Our People
The compassion, commitment, and joy that our guides and therapeutic mentors bring to their work every day define the experiences we create for young people.
Our dedicated and deeply committed staff bring their experience in adventure guiding, and activities like rock climbing, rafting, snow play, and more.
Others are trained in providing high-quality environmental literacy experiences.
Many of our staff specialize in psychology, child development, coaching, youth advocacy, and trauma healing.
We leverage the diverse knowledge and experience of our people to partner with teachers, schools, families, social workers, therapists, hospitals, researchers, and other youth-serving organizations to produce transformational experiences that help young people achieve their full potential.
Everyone who works for us has personal experience with the transformational power of nature and approaches their work determined to ensure every young person can have these experiences.
For us, a commitment to excellence means we don’t shy away from what’s difficult — rather, we lean into these difficult moments with compassionate support because holistic development of youth is crucial to creating a positive future for all.
Board of Directors
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Kurt Schliemann
President
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Tanja Powers
Vice President
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Robert H. Hambrecht
Treasurer
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Brad Waugh
Secretary
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Felicity Beallo
Board Member
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Lisa Ryan
Board Member
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Mike Stanton
Board Member
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Lisa VanDerlofske
Board Member
Leadership Team
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Kelly Bathgate
Interim Executive Director
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Peter Mayfield
Founder, Director of Strategic Expansion
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Alex Humenetskyj
Chief Operating Officer
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Kate Frankfurt
Director of Philanthropy
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Lisa Hussar
Administrative Director
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Crystal Cunning
Whole Hearts Program Director, Truckee
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Tonya Semas, LMFT, RN
Whole Hearts Interim Clinical Director, Truckee
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Cali Fraser
Sierra Experience Director
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Joody Marks
Whole Hearts Program Director, San Francisco
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Melinda S. Malher
Whole Hearts Clinical Director, San Francisco
Whole Hearts, Minds & Bodies Clinical Team
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Tonya Semas, LMFT, RN
Whole Hearts Interim Clinical Director, Truckee
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Rachel Levi, LMFT, CEDS
Certified Ecotherapist, Truckee
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Melinda S. Malher
Whole Hearts Clinical Director, San Francisco
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Austin Sherman
Clinical Supervisor, Truckee
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Sandy Umphrey
Whole Hearts Administrative Case Manager, Truckee
Staff Members
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Jared Alden
Senior Guide
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Nicole Bentor
Lead Mentor
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Jacquelyn Campos
Mentor
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Haley Congistre
Mentor
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Juliana Demarest
Communications Manager
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Brody Dwyer
Mentor/Peer Program Coordinator/Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist
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Allison Hester
Mentor/Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist
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Mackenzie Kingston
Sierra Experience Assistant Director
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Luis Lopez
Mentor/Peer Support
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Spencer McCune
Mentor
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Jared Moore
Senior Climbing Guide
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Anna Patterson
Mentor
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Luis Rubio-Aguilar
Senior Guide
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Keith Tom
Guide/Sierra Experience Program Manager
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Erika Veidis
Mentor
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Lindy Winter
Mentor
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Cody Wollitz
Grants Manager
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Caroline Grossman
Sierra Experience Program Manager
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Marc Davis
Lodge Manager
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Kenny Kehoe
Camps Coordinator
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Theresa Loewen
Climbing Coordinator
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Richard Bruener
Mentor