Our Team

Craig Best – Co-Owner

Craig Best grew up on a small corn and soybean farm near Lafayette, Indiana. He enlisted in the US Air Force out of high school and spent his military career in Northern California. It is here where he met his wife and business partner, Noreen, a native Montanan, who showed him a passion for travel and subsequently her passion for Montana. Craig instantly felt connected to the Missoula Community and they married and returned to live and work in Missoula in 1995. At this time, Nature’s Best was born. At a young age, on the farm and through his military experience, Craig learned what hard work and dedication was all about. Owning his own business and successfully growing Nature’s Best from one truck and trailer while working solo, to 4 trucks and trailers and 14 employees, has not been easy but it has been an interesting journey. Today, Craig continues to be at the helm and is the face of Nature’s Best. He is widely respected by his colleagues and both residential and commercial customers, all the while finding the space and time to be a great dad to his two daughters.

Noreen Best-  Co-Owner

Noreen Best was born and raised in Missoula attending Hellgate High School and the University of Montana.  When college didn’t start out so well, she found her way to Northern California where she eventually went back to school and received her B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Sacramento.  During her seven year stay in California, she and Craig met which ultimately brought her back to her roots in Montana in 1995.  Once landing back in Missoula, she found herself swept up in the Open Space Bond of 1995 and became the Campaign Coordinator to save Mount Jumbo and subsequently Five Valley’s Land Trust’s (FVLT) Development Director.  In 1999 she left FVLT and finished her M.S. in Environmental Studies & Business at the University of Montana.  At this fork in the road, Noreen began her own private consulting firm working with small Missoula businesses and non-profit organizations addressing strategic planning and development.  Additionally, during this time, Noreen managed to be an integral part of developing and growing Nature’s Best.  Currently, she oversees business finance and development and also puts her decorative flair on many of the company’s holiday décor projects around Missoula.  She continues to feel blessed to be able to raise her two young children in such a diverse and fantastic community and grateful to be able to provide quality and professional services to Nature’s Best’s customers throughout the Missoula Valley.

Lori Sorenson- Office Manager

Lori Sorenson is often times the woman on the other end of the phone when you call our office.  She arrived at Nature’s Best, Inc. during the fall of 2007 after spending the previous 15 years with the Missoula County Public Schools as an amazing and gifted teacher’s Aide.  Gifted she is and her talents include her role as Nature’s Best’s Office Manager.  Lori takes care of the small and large details, helps you with your needs as a valued customer and has 12 different hats she wears during her hours spent at Nature’s Best.  She was born in Northern California and moved to Montana in the 1970s attending school in Missoula.  She and her husband, Larry, have two grown children and one in high school.  She enjoys continuing her work with children in her spare time, makes beautiful greeting cards and other artistic endeavors, and has a knack for getting most anything under the sun done with gracefulness.  We’re constantly telling her we really wouldn’t know what we’d do without her.

Ed Nolder – Senior Landscape Specialist

Ed is a native Oregonian. He grew up in the Willamette Valley known for its turf farms, golf courses and nurseries. Ed joined Nature’s Best in March 2010. Ed brings over 15 years experience in landscape healthcare and is our licensed applicator for turf and ornamentals, including invasive and noxious weeds. His expertise is in integrated pest management, soil amendments and fertilizers. Ed has a B.A. in Business and a minor in International Studies from Western Oregon University. He says, “I have met with all the major landscape companies in Missoula and have found that there is no better company to work for than Nature’s Best.” Ed feels this is an excellent opportunity for him to use his talents. And we are very happy to have him as part of our team.

NBI Executive Staff

Craig & Noreen Best – Owners
Lori Sorensen – Office Manager
Seth James Farrell – Marketing/Sales Director
Brad Bargmeyer - Maintenance Manager
Ed Nolder – Senior Landscape Specialist
Jona Malo – Landscape Design & Pruning Specialist

Justin Warren – Crew Leader
Casey Galloway - Crew Leader

Our Crew 2010-2011