Big Sky Architectural Committee Representatives

Born and raised in Litchfield Connecticut, John Seelye started his construction career on summer breaks while attending The University Of Connecticut. Because of his love for the mountains, John moved to the winter playgrounds of Summit County and then the Vail valley of Colorado to live the ski bum life while fine tuning his carpentry skills on high end mountain homes. Then with dreams of the Big Sky Tram and of starting his own construction business John moved to Big Sky in 1996 and started Big Sky Woodwork & Design in 1997 which transitioned into Big Sky Build, one of the premier construction companies in Southwest Montana. John and the Big Sky Build team are based right here in Big Sky and John and his family live, work, and play in our beautiful ski town. John has various community involvements including past terms on the Big Sky Fire Board. With investments in residential, commercial and land here in Big Sky, John has a firm grasp on the history, current status and future of Big Sky.

Ernie Chappell brings decades of leadership experience and a deep commitment to community service to his role in Big Sky governance. Originally from Alberta, Canada, Ernie built a distinguished career as an accountant and software developer before founding an agricultural technology company in 1988, which he successfully operated for 35 years until his recent retirement. His professional background also includes financial positions in the oil industry, providing him with diverse business expertise. Since 1997, Ernie has demonstrated unwavering dedication to community service through leadership roles on multiple school boards, homeowners associations, and as a board of trustees member at Faulkner University for 21 years. His extensive volunteer portfolio includes directorships at Oak Hill School and Brentwood Academy, as well as service on the National Agricultural Retailers Association board and Tennessee ACH Association. Throughout these roles, he has contributed to finance, nominating, executive, and development committees. Currently serving on the Big Sky Owners Association Board of Directors and Architectural Committee, Ernie continues providing strategic guidance to large-scale agribusiness firms, private equity companies, and business startups. He and his wife Amanda, along with their three sons, have made their home in Upper Cascade, where they’ve embraced mountain living and integrated into the local community. Ernie’s motivation centers on maintaining Big Sky’s exceptional quality of life and protecting property values for all residents.

Gina Dee brings four decades of construction design and build experience to Big Sky, where she has lived and worked for eight years. As Director of Design & Special Projects for Provincial Architectural Millwork, she is an architectural technologist, designer, and interior fit-out builder with extensive knowledge of design, contract documents, building materials, and interior construction. Gina served on the Board of Directors for AWMAC Woodworking Institute Toronto Canada from 2015- 2017, where she was responsible for drawing vetting, specification changes and implementations, and factory inspections. Having worked with American clients for 27 years, she has completed projects in 48 states. She came to Big Sky to lead the Yellowstone Club Village Core Project, completing 47 condos and comprehensive amenity spaces including restaurants, bars, spa, and retail facilities. After falling in love with the community, she established a local office presence and built a thriving business that now contracts with over 15 clients, employs 50 carpenters, and is managing 10 active projects throughout Big Sky. Gina works in the Big Sky Town Center and is deeply invested in the visual appeal of all neighborhoods. She volunteers with the Andesite Creek Benevolent Society and is committed to responsible growth and design. Known for her strong communication skills, organization, and energy, she currently resides on Curley Bear with her husband Derek.

Dave and his wife, Coleen, moved to Big Sky full-time in August 2023. They began vacationing in Big Sky in 2007, purchased a lot in Aspen Groves in 2016, a condo in Cottonwood Crossing (Town Center) in 2019, and built their current home in Aspen Groves between 2021 and 2023. Prior to moving to Big Sky, while residing in New Jersey, Dave earned a BS in Engineering at NJIT and an MBA at Monmouth University, and worked in numerous engineering, management and consulting roles until retiring from full-time work in July 2023. Dave worked in construction during his college years and has volunteered on Habitat for Humanity construction projects over the years. Dave served as a Board member of “Building & Grounds” committees in various organizations over the past 15 years. As a Buildings and Grounds board member, Dave reviewed and approved architectural plans and proposals for renovations and alterations to each organization’s respective facilities. Since moving to Big Sky, Dave has worked as a mountain host at the ski resort and started a handyman business to serve local homeowners. In addition to skiing and handyman work, he enjoys hiking, mountain biking and fishing. He has also embraced the culture and beauty of his new home state, reading historical accounts of Big Sky and life in the Gallatin Valley and Bozeman areas. Dave believes his experience from living and building in Big Sky, serving on various building-related boards, and performing renovations on both historic and contemporary homes gives him the ability to objectively review proposed designs for the BSOA community.

Vanessa has been coming to Big Sky since 2012, has been a BSOA homeowner since 2016, and moved to Big Sky full time with her family in 2019. She began her career in real estate finance with JP Morgan in New York City and advanced to a private real estate consultancy in London UK. She returned to the US to pursue a PhD in City Planning at UPenn, where she focused on Public Private Development. Vanessa graduated from Wellesley College, where she majored in Architecture and Economics, earned a Masters in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and also holds an MBA from Columbia University. She now spends as much time as she can with her three growing children, husband, dog and two cats, while trying to contribute as much as possible to the community that has been so welcoming to her family. She enjoys alpine and Nordic skiing, hiking, yoga, qigong, and reading.

Les Hopper and his family have been enjoying life in Big Sky for 25 years, and currently live on Little Coyote Road in the Meadow. Les is a registered engineer with an MBA and has over 40 years of hands-on experience in the management, planning, permitting, and design of both public and private projects from inception through construction. On the public side he has experience delivering state highway projects and interchanges, multi-use facilities, bridges, and both heavy and light rail improvements. On the private side Les has been a principal owner of several planning and engineering firms and is experienced in land development and entitlement processes from conceptual plans through final design of subdivision and commercial site work, including a five-star resort. Overall, he specializes in the coordination of owners, multiple agencies, and stakeholders on both small- and large-scale projects, with an emphasis on gaining approvals through each process milestone. He currently sits on a number of regional and state boards and committees. Les and his wife Susie have one son (Noa- 25 years old). They enjoy horseback riding, mountain biking, and paddling sports such as Hawaiian outrigger and Dragon Boat racing. Les has also started several 501-C-3 nonprofit organizations that foster community and raise money for charities.