Montana Eck

About Montana Eck

I am a resourceful, multi-faceted, and mission-driven professional with a seasoned research background, a history of informing climate response policies, and a talent for authoring successful grant applications. I combine over 6 years of experience leading integrated research projects for multiple high-profile organizations; generating strategic insights and climactic models that accurately reflect local risk; developing extreme value theory models to anticipate precipitation extremes in key global areas; and employing a tactical combination of coding, quantitative/qualitative analyses, and statistics to catalyze action and inspire top-down change. I excel at measuring the potential impact of various climactic events, authoring successful grant and funding applications, influencing and informing climate response policies, shaping integrated risk management plans, and training top-tier teams of research analysts. I am a supportive team leader with a strong ability to take charge of projects, train and empower others, and motivate those around me to do their best work. I believe a leader’s primary duty is to cultivate, professionally develop, and grow confidence in his team. I have the ability, expertise, and coaching skills to drive my team to success. I have the communication skills to clearly articulate my vision, persuade people to take action, and get the ball rolling in the right direction. Whether I’m sending out emails, communicating with a partner, presenting to a crowd, or anything in between; I communicate quickly, accurately, and effectively. Key Skills Research Development Strategic Planning Team Leadership Project Management & Oversight Stakeholder Relations Mentor/Coach/Facilitator Data Analysis & Visualization Spatial Statistics Climate Change Policies Trend Analysis Risk Mitigation Programming Program Management Communications

Experience

1. Director, Physical Climate Risk and Resiliency

   Mastercard

   Jul 2023 — Present · Asheville, NC, US

   I serve as Director of Physical Climate Risk and Resilience within Corporate Real Estate Services, operating at the intersection of climate science, enterprise risk management, and the built environment. In this role, I lead the identification, assessment, and mitigation of physical climate risks across the global real estate and workplace portfolio, ensuring assets, people, and operations are resilient to acute and chronic climate hazards.I am responsible for embedding climate risk intelligence into capital planning, site strategy, and investment decisions, translating complex climate data into actionable guidance for senior leaders, finance, security, health & safety, and regional real estate teams. The role also includes oversight of climate‑related governance, risk assessments, and resilience initiatives aligned with enterprise risk, sustainability, and regulatory expectations

Education

• University of North Carolina Asheville

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), History

  2013 — 2015

• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Geography

• Appalachian State University

  Master of Arts (M.A.), Geography

  2016 — 2017

Skills

• Data Analysis
• Microsoft Office
• Event Planning
• American History
• History
• Appalachian Studies
• Customer Service
• Climatology
• Sports Writing
• North Carolina History
• Writing
• Climate Change
• Dendrochronology
• Russian History
• Railroad History
• Teaching
• Social Media
• Microsoft Word
• Research
• Community Outreach
• Editing
• Geographic Information Systems (Gis)
• Microsoft Excel
• Powerpoint
• Public Speaking