Our Team

American Hiking Society Team

Jasper Van Der Meij

American Hiking Society
Board of Directors

Libby Wile

Executive Committee

Charles (Chuck) Frank

Board Chair

(he/him)

Biography

Location: Highland Park, IL

Chuck grew up and still lives on the North Shore of Chicago. He began fishing with his Dad and Mom back beyond memory, then horseback riding, and at age 9 began paddling a canoe and camping out.

That led to a lifetime of canoeing, backpacking, kayaking, wilderness travel, fishing, biking, ice climbing, back country skiing.

He earned his BA at George Washington University and MBA at The University of Chicago. He entered the family auto business and started his own auto leasing company at age 27 and became a car dealer himself at 29 (Chevrolet) eventually taking over the entire family portfolio of 8 franchises in 3 different locations. He later got into the commercial real estate business.

Chuck became a Charter Member of American Hiking Society back in the mid 70’s and has a lifetime of experience of multiple NFP Boards including the Sierra Club Foundation, Sierra Club, YMCA of Metro Chicago, Jewish Community Centers of Chicago.

While basically retired now, he is partners with one of his daughters in Mathnasium Learning Centers and also another set of Centers with someone else. Chuck and Debbie are married for 45 (1979) years and have 4 children, two son in laws and two grandsons all who live within a half hour.

Favorite Hikes

Colvin Hedgepeth

Vice Chair

(she/her)

Biography

Organization: Colorado Outward Bound School

City: Denver, CO

Colvin is based in Colorado, where she spends most of her free time chasing powder, wildflowers or aspens with her rescue pup, Lupi.

Colvin has built her nonprofit career over the past decade with a focus on communications, events and fundraising. She has supported grassroots to national organizations, including the US Olympic & Paralympic committee, Blue Sky Fund, and Colorado Outward Bound School.

Colvin now works as a fundraising consultant and is passionate about supporting fundraisers in strategic growth and creating a sustainable career in the philanthropic space.

Favorite Hikes

Jeremiah Su

Secretary

(he/him)

Biography

Organization: Burn Design Lab

Location: Vashon, WA

Jeremy grew up in the Boston area and earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University. There, he originally joined American Hiking Society on an Alternative Break. In 2021, he became a NextGen Trail-leader to advocate equal access and stewardship projects across the US. Now you can find him leading Volunteer Vacations in the PNW.

Professionally, Jeremy is an engineer at Burn Design Lab whose mission is to improve lives and the environment through clean cookstoves in developing countries. He leads the development of an improved shea roaster in Ghana, where the team is making the hand-crafted shea butter industry more sustainable and healthier for the local processors.

Jeremy can be found hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, cycling, and snowboarding while photographing the landscapes around him.

Favorite Hikes

Andrea Flora

Treasurer

(she/her)

Biography

City: Cincinnati

Professionally, Andrea is a CPA with extensive experience in financial analysis, auditing, and taxation. She spent over a decade working in “Big 4” accounting firms and has served as treasurer and finance committee chair for several nonprofits. Andrea is an angel investor with Queen City Angels, where she collaborates with other experienced investors committed to accelerating the growth of promising early-stage businesses. She has a particular interest in impact-driven businesses, healthcare, sustainability, and environmental impact investing. In addition, Andrea advises nonprofits on strategic planning, community engagement, project management, and fundraising. She received her B.S. in Business with a major in Accountancy from Miami University.

Andrea is passionate about inclusion in the outdoors and is always looking for ways to remove barriers or create new opportunities for others to enjoy it. She serves as a sherpa for Luke5Adventures, helping people with disabilities hike and experience the outdoors in ways not otherwise possible by carrying an adaptive chair on trails, over obstacles, and through streams. She fully appreciates the positive impact of the outdoors on both physical and mental health and is at her happiest with mud on her hands or on her boots.

In her free time, Andrea enjoys exploring national parks and international adventure travel with her husband and three children, who have grown up with nearly every family vacation centered around hiking or outdoor adventure. She has completed major hikes on four continents and hopes to add a fifth in 2023 or 2024. Her favorite hiking companion (besides her family) is her dog, Penny, who shares her love of the trail.

Favorite Hikes

Jacob Camp

At-Large

(he/him)

Biography

Organization: Microsoft

Location: Seattle, WA

Jacob Camp was raised across the U.S. and home means Nevada to him. Jacob’s passion for the outdoors started early in life. His outdoor adventures started with the Boy Scouts. During this time, Jacob explored northern California and Nevada, ranging from Mt. Lassen to Wheeler Peak. The outdoors has been a through-line for Jacob’s life where his travels have taken him from the U.S., Europe, and Africa. Over the years of hiking and being outdoors, Jacob believes that our trails connect us with nature, with each other, and ourselves. His passion is to help inspire more people to get outside, give back to the trails they love, and ensure our natural spaces can be enjoyed by all.

Jacob joined the AHS Board in 2024 and serves on the Development, and Advocacy & Policy committees. When not serving as crew leader on a volunteer vacation, Jacob crunches information as a data scientist. He brings over 10 years of experience in data, analytics, and data science where he has advised federal agencies, commercial enterprises and non-profits. Jacob earned an MBA from the George Washington University, and a BSBA from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Favorite Hikes

Emmanuel Nolasco

At-Large

(he/him)

Biography

Organization: National Wildlife Federation

Location: Colorado Springs, CO

Emmanuel joined the AHS Board in 2025 and serves on the Marketing & Communications and JEDI committees.

Born and raised in the Washington DC metro area to a Salvadorean father and Puerto Rican mother, Emmanuel is the first generation of his family to call the US mainland home. Only introduced to hiking following a series of sports-related injuries in his early twenties, Emmanuel quickly fell in love with the beauty, tranquility and healing the trails provided. This newfound love led him to journey across the country to experience America’s most inspiring parks, ultimately culminating in the decision to move out west and shift his career towards conservation.

Emmanuel is a Marketing Manager for the National Wildlife Federation. In this role he combines his professional experience and passion for the outdoors to inspire audiences of all backgrounds to enjoy and conserve America’s nature. He holds B.S degrees in Marketing and Business Management from George Mason University.

In his free time, Emmanuel enjoys all forms of outdoor recreation including trail running, paddling and climbing, along with traditional sports of soccer and tennis.

Favorite Hikes

Amy Widener

At-Large

(she/her)

Biography

Organization: Brooks Running

Location: Seattle, WA

Amy grew up in northwest Montana, where her love of the outdoors was solidified. She attended the University of Pennsylvania and then returned to the mountains of the west in Wyoming where she started her HR career at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. She moved to Seattle, WA to get her MBA from the University of Washington and is now leading the HR Operations team at Brooks Running. Amy is dedicated to creating a strong organizational culture and roots all of her decisions in the employee experience.

Amy has a passion for the outdoors, instilled by her family. In the summer she spends her time hiking, backpacking, fishing, sailing, running, biking, swimming, and stand up paddling. In the winter, she finds any opportunity to explore ski resorts and backcountry terrain. She is finding the benefits of the marine climate of Seattle to have snow-free (if muddy) trails even in the heart of winter. She loves traveling and adventures all year with her husband and pup, Summit.

Amy joined the AHS Board in 2023 and serves on the Governance and JEDI committees. She is excited to get involved and help others discover the outdoors.

Favorite Hikes

Matt Griffis

Past Board Chair

(he/him)

Biography

Organization: The Wyss Foundation

City: Durango, Colorado

Matt works in land conservation, managing the Wyss Foundation’s land acquisitions program and its conservation grantmaking in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Through this work, he has helped conserve more than 9 million acres of land on 6 continents. Matt holds a B.S. in Environmental Sciences from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.S. in Environmental Policy and Planning from the University of Michigan.

A California native, Matt grew up hiking in the Sierra Nevada and through the redwood forests of the Coast Ranges. He is an Eagle Scout and has been an active member of the Boy Scouts of America for the past 30 years. After serving as the Western Region Chief of the Order of the Arrow, Matt became involved in trail building and stewardship at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, where he spent 3 summers as a trail crew foreman and trail crew coordinator. He remains involved in the Order of the Arrow's conservation and sustainability efforts.

Matt lives in Durango, Colorado, where in addition to hiking, he enjoys backpacking, packrafting, trail running, cycling, and skiing. He's on a mission to visit every National Park Service unit and the highest point in every state.

Favorite Hikes

Directors

Rochelle Altman

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Organization: College of Charleston, School of Health Sciences

Location: Charleston, SC

Growing up in rural South Carolina, Rochelle discovered the power of green spaces early in life, bringing a perspective that now shapes her research and advocacy efforts focused on mental health, climate change, and outdoor equity. She currently teaches undergraduate public health at the College of Charleston's School of Health Sciences. For Rochelle, trails offer more than scenic views; they're where she finds clarity, opportunities to build resilience and connection.

Through her teaching, research, and new role on the American Hiking Society's National Board, she hopes to be a part of efforts to make outdoor spaces more accessible to all communities, believing that access to nature is fundamental to both physical and mental well-being. You'll never catch her without her Gossamer Gear Mariposa backpack and a stash of peanut M&Ms.

Favorite Hikes

Jeff Hayward

Board Member

(he/him)

Biography

Location: Sioux Falls, SD

Jeff Hayward is a 5th generation South Dakotan and Eagle Scout with a lifelong passion for the outdoors. His early experiences in canoeing, backpacking, and rock climbing fueled his love for adventure.

He is the co-founder and CEO of Dakota Adventure Supply, an outdoor gear brand promoting comradery through shared experiences. Jeff also serves as the Director of Programming at Startup Sioux Falls, where he leads entrepreneurial programs and events, including accelerators, networking, and educational workshops. He oversees the Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIR) network, manages grant programs, and directs the MVP Internship Program, all aimed at fostering growth and innovation within the region's startup community.

Favorite Hikes

Lauren Jacobs

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Organization: Federal Government / M*BODHI, LLC

City: Washington, DC

During the traditional workday, Lauren serves as a senior Government ethics attorney. She has also been teaching yoga and fitness classes for years, currently teaching online with YogiApproved and through her own side-hustle and passion project, www.modernvinyasa.com.

Lauren grew up in the Catskills of New York and developed a deep love of outdoor life, starting with daily walks through the woods to get to and from school. Her love for the trails followed her to Washington, DC, where she can often be found taking a break through city life by running the Rock Creek trails on her lunch breaks.

Lauren lives in the heart of DC with her husband and two kids, who all love hiking just as much as she does. Lauren and her husband fell in love with Sedona, Arizona on a road trip out west and were married there years later, on the Chapel Trail. Now, Lauren and her family return every year to hike their favorite Sedona trails and discover new ones.

Lauren joined the AHS Board in 2022 and is excited to give back to and help others discover the trails that she has enjoyed for so many years!

Favorite Hikes

Felicia Kemp

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Location: Elk Grove, CA

Felicia Kemp was raised camping and hiking across the U.S. with her family and discovered backpacking for the first time at Philmont Scout Ranch at the age of 13. She's hiked everywhere her travels take her, from the depths of the Grand Canyon with her younger brother to the turquoise waters of Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia with her husband. When she and her husband moved to Northern California they immediately started exploring, fell in love with the diversity of landscapes, started a family, and began sharing their hiking adventures publicly online in 2015. When her middle child was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease, getting on trails as a family became more of a challenge. Aside from the typical balance of full-time jobs not in the outdoors industry and a family of five, she and her husband worked to find ADA-compliant paths to continue sharing the joys of nature with their children.

Felicia's goal is to give confidence to would-be and newer hikers to break through barriers and get outside. She advocates for diversity initiatives through both her legal career and in the outdoors and helps to educate others on the principles of Leave No Trace. She hopes that when people see her plus-sized, tall and brown body hiking solo, or wrangling the family on the trail, it inspires others to feel comfortable taking up that same space. She's written several outdoors-related articles and enjoys creating social media content as Family Trail Time. She is the founder of Take A Hike Tay-Sachs in support of Cure Tay-Sachs Foundation and founded the group Sacramento Women Hikers.

Favorite Hikes

Cece Kirkwood

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Current Organization: AllTrails

Cece Kirkwood is an experienced strategic communications and program manager with a passion for the outdoors and a proven track record of building partnerships, driving strategic initiatives, and fostering community engagement. In her current role, Cece manages AllTrails' 1% for the Planet impact portfolio for corporate giving and community partnerships, funding projects that protect the trails, protect the planet, and increase access to the outdoors. She also sits on the Board of Directors with American Trails. Her favorite trail snack is a smushed peanut butter sandwich, but she'll never turn down a Sour Patch Kid or vegan beef jerky if someone offers her some along the trail.

Favorite Hikes

Richard B. Leverett, JD

Board Member

(he/him)

Biography

Location: Salt Lake City, UT

Richard is a lawyer, lobbyist, and consultant based in Salt Lake City. Specializing in corporate community impact and investment, Richard helps founders, social entrepreneurs, and corporations execute projects and initiatives of all sizes across the country.

After several trips to the west coast, Richard fell in love with having 360-degree views of
mountains in the sky and relocated to Utah in early 2022. Having grown up in Gary, Indiana,
both in the shadows of Chicago and Indiana Dunes National Park, the first trail he grew to love was an old secret (from his parents) abandoned service road that is now part of the Little Calumet River Levee Trail system. He now escapes to the mountains every chance he gets.

Previously, Richard worked in government affairs in multiple Midwest and Mountain West states, promoting efforts to close the digital divide through investment in infrastructure and technology education. Richard also served as Chief of Staff to the Mayor in his hometown of Gary, Indiana. His tenure included national recognition for partnerships and innovative work in community and economic development.

Throughout his career, Richard has served on the boards of community and civic foundations, colleges and scholarship foundations, and community health and financial institutions and is excited to be a part of the American Hiking Society.

While Richard may occasionally dabble in pastimes like football or pickup basketball, he now spends most of his free time snowboarding, hiking, biking, golfing, and collecting bourbon and cocktail recipes. Richard is an active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc, and has degrees from the University of Chicago Law School and Butler University in Indianapolis.

Favorite Hikes

Nicole Prim

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Organization:BCom Solutions

Location:Chevy Chase, MD

Nicole joined the AHS Board in 2025 and serves on the Development, as well as and Advocacy and Policy committees.

Nicole fell in love with hiking after working in Montana on the border of Glacier National Park, and that love was cemented when she subsequently moved to Washington State. Having the privilege of access to green space is something she cherishes and works to ensure as many Americans as possible can also enjoy.

Nicole is currently the CRO of BCom Solutions, a digital-first marketing firm that supports purpose-driven and impact initiatives, specifically focusing on philanthropy, rural causes, and sustainability. She also serves on the board of the*gameHERS, a women-in-gaming-centered professional development and social connectivity company. She holds a B.S. degree from Columbia University.

Favorite Hikes

Aidan Smith

Board Member

(he/him)

Biography

Organization: Backpacker's Pantry

Location: Boulder, CO

Growing up in Boulder, Aidan was introduced to the outdoors from an early age through his family’s business in the outdoor industry. Weekends were spent hiking, fishing, and skiing in the Rockies, instilling a passion for wild places and a deep appreciation for nature’s grounding beauty. During college summers, Aidan dedicated three seasons to outdoor education, working with both an overnight program and a local camp focused on environmental stewardship, earth science, and nature connection for youth who had never been immersed in the outdoors.

Professionally, Aidan has five years of marketing experience, including an eCommerce role at Skratch Labs, a Boulder-based sports nutrition company. He now serves as CEO of American Outdoor Products, whose brands include Backpacker’s Pantry and Astronaut Ice Cream. Under his leadership, the company pledges one percent of its revenue to improve outdoor access, conserve wild spaces, and educate the next generation of environmental stewards.

When he’s not in the office, Aidan can often be found exploring the desert or setting out on new adventures. A dedicated trail runner, hiker, and enthusiastic foodie, he has made it his goal to visit all seven continents over the next decade.

Favorite Hikes

Daniel J. Yang

Board Member

(he/him)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Interested in Joining American Hiking Society's Board of Directors?

If you are passionate about hiking and interested in serving on our board of directors, please download the nomination form and submit it by August 31, 2023. Submittal directions are included in the form.

Download Nomination Form

Find Out More About Current Board Recruitment

American Hiking Society Staff

Wesley Trimble

Heather Klein Olson

Executive Director

(she/her)

Biography

Heather joined American Hiking in January 2020. She has 20 years of experience leading development teams and philanthropic programs for higher education, foundations, social services, arts, and faith-based organizations. Heather has raised millions for organizations by building meaningful, long-term relationships with corporate and foundation partners and individual philanthropists.

Heather is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), a graduate of Butler University, Indianapolis, Ind., and holds advanced degrees in communication and business from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., and Valparaiso University. She has been a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) since 2006, and is a regular contributing writer to Advancing Philanthropy, AFP’s flagship membership magazine. Heather also has extensive volunteer leadership experience with Rotary International, having been honored with “Rotarian of the Year” and serving as president of the club in the Midwest community where she resides with her husband and their two sons.

Heather grew up hiking the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and urban trails in the city of Chicago. She is a certified SCUBA diver and rock climber, an avid trail runner, an 80’s movie buff, a thoroughbred enthusiast, and a self-published children's book author.

Favorite Hikes

Tyler Ray

Senior Director for Programs and Advocacy

(he/him)

Biography

Tyler leads American Hiking's advocacy efforts before Congress and the federal government and oversees the organization's volunteer work nationwide. Through this work Tyler leads nationwide advocacy efforts in support of federal funding for our nation's trails across public lands and has been a leader in efforts to pass outdoor recreation and conservation legislation including the Great American Outdoors Act and the Dingell Act to permanently authorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Tyler co-leads the annual Hike the Hill advocacy event that brings over 100 trail leaders to Washington, DC to advocate at the highest levels of government.

Tyler joined American Hiking in 2018, after nearly seven years with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) where he led federal advocacy efforts on voting rights, disability rights, and humane border enforcement. He earned his Juris Doctorate and Certificate in Public Policy from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law and is licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He obtained a B.A. degree in Social Science from San Diego State University.

As a native Californian, Tyler began hiking in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada’s and the Stanislaus National Forest. He’s been fortunate to experience trails across the country, with favorites including the Hanakapiai Trail in Kauai, the Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Trail, and state park and national forest trails throughout his adoptive home in Virginia.

When not hiking the hill advocating on behalf of AHS members, Tyler spends time with his husband and their dog, Kona, looking for their next outdoor adventure.

Favorite Hikes

Josh Bruegger

Head of Finance and Administration

(he/him)

Biography

Josh joined American Hiking Society in 2019, bringing over two decades of experience in corporate and nonprofit tax and accounting roles. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration with a specialization in Accounting, along with an MBA.

Josh is deeply committed to giving back to his community. He volunteers with a nonprofit that provides character development, job readiness, and entrepreneurship tools to incarcerated individuals and those with criminal histories. He has facilitated financial literacy classes in correctional facilities and mentors individuals outside of prison, helping them achieve their financial and business goals. Additionally, Josh is a dedicated animal lover and volunteers on the animal rescue team of two national organizations, working to save animals in need.

Outside of his professional and volunteer work, Josh enjoys traveling, outdoor adventures such as hiking, camping, caving, and canyoning, and spending quality time with his favorite hiking buddy - his dog, Sebastian.

Favorite Hikes

Ellie Place

Programs Manager

(she/her)

Biography

Ellie joined American Hiking in 2021 with over ten years of combined experience coordinating international volunteer programs, leading volunteer vacations, and serving as a volunteer for environmental conservation organizations herself. Ellie’s career has been dedicated to connecting diverse communities to the outdoors in a way that fosters a deep respect and active stewardship of natural environments. Ellie holds a dual undergraduate degree from Brown University in Geological Sciences and Hispanic Studies and a Master of Tourism Management from Colorado State University with a focus on strategic management of natural resources, public land use policy, and outdoor recreation practices that connect people to the natural world in a positive, sustainable way.

Ellie grew up in the foothills of the Central Cascades in Washington State, which is where she currently resides, although she has also lived in Rhode Island and the Florida Keys. Outside of work, you can find Ellie hiking, trail running, or skiing with her dog throughout Washington State (and often in the rain). Her love of the mountains is only rivaled by her love of the ocean. If not hiking, she is probably SCUBA diving and looking for her favorite animal, the sea slug.

Favorite Hikes

Kristin Oliver

Director of Corporate and Foundation Partnerships

(she/her)

Biography

Kristin joined American Hiking in 2024. She has over a decade of experience in nonprofit development, partnerships and mission resiliency, and has worked with organizations across the country that are making a tangible impact in the arenas of conservation, education and the arts.

Operating on the belief that common ground can always be found, Kristin enjoys building collaborative, mutually-beneficial relationships that lift up all involved.

When she's not connecting with people passionate about the great outdoors, you'll likely find her nerding out over the past at historical sites, societies, museums and library archives. She recently traded New York City for Wyoming where she is looking forward to exploring the region's many stunning trails and outposts.

Favorite Hikes

Jobs & Internships

Mick Haupt

At American Hiking, we envision a world where everyone feels welcome in the American hiking community and has permanent access to meaningful hiking, including urban, frontcountry, and backcountry opportunities. We will achieve this vision by empowering all communities to enjoy, share, and preserve the hiking experience; advocating for the protection and expansion of hiking spaces; fostering trail stewardship; and collaborating with partners whose strengths are complementary. We provide an exciting, creative, and professional yet relaxed nonprofit atmosphere with a strong outdoor and conservation ethic.

Interested in joining our dynamic team? Any jobs that may be available are listed below.

AHS Staff Opportunities

AHS Board Opportunities

The 2025 Recruitment Cycle has closed, but seats do come open from time-to-time, and you can always join a Committee. See more here.

JEDI Education Opportunities

Interested in facilitating an education session on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for the AHS Board and Staff? Download the application form here.

American Hiking Society Team

Jasper Van Der Meij

Board of Directors

Staff

iStock

AHS Ambassadors

Jobs & Internships

American Hiking Society Board of Directors

Libby Wile

Executive Committee

Charles (Chuck) Frank

Board Chair

(he/him)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Colvin Hedgepeth

Vice Chair

(she/her)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Jeremiah Su

Secretary

(he/him)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Andrea Flora

Treasurer

(she/her)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Jacob Camp

At-Large

(he/him)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Emmanuel Nolasco

At-Large

(he/him)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Amy Widener

At-Large

(she/her)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Matt Griffis

Past Board Chair

(he/him)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Directors

Rochelle Altman

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Jeff Hayward

Board Member

(he/him)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Lauren Jacobs

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Felicia Kemp

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Cece Kirkwood

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Richard B. Leverett, JD

Board Member

(he/him)

Biography

American Hiking Society
Board of Directors