Jackie Lodine
Director of Programs
Growing up in Marianna, a small coal mining town in Southwest Pennsylvania, Jackie was surrounded by a tight-knit community where everyone knew each other. Her parents instilled in her the values of hard work, loyalty, and putting family first. She also grew up with a strong appreciation for military members, finding inspiration in the stories of her father’s Army buddies, as well as the true blue-collar workers in her hometown.
After high school graduation, she attended Carlow University until she decided on a whim to move to Montana with a friend who had lived there. She found herself in Great Falls until word of a restaurant opening in Bozeman moved her to SW Montana, thus opening the door for her longtime career in the service industry. During the next 15 years, Jackie worked her way up at Johnny Carrino's, learning the value of hard work, leadership skills, and how to talk to just about anyone while making them feel welcome and appreciated, the true art of hospitality.
Then came Blue Collar Restaurant Group, Sidewinders, and the Rice family. Joe Rice and his family introduced Jackie to the “Leaders Eat Last” leadership mentality, and the role she could play in the service industry was forever changed. Jackie went on to assist in carrying Sidewinders from its infancy to tremendous success, forever being considered one of her greatest accomplishments. If you’re a local to Bozeman or have had the experience of Sidewinders, you have been welcomed warmly and served exceptionally well. This military-themed, community-focused restaurant made a tremendous impact on Jackie, being drawn to the connection between the military and the service industry that the Rice family so greatly created.
Over her years as Manager at Sidewinders, Jackie got to know some very regular guests quite well: the staff of Big Sky Bravery, as well as countless groups of the active-duty SOF community BSB gives back to. Over these years, she observed the respect and continuity amongst these groups, and her passion for doing whatever she could for these individuals continued to strengthen.
When the position of Director of Programs opened up, she saw it as an opportunity to switch careers after 30 years in the service industry. With a passion for providing memorable experiences for all, her heart started to dream of extending this to our nation’s SOF families by facilitating connection and nurturing relationships of those who sacrifice their family time for our freedom.
With the blessing and priority of family time deeply instilled at the earliest age, Jackie finds fulfillment in time spent with her husband and two daughters. She also loves biking, hiking, golfing, learning about American history, and enjoying a glass of wine while remembering the lessons she’s learned along the way, beginning in a small mining town in Pennsylvania.