Experience
North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS), Asheville, NC
Course Director, North Carolina Mountains and Outer Banks, Florida Everglades, and Bahamas, 2000−present
Primary responsibilities include ensuring the overall safety and quality of programming for multiple crews of students through staff development and mentoring, course planning, and the completion of pre and post course administrative duties. Highlights include course directing the International Leadership Semester and Outdoor Leader Course.
Field Instructor, North Carolina Mountains and Outer Banks, Florida Everglades, and Bahamas 1998−present
Instructing multi-activity courses in diverse wilderness settings. Activities include backpacking, rock climbing, sea kayaking, and flat and whitewater canoeing. Outward Bound emphasizes personal growth and teamwork through experiential education. Highlights have included working mobile courses in the Bahamas and on the North Carolina Outer Banks.
Staffing Coordinator, August 2005−May 2009
Supervised the scheduling and mentoring of 80+ field staff working diverse types of wilderness-based courses in a variety of locations. Additional responsibilities included the administration of field staff compensation and benefit programs, the review of staff performance evaluations, and in conjunction with other school departments, the scheduling of NCOBS year round programming. Served as a member of the NCOBS Program Team, working collaboratively to maintain high standards of safety and quality for NCOBS courses. Accomplishments included spearheading the creation of a new multi- tiered promotion structure for field staff, and the revamping and updating of the field staff pay scale, benefits programs, and staffing database.
Resident Course Director, Table Rock Base Camp, February to November 2004
Provided leadership through managing and course directing semester programs and the Outdoor Leadership Course. Highlights included the development of staff manuals to be used in course planning and in the field. Acted as the liaison between these courses and the other departments of the school to create and maintain the best experience possible for students and staff. Other tasks included serving as the primary safety manager while being ″on call″ for up to twelve groups of students operating out of the Table Rock base camp, course directing additional courses as needed, and completing projects at the base camp.
Chief Sea Kayaking Instructor, May 2001−February 2002
Ensured the delivery of high quality sea kayaking programs for NCOBS through staff training and development, purchase and maintenance of gear and equipment, development of capital and operational budgets, and the development of curriculum and other program resources. Highlights included taking part in the reconnaissance work and writing of the program plan for a new course area in the Bahamas.
Support Staff, North Carolina Mountains and Florida Everglades, 1997−1998
Facilitated meeting the logistical needs of multiple groups of students in the field including food pack-outs, transportation, and gear preparation and maintenance.
Starfish, The Exuma Adventure Center, George Town, Exuma, Bahamas
Kayak Touring Manager, February 2003−June 2003
Managed a kayak eco-tour operation and retail shop. This job entailed leading kayaking trips ranging in length from two hours to six days. Other duties included managing a staff of five individuals, acting as a guide on powerboat supported small boat sailing expeditions of eight days, and leading half-day snorkeling and eco-tour excursions.
Kitty Hawk Sports, Nags Head, NC
Kayaking Program Manager, March 2002−August 2002
Manager of the kayaking division of a large water sports business on the North Carolina coast. Accomplishments included the hiring, training, and supervision of eight kayak guides, and leading tours and instructional programs as needed. Other responsibilities included staff and program scheduling, the ordering and distribution of kayaking gear to meet the retail, rental, and touring needs of the company, and working as a retail store manager.
Camp McDowell Environmental Center, Nauvoo, Alabama
Environmental Education Instructor, spring 1998
Instructed environmental education classes to 1st through 10th grade students using an experiential approach. Classes facilitated included forest ecology, pond and stream studies, initiatives course, and climbing wall.
Liberty Café, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Manager, Floor Leader, Food Server, Cook, 1994−winter 1997
Education
North Carolina Outward Bound School
International Semester Odyssey, fall 1996
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Graduate work in anthropology and physical geography, fall 1993-spring 1995
New College at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Bachelors of Science in Environmental Studies, 1992
Graduated cum laude, President’s List, Dean’s List, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society. New College provided a self-directed program of study emphasizing interdisciplinary seminar style classes and the cultivation of exceptional written and oral communication skills.