Our Story, Our People

RMGA Mission & History

We support and conserve Rocky Mountain goats throughout their North American habitats through Education, Citizen Science, and Conservation/Research Grants.

Officially born in 2014, the Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance (RMGA) was founded on putting boots on the mountain to help wildlife managers and researchers count goats in the field. Early goat counts led to adjustments in hunting tag allocations, and this impact gave RMGA firm footing to become the primary, species-specific conservation organization for mountain goats in both the USA and Canada.

Bylaws

mission-history

Goat Alliance Team

Goat Alliance Goals

Fund and support science and research

Public engagement and education

Support both sustainable hunting and non-hunting activities

young rocky mountain goat on cliff epp photography

Promote the conservation of critical mountain goat habitat

RMGA Board of Directors

RMGA is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors, who lead and support the organization. Board Members may serve multiple terms and are elected by the organization's membership. Both the USA and Canada are represented on the Board.

Marvin is a British Columbia bred and raised lover of all things mountains and began the goat fetish as a child when he cracked open “Big Game Animals of North America” by Jack O’Connor. Five decades later Marvin still dreams, thinks and pursues goats more than all other animals combined with a focus on sharing gnarly goat habitat and close encounter goat experiences with those who do not have these tenacious and majestic creatures in their backyards. As an avid hunter Marvin believes that we are entrusted to ensure the well being of healthy mountain goat populations in a world that is rapidly changing. While increased access into the backcountry and development may have its benefits, the long-term effects can displace goats from their prime habitat to a lesser quality habitat and needs to be highly considered. Through ongoing education and real life experiences in mountain goat sex identification, hunters can greatly assist in maintaining healthy populations for the next generation.

While Marvin spent most of his life in Northern BC, he currently resides in the southern part of the province with his wife and three children. By day (including some evenings) he works as a civil engineer and leads a team of 70 in the areas of land development, engineering and sustainability. His desire is to be a support and mentor to others both in the office and in the mountains.

Marvin is excited to be part of the RMGA Team that has a diverse skill set with a shared vision towards mountain goats. He has been a long-time member with the Wild Sheep Society of BC as well as the Wildlife Records Club of BC.

Marvin Kwiatkowski

Chair - British Columbia

With both parents holding careers as teachers, Greg spent summers carrying camera equipment for his dad and gaining an appreciation for wild things and wild places. That appreciation has continued to grow through his own adventures and travels. Greg has always loved the high elevations and the unique wildlife that lives there. Greg volunteered on his first survey with RMGA in 2017 and discovered that the Alliance had a unique way to involving the public. This involvement has led to him loving being an RMGA member and part of the Board. Greg lives in Eastern South Dakota with his family who loves the outdoors just as much has he does. In their spare time Greg and his family are living out of their camper overlooking the bluffs of the Missouri River or trying to keep up with Greg as he checks in on the eastern most mountain goat herd located in the Black Hills.

Greg Van Den Berg

Treasuer - South Dakota

Carrie is a lifelong Alaskan and avid hunter and outdoors person. She has a
passion and motivation to explore the alpine and everything in it, her favorite
being the Rocky Mountain Goat. Carrie is fortunate to live in a region of Alaska
where goats are thriving and to watch them in their natural environment is
only a thirty-minute drive from home. Carrie has written articles for the California Wild Sheep Foundation and Bear Hunting Magazine, and have written letters to both hunting organizations and USA government agencies in search of clarification,
guidance and support for all hunters.

Carrie Kegler

Director - Alaska

Mike has an Environmental Science degree with a major in land reclamation that has him employed as an environmental consultant in the oil and gas industry.

Mountain Goats have always held a special place in his heart and epitomize toughness and mountain hunting. Mike is from Alberta and with the lack of tags in the province, he has seen that programs like goat ID help educate hunters in making judgment decisions and helping to educate about why we do not want to kill a nanny. Mike has a passionate thirst for conservation, research and habitat work for wildlife which has him starting to work towards gaining my conservation biology degree.

Mike Keeley

Vice-chair - Alberta

Charlie grew up in a small town in western North Dakota. From a small age he tagged along as much as possible with his dad to hunt pheasants, grouse and deer. This is where his love for hunting and the outdoors began. When he wasn’t working for his dad or playing sports, he was out chasing birds with his dog and looking for deer.

When he turned 17, he joined the North Dakota National Guard and retired after 20 years of service and several deployments. He acquired an Electrical Engineering Degree from North Dakota State University and moved to Minot, ND to work for Prairie Engineering, P.C. designing electrical and low voltage systems for buildings. He just passed the 24 year mark with the company this past May. He has two daughters that he adores and keeps him busy. His oldest daughter just passed her hunters safety this past spring and he is excited to take her hunting this fall.

After retiring from the military in 2015, thus freeing up time, he began to venture out and explore other hunting adventures and places. His first out of state hunt was in 2017 for Elk. Since then, he has been to several states and provinces to hunt Mountain Goat, Mountain Lion, Bison, Caribou, Dall Sheep, Black Bear, Polar Bear, Wolf, Muskox, Elk, Deer & Antelope. He even had a chance to travel to South Africa for a safari where he took several beautiful animals.

He has been a life member of the RMGA and the WSF since 2018. He is also a life member of SCI, DSC, RMEF and several WSF chapters and Affiliates. Since 2012 he has been actively involved in a local sportsmen club in his area, where he has been past president and vice president. Currently he on his 3rd term as Secretary for that organization. Charlie is excited by the mission of the RMGA and the shared passion of its members and leadership.

Charlie Monson

Director - North Dakota

Michael Surbey, based in Abbotsford, British Columbia, operates a small business consulting firm. Michael holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in finance, & general business and a Diploma of Technology in financial management, specializing in corporate finance. His skills include operations management, sales, financial management, customer service, business strategy, and non-profit management. He brings experience from his previous work in conservation, consumer packaged goods, financial management, and professional sports. Michael has always had a passion for everything outdoors, but hunting gives him the most gratification. This passion has driven him to contribute to wildlife conservation in North America. He joined the RMGA board in 2023.

Mike Surbey

Director - British Columbia

Adam currently lives in Skagway, Alaska where he is am raising his two sons with his wife, Kaylie. Adam works
for the local municipality as a water and waste water operator. He's a self-proclaimed blue-collar dad with a love for all things related to mountain hunting; mountain goats just so happen to be at the forefront of that list for him!He is the RMGA regional representative for SE Alaska. Adam has been heavily involved with conservation
minded local mountain goat regulation changes and he is an active member on the local state fish and game advisory board. He also volunteers as a Hunter Education and Bowhunter
Education Instructor for the State of Alaska. Adam enjoys passing on his
passion for conservation and hunting to the next generation.

Adam Smith

Secretary - Alaska

Paul is a lifelong Alaskan and an avid bowhunter, backcountry skier and general mountain lover for his entire life. In the winter he guides backcountry skiing. He has worked on multiple personal conservation projects and education efforts through the Alaska Chapter of Backcountry Hunter's and Anglers and the National Wildlife Federation and continue to be in contact regularly with local Alaska Department of Fish and Game Biologists. Paul has actively worked hard to educate himself on all issues affecting local sheep and goat populations.

His other job is a physician (MD) up at the hospital in Kotzebue, Alaska in the northwest arctic. Paul has been involved in multiple research projects and understands how to research and read scientific literature.

Paul has also been involved with the RMGA as a Regional Representative and tried to be as active as possible.

Paul Forward

Director - Alaska

RMGA Staff support the mission of the organization by carrying out the Board's priorities through various forms of membership support, fundraising, administration, education, conservation partnerships, and grant making.

Community Manager

Sara Wagner

Operations Director

Kendrick Chittock

Contact Us

General Inquiries: info@goatalliance.org

PO Box 383

Manhattan, MT, 59741

rmga-directors

rocky-mountain-goat-close-up-in-snow-Epp_20191228_03663_edited_edited.jpg

science-conservation

Science & Conservation Committee

The Science and Conservation Committee is comprised of a variety of subject matter experts that specialize in mountain goat management and research. They all volunteer their time to contribute to the mission of the RMGA.

Steve Gordon

British Columbia

Co-chair

Julie Cunningham

Montana

Committee member

Daria Martchenko

Quebec

Committee member

Kevin White

Alaska

Co-chair

Hollie Miyasaki

Idaho

Committee member

Greg Van Den Berg

South Dakota

Board Representative

Rich Harris

Washington/Montana

Committee Member

Bill Jex

British Columbia

Committee member

Kevin Hurley

Idaho

Committee member

regional-reps

Regional Representatives

Regional Representatives - RMGA is reimagining its Regional Rep Program. For 2026, we are seeking dedicated volunteers to be the local eyes and ears for mountain goats and the communities who interact with them.

If you are interested in learning more about this program, please email us at info@goatalliance.org.

Filter by Country

All

Canada

Adam Smith

Alaska

Matt Jones

British Columbia - Skeena/North

Chuck Middleton

Idaho

Mandy Ensrud

South Dakota

Paul Forward

Alaska

Jeff Agostinho

British Columbia - South Coast

Wendy Dodd

Montana

Braydon Nichols

Washington

Mike Keeley

Alberta

Cole Birdsey

Colorado - South

Hunter Johnstone

NW Montana/N Idaho

Jaden Bales

Wyoming

Grant Funds

Projects Funded

$21K

Members

967

Our Story, Our People

RMGA Mission & History

We support and conserve Rocky Mountain goats throughout their North American habitats through Education, Citizen Science, and Conservation/Research Grants.

Goat Alliance Team

Goat Alliance Goals

RMGA Board of Directors

Marvin Kwiatkowski

Greg Van Den Berg

Carrie Kegler

Mike Keeley

Charlie Monson

Mike Surbey

Adam Smith

Paul Forward

Community Manager

Operations Director

Contact Us

Science & Conservation Committee

Steve Gordon

Julie Cunningham

Daria Martchenko

Kevin White

Hollie Miyasaki

Greg Van Den Berg

Rich Harris

Bill Jex

Kevin Hurley

Regional Representatives

Adam Smith

Matt Jones

Chuck Middleton

Mandy Ensrud

Paul Forward

Jeff Agostinho

Wendy Dodd

Braydon Nichols

Mike Keeley

Cole Birdsey

Hunter Johnstone

Jaden Bales

$21K

info@goatalliance.org

General inquiries: