PRESIDENT & FOUNDER OF PROJECT49

Josh is a native of Park County, his first home was the parsonage down in Pine Creek. When Josh was born, his dad drove the Livingston school bus and built log homes in Paradine Valley. He has been a builder, woodworking instructor, and an environmental education teacher in Switzerland and Zambia. After graduating from the University of North Carolina, Josh spent years building houses, developing green building practices and performing energy audits. More recently, Josh spent a decade running the technical team at the US Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program. In that role he developed national work standards for home retrofits, stood up a national network of training centers and helped manage more than 5 billion dollars of funding to weatherize over a million low-income homes. Josh returned to Park County in 2018 and started Project49 as a way to give back to the community and to create the kind of fun and creative opportunities we all deserve.

OPERATIONS MANAGER & SEWING PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Lillian grew up in Livingston and is a self-taught artist and seamstress. After moving around and exploring her skills the past few years, she returned home to be close to family and put down some roots of her own.

In 2023, she began her own small seamstress business, “Plain to the Ridge“ after working several years in the developmental disabilities field. Lillian is passionate about a low-waste, sustainable future for the textile industry and beyond. She believes it to be essential that we localize our trade industries and uplift our economy together.

Skill sharing and expanding resources is a key step in this process. Upon moving home, Lillian was quick to hit the ground running with Studio49. She and her collaborative best friend Allison Vicenzi trialed the Studio’s first ever course-series this past winter, and continues to expand her role in the non profit at large.

YOUTH PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Brett Ozment is an artist and educator dedicated to creating wild, thought-provoking art that pushes boundaries and encourages new ways of thinking. In addition to art, he is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fishing, hunting, and exploring the rugged wilderness of Montana. He is passionate about making a difference in the community through art and creative projects to teach important scientific concepts in a hands-on and engaging atmosphere. His recent works explore the intersection of art, history, and nature, using Copper, Cattle, and Lumber to create intricate and beautiful pieces that challenge viewers to reconsider their relationship with the world around them. Through his art and non-profit work, Brett is committed to making a positive impact in the world and inspiring others to do the same.

He is a dedicated and impactful mentor to so many youth in the community @ozmentart