Molly Kimmel, OTR/L, is the director of MonTECH and its umbrella organization, The Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities. Molly first connected with MonTECH in 2012 in the course of her work as an occupational therapist. “I realized the value of having access to innovative equipment and tools and the importance of sharing this resource with my community,” Molly explains. “From that day on, I have been a fierce supporter of the MonTECH program and its mission.”
Molly was an occupational therapist at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula for nine years. She serves as the Montana State Coordinator and Occupational Therapy Core Faculty for the Utah Regional Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (URLEND) program, is a certified stroke rehabilitation specialist, an instructor in infant massage, and a frequent volunteer.
If you would like to contact Molly directly, please write molly.kimmel@mso.umt.edu.
Shawna Hanson, B.A., is the Associate Director and Media Outreach Coordinator for MonTECH. With degrees in journalism and English, and seven years working in academic publishing, she is pleased to promote MonTECH through presentations, print, and social media. Shawna has been with MonTECH since 2017. She enjoys learning about new assistive tech and sharing the tremendous potential of AT to enrich lives with audiences of all ages.
Her unorthodox career path has permitted her to work with people facing a wide range of both physical and mental-health challenges. She is also the mother of an autistic man who is nonspeaking. His use of an iPad to communicate has been life changing and powerful personal evidence of the difference assistive tech can make. When not writing or talking about MonTECH, Shawna is engaged in the daily struggle not to be outwitted or outplayed by her sons.
Michelle Allen, B.A., ATP, is the Assistive Technology Professional for MonTECH. Michelle has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in
Family Relations/Child Development from Oklahoma State University. In 2019, she became a certified Assistive Technology Professional. While working with children with developmental delays, she developed a love for assistive technology.
Michelle has experience working with equipment from low-tech to high-tech and strongly believes people can achieve their full potential with the right tools. Michelle enjoys problem solving and says there is nothing better than helping people find an item that enhances independence and increases participation in their community. Michelle has lived in Missoula for 13 years and enjoys camping, hiking, and spending time with her family.
Liz Kuehn, MS, PTA, ATP, is the Eastern Clinic Coordinator at MonTECH’s Eastern Outreach Office in Billings. Before coming to MonTECH, she worked for several years as a physical therapist assistant for a public school district where she developed a love for adaptive equipment and assistive technology.
Liz is a certified assistive technology professional and holds a bachelor’s degree in disability studies and a master’s degree in assistive technology studies and human services. Outside of work, Liz enjoys exploring Montana and beyond with her husband and their dog.
Lauren Kelso Hanna, MSW, is the Program Coordinator for MonTECH and specializes in customer service and program management. She started on the life path of helping people early on while growing up with two siblings who needed assistive technology to live their best lives. Lauren has an extensive professional background in human services with a focus on youth, families, and communities at high risk of physical and psychological trauma. Her personal and professional experiences have sparked an intense interest in improving services to community members in a manner that is trauma-informed, accessible, and supportive of individuals who have disabilities and/or are neurodivergent. Outside of the office, you will find Lauren trying to keep up with her very active children who love to go in opposite directions.
Wisam Raheem, B.Sc., joined MonTECH’s team as our Accessibility and Media Design Specialist in January 2020. He has a bachelor’s degree in Applied Laser Physics and a Higher Diploma in Computer Science from the University of Technology, Baghdad.
Wisam troubleshoots tech issues, assists with more complex demos, and repairs tech as problems surface. He also employs his considerable talent in design to create professional and accessible publications for MonTECH and other Rural Institute programs. He values the challenge of learning how new assistive devices work and being employed in a field that allows him to help others. Outside of MonTECH, Wisam enjoys cooking, baking, and handcrafting. He is an accomplished chef and co-owner of Kamoon Arabian Cuisine in Missoula.
Julie Williams (she/her), Ph.D., joined MonTECH in March 2021 as a Media Information Specialist, doing outreach in Eastern Montana for the Montana Assistive Technology Loan Program. She earned a Ph.D. in English from the University of New Mexico, where she continues to work part-time in the Department of Film and Digital Arts.
An educator and activist at heart, she has taught at universities in Montana, New Mexico, and California, and worked with programs for disabled veterans, substance recovery programs, and mutual aid groups bringing health care to uninsured and homeless populations. She served on the Government Relations Advisory Committee for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society from 2018-2020, doing research and lobbying members of Congress to enact paid family leave, expand Medicare, and include people with disabilities in disaster planning efforts. She grew up in Eastern Montana where she developed a lifelong passion for flying, and hopes to finish her certification for a private pilot’s license soon.
Maddy Hanousek joined the MonTECH team in September 2025 as an Assistive Technology Assistant. She supports team members and consumers by providing hands-on help with a wide range of assistive technology solutions. She particularly enjoys the creative problem-solving the work invites, especially when working with MonTECH’s fleet of adaptive tricycles and bicycles.
With a background as an operations manager and bike guide, Maddy brings a thoughtful, detail-oriented approach along with a natural curiosity for tinkering and adapting equipment to ensure everything functions smoothly and reliably.
Maddy is currently pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Outside of MonTECH, she’s often traveling, riding her bike, or enjoying time with friends.
Kendra Lewis, OTR/L, was raised in the small town of Geraldine, MT. After rodeoing and obtaining her bachelor’s degree at Montana State University, Kendra was eager to begin a career of helping others help themselves. She received her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Rocky Mountain College and is now a professor for the program.
Kendra is also the Founder/Executive Director of the Cutting Fences Foundation. Through the foundation she hosts the Cutting Fences Podcast, where she interviews individuals in agriculture who have continued to farm and ranch despite disability or injury. Kendra is MonTECH’s Public Education Specialist and also serves as an Assistive Technology Ambassador. She is passionate about advocating for how occupational therapy and assistive technology/adaptive equipment can help to improve independence, mental wellness, and quality of life.
Haley Permar (she/her), M.S. CCC-SLP, serves as an Assistive Technology Special Projects Manager at MonTECH. She joined the team in September 2024 to co-build MonTECH’s early childhood
initiative, The Sandbox Project.
Haley has worked at the Rural Institute since 2022 in research and program evaluation roles. Before that, she spent three years as a school-based speech-language pathologist in rural communities, supporting students from preschool through high school. Haley completed extensive interdisciplinary training through the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) scholars’ program and Utah Regional Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disability (UR-LEND) program, including an Autism Enhanced Year focused on best practices for interdisciplinary assessment and treatment of autism spectrum disorder. She strongly believes interprofessional training and practice improve systems of care for children and their families. When not at work, you will find Haley reading, baking or spending as much time outdoors as possible with her husband and beloved pup Sage.
Darla Sweeney joined the MonTECH team in August 2025. She is an Assistive Technology Assistant who provides support to MonTECH team members and community members, applying her background in adaptive recreation to MonTECH’s mission.
Darla has her B.S. in Cell Biology & Neuroscience, and is currently completing post-bachelor requirements in Communication Sciences & Disorders, with hopes to soon start graduate school for Speech Language Pathology. When Darla isn’t working or studying, she enjoys writing music, cooking with her partner, skiing, trail running, and dancing in the kitchen to Taylor Swift!