwork. Sensitive listeners, please be aware that Jen’s story acknowledges sexual trauma. Jen Certa is originally from New York but accidentally began a love affair with Montana in 2009. She is grateful to have called Missoula home now for the past decade. Jen earned her MSW from the University of Montana in 2016, and currently works as a school-based therapist at Hellgate Elementary School. When not at work, Jen can most often be found hiking with her dogs, listening to podcasts, and running late for something. Travis Doria shares his story of three different relationships that left him feeling betrayed, which, with the benefit of time, he was able to forgive and see the humanity in each of these folks who meant a great deal to him at one time. Sensitive listeners be aware that Travis’s story mentions drug use and suicide. Travis Doria has signed an autograph, cried in public, crowd surfed, defecated in his pants while running in Pattee Canyon, lost a hot dog eating contest, and held a human brain. He currently lives in Missoula with his beautiful wife and daughter. Willi Prince is the band director at Corvallis School District. She takes her students on a trip to Silverwood amusement park in Idaho, a place with over 70 rides, slides, shows and attractions, the perfect place for a student to get lost. Willi Prince is the band director at Corvallis School District in the heart of the Bitterroot Valley. She and her husband play saxophone duets in their spare time when not playing with their 5-year-old daughter, fishing or enjoying the outdoors. Reese Jacobson saves the day by donning a uniform when her little brother’s little league team will have to forfeit the big playoff game because they don’t have enough players. Reese Jacobson teaches 5th grade at Target Range in Missoula. She spends her non-working hours with her husband, their two boys, and their dog. She loves playing in the water, hiking in the mountains, and catching fish.