second nature consulting

Neil tries to enjoy much of the outdoor recreation opportunities that living in Montana offers. He graduated from North Dakota State University in Fargo in 2003, and moved to Billings, Montana in 2006. Numerous powder days and hiking miles later, Neil is busy raising three children and enjoys time with his family. Since starting his professional career, he has consistently given back to his roots and communities. He has volunteered on various boards and commissions, including the North Dakota State University Architecture and Landscape Architecture Advisory Board, the City of Billings Community Development Board and the Board of Adjustment. He is currently a member of the City of Billings’ Mayor’s Commission on Energy and Conservation. This commission was responsible for the designation of the City of Billings LEED Gold status.

Erik graduated from Washington State University in 1994 and took his first job in Missoula, Montana. Since his first step in his career in Missoula in 1994 he has moved and spent three years in Germany where he played semi professional soccer, then to Oklahoma, and back to the Seattle area to joint Base Lewis McChord. Erik's experiences and three years playing, traveling and living in Germany and around the United States with his family and the US Military opened his knowledge of sports facility designs and he strives to bring a very fan based experience to his work. Erik and his wife, born in Williston ND and graduated from Great Falls High, returned to Montana in 2019 after she retired form the US Airforce. Erik is currently the president-elect for the Idaho Montana Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Matt Mathes is a licensed Planner and Landscape Architect with more than 35 years of experience working in both the public and private sectors on a wide range of community, parks, recreation, and trail-related projects. Since joining Second Nature in 2025, Matt has brought extensive expertise in community engagement, land acquisition, trail and recreation planning, and expert witness services.

In addition to his project leadership roles, Matt leads SNC’s internal QA/QC review process, providing an independent level of oversight on all projects throughout the office. Every SNC project undergoes review by a senior professional not involved in the day-to-day drafting or client coordination, ensuring a fresh perspective focused on quality, constructability, accuracy, and consistency. Matt’s leadership of this process reinforces SNC’s commitment to delivering a level of quality control and attention to detail that is second to none in the industry.

Emma grew up in Billings much of her life and has always considered Montana home. She graduated from Utah State University in 2018 and moved back to Billings a year later in 2019 once her husband Jake – a Helena native - finished his schooling. When she’s not designing, you’ll find her experimenting with new bread recipes, playing games and exploring the beautiful places of Montana with her family. Emma has experience in landscape architecture ranging from luxury community developments around the world to large-scale planning projects for communities, down to working with individuals on their single family residences. Her focus is always on the user experience and using the landscape to create comfortable, beautiful spaces for people to enjoy. She now lives in Helena, MT with her growing family, where she and her husband just welcomed their second child in spring of 2024, and provides remote support from that part of the state for Second Nature Consulting.

Kassidy Hamilton serves as Executive Administrative Assistant and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business from Oregon State University. She brings several years of experience in project administration and office management, supporting both internal teams and external partners. Kassidy plays a key role in project coordination, invoicing, accounts receivable, and overall office operations, helping ensure smooth communication and efficient collaboration with clients and subconsultants alike.

After graduating from Montana State University, Steve launched his career in graphic arts and photography, working with advertising agencies across Montana. Over the years, he served as an Art Director for both ad agencies and web development firms, building extensive experience in branding, design, and digital media.

In 2010, Steve founded Yellowstone Designworks, a boutique creative studio specializing in marketing consulting, graphic design, and photography services for small to mid-sized businesses throughout Montana, Colorado, and California. Embracing a flexible, location-independent lifestyle, Steve enjoys the freedom of working from virtually anywhere.

His areas of expertise include print and web design, photography, videography, social media marketing, and digital media consulting.