Krista Kahanek

Krista loves a good puzzle—and she brings that same problem-solving energy to her role as LOR’s technology manager. She takes a listening-first approach to understand people’s needs before jumping to solutions, helping bridge the gap between operational goals and technology.

She’s experienced philanthropy from many angles—as a fundraiser, a funder, and in community engagement roles—and those perspectives shape how she thinks about relationships and systems. After earning her degree in business administration from Texas A&M, she took what she considers one of the best detours of her life: five years living and working in Yellowstone National Park. She spent summers managing lodging operations and winters behind the wheel of a vintage Bombardier Snowcoach, sharing the magic of the world’s first national park with visitors from all over the world.

From there, Krista built her reputation as a fundraiser, relationship builder, and efficiency expert, sharpening her skills at the Trust for Public Land, Yellowstone Forever (Yellowstone Park Foundation), USDA Rural Development, and Montana PBS. With more than 30 years of experience managing data and technology systems across a wide range of roles and platforms, she’s excited to keep building scalable solutions that grow alongside LOR.

Krista lives outside of Bozeman, and when she’s not solving puzzles, you’ll find her out in the wild—cross country skiing, hiking, paddling, or just enjoying the sun shining on her face.