Tiffany Susan, Stunt Driver, Commercial Driving Instructor, Wildfire Worker, Entrepreneur, Business Consultant, EMT
At 17 years old, Tiffany Susan survived a catastrophic car accident—an event that set her on a lifelong path of service. Since then, whether working as a stunt driver, trauma resilience specialist, wildfire worker, or entrepreneur, every role Tiffany takes on is rooted in helping others.
Her skills behind the wheel quickly made her an asset on multiple fronts. Beyond stunt driving and testing vehicles to their limits—which recently included teaching AI self-driving systems how to react to unpredictable hazards like deer—she was recruited to train commercial drivers. Before long, she channeled those same driving skills into fighting wildfires.
For Tiffany, diverse skills naturally turn into community solutions. After a colleague suggested a directory connecting firefighters with contractors, Tiffany built WildfireWorkers.com. Her consulting firm, Wreckless Consulting, LLC, was born from that same desire to help small businesses succeed.
Her most recent move into emergency medicine came after a wildfire training session went awry. When a classmate collapsed and stopped breathing, Tiffany stepped in when no one else was available to help, performing 16 minutes of CPR until paramedics arrived. Saving his life inspired her to formally train as an EMT.
Having endured 23 surgeries herself since her accident—most recently to improve her breathing—Susan also serves as a trauma and resilience specialist for individuals with facial disfigurement. Through every twist in her career, her driving force remains simple: “I’m grateful to be alive.”
Nick Gonzales, Combat Veteran + Yoga Instructor
Nick Gonzales is a combat veteran, yoga instructor, and founder of South Side Studio Yoga. Joining the armed forces in May 2001, Nick had no way of knowing how his life would change just four months later when 9/11 took place.
After tragedy and loss in both his personal life and military service, Nick found himself on the road to rock bottom. It wasn’t until the birth of his daughter and being introduced to yoga by his wife, Lauren, that he found sobriety and a new calling. Today, Nick teaches yoga in spaces all over Missoula, online, and at Patrol Base Abbate—a place for veterans that promotes mental health, fosters resilience, and helps them find a renewed sense of purpose after serving.
“What I’m most grateful for is yoga. It saved my life—first for the physical, but then for the mental benefits. When I wake up every morning, that’s the first thing I am grateful for.”
To meet the demand for specialized yoga for veterans, Nick created a YouTube channel and built a yurt in his South Hills backyard to provide free access to attendees. However, Missoula weather proved the need for a more permanent solution, so Nick is currently spending all his free time building a permanent studio on his property. “The community has been helping me make this happen. People in construction have been good to me; Boyce Lumber Company provided wood, and Lowe’s provided other building materials. I won’t sleep all week, and then when the veterans come on Saturday or Monday, it reminds me why I’m doing all this. We need a permanent home.”
Kathryn Paul, Lead Police Support Specialist, Desk Unit at Missoula Police Department
Last spring, Kathryn Paul awoke to a barrage of missed calls and ‘call me’ texts that included family members and her boss. Taking a deep breath for the bad news she anticipated would follow, she returned her supervisor’s call first. The news? She had been awarded the 2026 Staff Employee of the Year award, which had been announced department-wide while she was sleeping. “I am grateful to be recognized by my peers even though, in my mind, I’m just doing my job.”
“We help people on the hardest day of their lives,” Kathryn states, a reminder she often gives her co-workers during difficult situations. “I knew what I wanted to do at 10 years old. I loved CSI and the science in it. It led me to Missoula to pursue a degree in forensic science.” Through the twists and turns of navigating the world during a pandemic after graduation, Kathryn found her place at the Missoula Police Department where she now serves as the lead police support specialist. To hear her speak of her average workday, Kathryn sounds more like a chaos coordinator than the demure desk unit title that actually follows her name. After navigating scheduling, onboarding, trainings, and mentorship responsibilities, Kathryn then works her shifts (often on weekends and/or nights) answering police department calls and making sure everyone is receiving the proper support. Whether it is a Missoulian in crisis, or a police officer in the field in need of reinforcement, Kathryn is the calm in the storm providing a listening, empathetic ear and the necessary resources.
Cole Riley, Missoula County Firefighter + Foster Parent
“Fostering is the hardest, most beautiful thing I’ve ever done,” says Cole Riley—a Missoula County firefighter and foster parent. Over six years, he and his wife have fostered 14 kids. Their home currently consists of their two daughters, a foster child who has been in their care for almost four years, a dog, and several chickens.
Managing such a full life requires a strong support system, and Cole shares his gratitude for a fire station crew that has his back both on and off duty.
“I am most grateful for family—including my firefighting family that has lent their support during the most difficult times. Several years ago, my wife had a health crisis that required months of hospitalization. Not only did both our families provide care for our two daughters, but my coworkers told me not to worry about work and just focus on her.”
He was able to stay with her full time after she was med-flighted to Seattle during a time when COVID protocols only allowed one person per patient. In addition to meals and encouragement, his firefighting family provided them with support that meant he would not lose his position or income. This strong support system is reflected in Cole’s gratitude for their home in the Missoula Valley. “We love living here. We love the community we’ve built here, between church, work and homeschool.”
“What I’m most grateful for is yoga. It saved my life—first for the physical, but then for the mental benefits. When I wake up every morning, that’s the first thing I am grateful for.” - Nick Gonzales