The Discover Deer Lodge Economic Development Group is an official, registered non-profit organization which seeks to advance Deer Lodge and the surrounding communities of Powell County. We focus on highlighting current businesses, encouraging new businesses, promoting policies which encourage new businesses, and engaging residents and non-residents alike. We exemplify a strong sense of community pride, and strive to instill that in others.
Meet The Board
Sasha Allen - President
Haley Owens - Secretary
Rian King-Chavez - Treasurer
Paige Fickler-Cleveland
Jolene Heggelund
Sasha Allen - President
Sasha lived her first 30 years on the eastern side of the country, and then relocated to Deer Lodge in the fall of 2018. She started working part time at Clark Fork Veterinary Clinic which helped introduce her to the community. Now the office manager, Sasha is passionate about community engagement and growth, and very much enjoys event planning. When a vacancy on the Discover Deer Lodge board came up in 2023, she chose to join. Her favorite Discover Deer Lodge event to plan is the Black Tie Dinner, and she is very excited to see the Visitor Center come together and be able to network with people new to town, personally and professionally. Sasha also enjoys time spent outside with her dogs, horses, and friends hiking, riding, cross country skiing, and camping in her Subaru, as well as reading, listening to music, and practicing yoga.
Haley Owens - Secretary
Haley was born and raised in Deer Lodge and graduated from Powell County High School in 2008. She studied Psychology at Whitworth University and then attended Pacific University College of Optometry. Haley loved growing up in Deer Lodge and from the time she was young always knew she wanted to come back after she finished her education. That dream became a reality in 2020 when she moved home and opened her eye clinic, Hometown Eye Care. Haley is thrilled to be back serving the local community that was so supportive of her growing up. She joined the Discover Deer Lodge board in 2021 and loves sharing her community pride through the organization's many events and feeling the energy and enthusiasm of her fellow board members in their quest to make Deer Lodge a better place to live and visit. Haley's favorite Discover Deer Lodge event is the PCHS All-Class Reunion - an every-four-year event that brings generations of Wardens together to their old stomping grounds for a weekend of reminiscent fun and camaraderie. Aside from practicing optometry and working with Discover Deer Lodge, Haley is also an assistant volleyball coach at PCHS, a member of the local PEO chapter, and a regional legislative chair for the Montana Optometric Association. She spends her spare time traveling, playing in numerous City Rec sports leagues, cooking, reading, and enjoying the beauty of Western Montana.
Rian King-Chavez - Treasurer
Rian was born and raised in Deer Lodge. After high school, she moved to Portland, Oregon to attend the Western Culinary Institute. Rian has a Culinary Arts degree and a bachelor’s degree in Administrative Business. She spent 20 years in the greater Portland area, where she met and married her husband Chiminh, and had two children. In March of 2020, Rian moved back to Deer Lodge with her family. Rian operates a small inn (The Vonnie Louise) in the family’s 1892 Victorian home. She also works in her mom’s retail greenhouse (King’s Eastside Greenhouse), and operates a smaller in-town extension greenhouse (The Annex). Rian joined the Discover Deer Lodge board in June of 2022, and currently serves as treasurer. She enjoys any event that brings the community out in participation and show-of-pride. From Discover Deer Lodge events like Cookin’ on the Clark Fork and Trick-or-Treat Main Street, to other community events like Winter Stroll, Territorial Days, or the Tri-County Fair, the “togetherness” of these events is why she enjoys being a part of the Discover Deer Lodge organization. When not managing and operating her small businesses or volunteering in the community, Rian likes walking with her dogs, taking day trips in the hills with her family, swimming in the local bodies of water, working on home projects with her husband, and living a quiet small-town life.
Paige Fickler-Cleveland
Paige was born and raised in Drummond, Montana. After graduating from Drummond High School, Paige went on to pursue a degree in elementary education at Carroll College in Helena, Montana. Upon graduating college, Paige accepted a job teaching fifth-grade in Plains, Montana. She taught in Plains for three years before returning to her hometown of Drummond. Since returning, Paige joined her family business, Fickler Oil Company, as their general manager. Fickler Oil Company is primarily located in Deer Lodge, and has been for over 50 years. Paige is and has always been very prideful of her hometown, family business, and the communities they serve. Paige's family has and continues to make an impact on the Drummond community, but being that the family business is in Deer Lodge, Paige has had the opportunity to immerse her herself in the Deer Lodge community. Paige is not only a member of Discover Deer Lodge, but is also one of the high school volleyball coaches at Powell County High School. Deer Lodge and the greater area have shown so much support to Paige and her family over the years, and Paige is happy to share her love of small-town commodore to help maintain and grow community pride in Deer Lodge.
Jolene Heggelund
Jolene is the newest member of our board - Bio coming soon!