Our Team

American Hiking Society Team

Jasper Van Der Meij

American Hiking Society
Board of Directors

Libby Wile

Executive Committee

Saveria Tilden

Vice Chair and Acting Chair

(she/her)

Biography

Organization: AdventurUs Women

City: Pasadena, CA

AdventurUs Women was born from her love of the outdoors and sharing this love with others. AdventurUs Women is a women-owned and led company dedicated to providing the opportunity for women of all ages, races, sizes, backgrounds, and experience levels to learn and experience outdoor activities in beautiful environments. We are a company and a community intent on supporting other women both in their outdoor journey and as professionals. The AdventurUs Women Escapes are all-inclusive, multi-sport outdoor weekends designed exclusively for women by women. AdventurUs Women invites women and those that identify as women to join us at our 2020 women’s outdoor adventure weekends.

Saveria has held management and executive-level positions in the film industry and for marketing and creative agencies. Her role as a leader and collaborator developed while working in these roles and with clients including Warner Bros, HBO, Universal, New Line Cinema, The North Face, GEICO, Odwalla, CLIF, Pioneer Electronics, Olloclip, and various state park agencies. This work served as a launchpad for Saveria’s consulting business where she specializes in partnership development and strategy collaborating with companies and organizations committed to connecting people to the outdoors, including REI, Transforming Youth Outdoors (TYO), IslandWood, Nature Play Western Australia, The American Hiking Society, and Misadventures Magazine.

In addition to her management background and consulting work, Saveria has taught in various capacities for over 20 years, both in the classroom and in the field. Her work with REI’s Outdoor School as an instructor in climbing, navigation, SUP, cycling, hiking, and backpacking, gave Saveria the opportunity to combine her love of teaching and the outdoors. Her volunteer efforts include being a member of the Board of Directors for the American Hiking Society, a backcountry trip leader with the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter, and the Southern CA Regional Event Coordinator for Camber Outdoors. She is certified as a Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace Master Educator, & AMGA SPI Climbing Guide.

Saveria holds a BA in Psychology from Claremont McKenna College and a MA in Education from Pepperdine University.

Favorite Hikes

Fred Leffler

Treasurer

(he/him)

Biography

Organization: McKinsey & Company

City: Boston, MA

In his professional life, Fred is an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Co. Previously, he headed up the data and analytics team at RockCreek, an investment firm in Washington, D.C., been a management consultant at McKinsey & Co., finance manager at a hedge fund backed wind energy company, and worked at GE Energy in the Financial Management Program (FMP). Fred holds degrees from Duke University and The Ohio State University.

When not at work, Fred is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hiking, camping, and mountain biking. He was a long-time volunteer at YES! (Youth Enrichment Services), a non-profit in Boston, where he taught urban children with limited outdoors experience and access to hike, ski, and mountain bike. He joined the board of AHS in 2020 and is part of the finance and marketing committees.

Fred lives near Boston, MA with his wife, Amy, and two kids (who are currently finding their hiking legs).

Favorite Hikes

Jeff Senterman

Secretary

(he/him)

Biography

Organization: Catskill Center for Conservation and Development

City: Tannersville, NY

Jeff currently serves as the Executive Director of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, an organization that works to preserve and protect New York’s Catskill Mountain region. He and his husband own and operate Hike On Guides, an outdoor guiding company in the Catskill Mountains. Prior to joining the Catskill Center, Jeff worked in New York managing trail programs for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference and before that was in New England working in the environmental planning and permitting field.

He is an avid hiker and outdoorsman who has hiked extensively in the northeast. Jeff grew up in the Hudson Valley and Catskills of New York, the son of parents who instilled a deep love and appreciation of the outdoors and outdoor recreation in him. He is a long-time volunteer with the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference who began volunteering to maintain trails with his father at age 11, and has continued in many capacities throughout the years.

Jeff holds a BS in Environmental Science from Lyndon State College. He lives in the heart of the northeastern Catskill Mountains with his husband Moe.

Favorite Hikes

Matt Griffis

At-Large

(he/him)

Biography

Organization: The Wyss Foundation

City: Durango, Colorado

Matt has worked in land conservation, a lifelong passion of his, for more than a decade. He currently manages the land acquisitions and African wildlife programs at the Wyss Foundation, where he has helped conserve more than 2 million acres of land on 5 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

Michelle Jackson-Saulters

At-Large

(she/her)

Biography

Michelle Jackson-Saulters serves as the Co-founder/Chief Operations Officer of the Outdoor Journal Tour. Since the inception of The Outdoor Journal Tour in 2015, Michelle has traveled all over the country, alongside co-founder and wife Kenya empowering women through mindfulness and the great outdoors. Together, she and Kenya have reached over 3,000 women. Professionally, Michelle is a bilingual Sales & Service Manager for the largest airline catering company in the world. With over a decade of industry experience, she has excelled as the youngest member on her team working with some of the largest and most profitable airlines in the world. Michelle is a self-proclaimed feminist and nerd that wishes to share her light with the world. When she is not traveling, you will find her working on a home improvement project, planning her next adventure, or hanging out with Kenya and friends both on and off the trails.

Michelle is an Army brat that grew up in Wiesbaden, Germany, where her family still lives. She has a bachelor's degree in Marketing from Georgia Southern University and also studied Culinary Arts at Clayton State University. She currently resides in Atlanta with her wife.

Favorite Hikes

Directors

Maria Betancourt

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Organization: Pure Spectrum CBD
City: Evergreen, CO

In her professional life, Maria is a Business Development Executive for Pure Spectrum CBD. She has spearheaded the companies efforts to expand internationally. Maria has previously been Chief Growth Officer for The Duck Company, a specialty lifestyle brand in Denver Colorado. Prior to heading out west, she headed the woman's golf and active brands (Callaway, PGA Tour, and several other private label names) for Perry Ellis International as VP of Design and Merchandising. A consummate entrepreneur, Maria owned her business for 18 years and created several brands that remain strong names in the golf world.

Maria holds an MBA from The Wharton School of Business and a degree in Clinical and Educational Psychology from Javeriana University in Bogota Colombia.

When not at work, Maria is an avid skier and outdoorswoman who enjoys hiking, camping, and biking, and SUP-ing. She joined the board of AHS in 2016. She chairs the Strategic Planning Committee and is also a member of the Development Committee.

Maria lives in Evergreen, Colorado. And is the proud mother of two daughters, 26 and 24 who also love the outdoors.

Favorite Hikes

Heather Distad

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Organization: Access Fund

City: Dillon, CO

While on their family farm, hunting, fishing, camping, or hiking, Heather’s love for the outdoors started at an early age while growing up in Iowa. From Iowa to Alaska, Brazil, and the Mountain West, she developed a deep love for nature, recreation, and conservation.

Heather is a career fundraiser and program manager with over 10 years in the parks and recreation and non-profit spaces. She currently serves Access Fund as their events, outreach, and donor relations manager, advancing fundraising and engagement efforts throughout the US. Earlier in her career, Heather oversaw recreation programming for school-age students, as well as built leadership and volunteer programs for at-risk youth.

In addition, Heather assists non-profits in their development and outreach efforts as founder and lead consultant for Onsight Philanthropy. In her spare time, you’ll find Heather running, climbing, or skiing in the alpine, or sailing the seas of the Pacific Northwest on her boat, “New Sensation”. She always has her camera on hand to capture the adventure.

Heather holds a BA in Social Work, Nonprofit Management from Wartburg College and an MS in Recreation, Sports, and Tourism from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Heather lives in Dillon, Colorado with her adventure partner, Eric, and two fur-kids, Madi and Miles.

Favorite Hikes

Latasha Dunston

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

City: Denver

Hi, you can call me Tasha! I am an illustrator, painter, and plant lover. My artwork is suited for walls, in between the pages of books and magazines, on stationary, packaging and more! I create mainly with watercolor, ink, and digital programs.

I received my BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts with a concentration in Scientific and Medical Illustration. When I am not in my studio, I am cooking up a storm in my kitchen, tending to my plants, hiking and camping, or traveling to somewhere new! My love of the outdoors is a vital part of my identity and I try and share that passion with as many as I can to help show that the outdoors is for everyone!

Favorite Hikes

Colvin Hedgepeth

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Organization: Colorado Outward Bound School

City: Denver, CO

Colvin grew up in central Virginia, where she spent most of her free time outside riding horses and playing sports. That led her to the University of South Carolina, where she competed on the NCAA Equestrian Team and studied Public Relations. Out of college, Colvin expanded her communications skill set in non-profit and agency roles in Atlanta and Philadelphia. Around this time, she ventured out on her first backcountry camping trip with her sister and cousin on the Appalachian Trail, which spurred an annual adventure, international treks, and her love for hiking.

Colvin followed this fascination with the outdoors out West to Colorado Springs to work with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee as an events coordinator, in which she supported Team USA at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. In the Rockies, Colvin's passion for the outdoors really took shape, and ignited a deep commitment to connecting people with the outdoors and unlocking the experiences in nature that were so transformative for her personally.

Over the past five years, Colvin has focused her career on social impact and fundraising in the outdoor industry. In 2018, she completed the Executive Program in Social Impact Strategy at the University of Pennsylvania. She then served as the Development and Communications Director for Blue Sky Fund, an non-profit that provides outdoor education to diverse youth in Richmond, VA. In 2020, she was selected as a participant in the Outdoor Industry Association’s Skip Yowell Future Leadership Academy, in which she expanded her knowledge in key topics facing the outdoor industry, including equitable outdoor access and diverse representation. Currently, Colvin serves as the Development Director with Colorado Outward Bound School in Denver, CO.

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

Sally Kidd

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Organization: Hearst Television

City: Washington, DC

Sally fell in love with hiking as a child during an epic cross-country camping trip with her grandparents. The adventure took her across more than a dozen states and taught her the importance of protecting hiking trails and sharing the outdoor experience. She later expanded her outdoor adventures to include ultrarunning, long-distance open water swimming, kayaking, and triathlons.

In 2011 Sally climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, helping to raise more than $20,000 for orphans affected by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. It was during this trek that she learned from a fellow climber about American Hiking Society's mission. She joined the board in 2017.

When she's not hitting the trails, Sally works as a national news correspondent for Hearst Television in Washington, DC, reporting on politics, the White House, Congress, and other national newsmakers. Her reports are seen on 30 television stations nationwide. Before moving to Washington, Sally worked as a TV news reporter in multiple cities across Florida.

Sally holds a master's degree in Public Relations/Corporate Communications from Georgetown University and a BA in Broadcast Journalism from Louisiana State University.

Favorite Hikes

Becky Marcelliano

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Organization: OnX

City: Ogden, UT

Becky is an explorer, creator, do-er, and inspirer. She attributes her love of wilderness to her early days of playing in the forests of New Jersey with her family. Since then, she ventured on to Colorado for school, led wilderness trips all across the West, rode her bicycle across America, and continues to find as many personal-growth opportunities as possible.

Her first career was in art education, before transferring into the outdoor industry full time in 2013. She led the marketing departments for Deuter Backpacks for six years, combining her love of gear, the outdoors, and human connection. From there, she moved to Ogden, Utah to take over as the Outdoor Marketing Manager for Salomon.

Becky is a hiker, mountain biker, snowboarder, yogi, artist, and lover of the early morning hours. These days, she has a hard time deciding whether she likes the mountains or the desert more, but if she had to choose one favorite location, you could find her in the San Juans of Colorado. She’s a strong believer in creating the life we each dream of and being a good human, above all else.

Favorite Hikes

Wendy McCormack

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Organization: National Institute for Trial Advocacy
Location: Boulder, CO

As Executive Director, Wendy works collaboratively with NITA staff, the Board of Trustees, and the organization as a whole in developing and implementing strategy, modeling and setting the company’s culture and values, and optimizing financial performance. Wendy has directed all aspects of core business and operational development function for 300 continuing education programs across the United States and internationally. Wendy received her master’s degree in education, with an emphasis on organizational development and human resources, from Colorado State University. She is a graduate of the intensive Organizational Leadership Program at the Employers Council’s Nonprofit Leadership Institute in Denver and is also a Colorado Outward Bound graduate. She believes strongly in organizational culture, employee empowerment and collaboration, and the strong power of listening. In her off time, you can find her outdoors hiking, running, mountain biking, paddling and traveling with her husband, Kevin and son, Cole.

Favorite Hikes

Elyse Rylander

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Organization: OUT There Adventures

City: Bellingham, WA (Puget Sound Salish and Lummi ancestral homelands)

Elyse has worn many hats in the outdoor industry and education worlds. Since 2006 she has taken thousands of youth and adults on outdoor adventures all over North America, and during these adventures, the interrogation of equity, access, and privilege played a central role. In 2011 Elyse began her journey as the founder of OUT There Adventures, a 501(c)3 dedicated to further bridging the gap between the LGBTQ community and the natural world. Along this path, Elyse has worked tirelessly to reduce outdoor access barriers for all members of the LGBTQ community. This has resulted in dozens of publications, presentations, interviews, trainings, and program partnerships aimed at increasing queer visibility and further complicating the narrative of who goes outside and how.

Elyse’s work has appeared in places such as the Rutledge International Handbook of Outdoor Studies, in print and in person at industry events such as Outdoor Retailer, and in March of 2018, Elyse was named a “Top Woman in Conservation and Environmental Justice” by ECODiversity Magazine. Elyse is also the co-organizer of the annual LGBTQ Outdoor Summit and a former partner with The Avarna Group. Outside of her work, Elyse is known for her sense of humor best conveyed through perfectly timed message GIFs, and in her [rare] free time she can be found paddling through the central Salish Sea.

Favorite Hikes

Casey Schreiner

Board Member

(he/him)

Biography

Organization: Modern Hiker

Location: Portland, OR and Los Angeles, CA

Casey Schreiner is the Founder of Modern Hiker, one of the oldest and most-read hiking blogs on the West Coast. He has broken national news stories about public land vandalism and become a trusted source of information and informed opinion about outdoor issues and the effects of social media on the outdoors and outdoor communities. He has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine, Outside, National Public Radio, and others, and in 2018 he was awarded a Certificate of Recognition from the U.S. Congress for his work connecting Southern Californians to their public lands.

In 2016, Schreiner published his first book, Day Hiking Los Angeles with Mountaineers Books. His second book, Discovering Griffith Park, was published by Mountaineers in 2020. It is the first ever in-depth guidebook to one of the country’s largest and most visited city parks and has been on the Los Angeles Times bestseller list for much of the year.

Schreiner also has over 17 years of experience writing, producing, and presenting for nationally broadcast television, new media, and video game publishers. He also serves on the board of Nature For All and the Los Angeles Breakfast Club.

Favorite Hikes

Jeremiah Su

Board Member

(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

Tiffanny Williams

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Organization: Honeydipped Hikers

Location: Silver Spring, MD

In her professional life, Tiffanny is a Financial Operations Manager for Manulife Investment Management in Washington, DC. She is part of the Asset Management team for 18 class A office properties throughout the Northeast Region. Tiffanny has 20+ years of accounting experience in the commercial real estate industry where she has held executive and controllership positions for public REITs, private developers, and property management companies.

Tiffanny joined the AHS board in 2022 and serves on the Finance and Development Committees.

Tiffanny’s love for the outdoors began as an adult when her passion for running road races and participating in her children’s scouting activities led to family camping trips, then overnight trail racing and eventually to hiking after an injury sidelined her running activities.

In 2019 Tiffanny started the Honeydipped Hikers, a community of women of color coming together in nature for fitness and fellowship. The day hiking group of varied experience meets weekly spring thru fall to explore trails throughout the greater Washington DC area.

Prior to Honeydipped Hikers, Tiffanny volunteered for 8 years as a Run Coordinator for Black Girls Run.

Tiffanny also enjoys yoga, meditation, attending house music festivals and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their young adult daughter and son.

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 September 16, 2022. Submittal directions are included in the form.

Download Nomination Form

Find Out More About Current Board Recruitment

American Hiking Society Staff

Wesley Trimble

Kathryn (Kate) Van Waes

Executive Director

(she/her)

Biography

Kate joined American Hiking in 2017. She brings a wealth of advocacy experience from the ONE Campaign, where she was a Policy Director, setting policy and strategic direction for ONE in the areas of agricultural development, hunger and nutrition, climate change, energy poverty, women and girls, trade, and development in fragile states. Prior to ONE, Kate served as Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Advisor in Secretary Clinton’s Office of Global Food Security, helping to lead the Obama Administration’s flagship global hunger initiative, Feed the Future. Kate joined the State Department initially under a fellowship with the American Association for the Advancement of Science and focused on the intersection of emergency humanitarian aid and terrorism and hunger-related United Nations negotiations. She started her career as a planetary and glacial geologist, participating in several NASA Mars missions and working with the International Space Science Institute in Bern, Switzerland, the University of Copenhagen’s Neils Bohr Institute, and the Smithsonian Center for Earth and Planetary Studies. She earned her Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from Brown University in 2004. Kate hails from Montana, where she developed a deep passion for spending as much time outdoors as possible. She and her equally outdoorsy husband and two daughters live in the ancestral lands of the Piscatoway (now known as Silver Spring, MD).

Favorite Hikes

Contact

Heather Klein Olson

Senior Director of Development

(she/her)

Biography

Heather joined American Hiking in 2020. She has 20 years of experience leading philanthropic programs for higher education, foundations, social services, arts, and faith-based organizations. Heather most recently served as Vice President for Advancement at We Raise Foundation, a national foundation with both fundraising and grant making programs. Heather has raised over $25 million for organizations by building meaningful relationships with corporate 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, an appreciator of a good pun, and a writer of children’s stories.

Favorite Hikes

Contact

Tyler Ray

Senior Director for Programs and Advocacy

(he/him)

Biography

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

Contact

Josh Bruegger

Head of Finance and Administration

(he/him)

Biography

Josh joined American Hiking Society in 2019. He holds a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Business Administration, with a specialization in Accounting, from the University of Nebraska and an MBA from Southeast Missouri State University. He comes to AHS with fifteen years of experience in corporate tax and accounting roles.

Josh is a "numbers guy" and enjoys helping others make sense of their numbers. He volunteers with a nonprofit that provides character development, job readiness, and entrepreneurship tools to incarcerated individuals and those with criminal histories in the community. He has facilitated financial literacy classes to help incarcerated individuals learn the meaning behind the numbers of a business. For those in the community with criminal histories, Josh provides coaching and mentoring to help them reach their financial and business goals.

When not working or volunteering, you can be sure to find Josh traveling with his family, participating in outdoor adventures (hiking, camping, caving, canyoning, etc.), or spending time with his furry four-legged crew.

Favorite Hikes

Contact

Wesley Trimble

Communications and Creative Director

(he/him)

Biography

Outside Online called Wesley "the most inspiring man on the PCT" after completing the trail despite his mild form of cerebral palsy. Beyond the PCT, Wesley has thru-hiked the Colorado Trail, climbed all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, and finished several ultramarathon trail races—traversing well over 10,000 miles of trail.

Not all of Wesley's time on the trail is spent recreating. He believes it's his duty as an outdoor enthusiast to give back and steward the places he loves. While earning a Bachelors in Environmental Design from the University of Colorado, Wesley spent four seasons building and maintaining trails with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. Wesley's favorite projects included building and maintaining the Continental Divide Trail in Colorado and Wyoming.

Through design, marketing, and communications, Wesley enjoys educating people about the importance of outdoor stewardship.

Favorite Hikes

Contact

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

Contact

Kelsey Olsen wears a lime green hat in a winter portrait

Kelsey Scheffert

Digital Marketing Coordinator

(she/her)

Biography

After spending most of her eight-year digital marketing career in Chicago and NYC, Kelsey moved to Colorado in 2019. In the summer of 2020, she hiked 30 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, solidifying her love of the outdoors. Her digital marketing role at American Hiking Society combines her passion for hiking with her social media skills. She has a B.S. in marketing from Miami University (Ohio) and has held positions for several agencies and major retail brands. Her outdoor pursuits include hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. She loves spending time with her husband and dogs Maizi and Lucy.

Favorite Hikes

Contact

Pam Morton

Development Coordinator

(she/her)

Biography

Pam joined American Hiking in 2022. She grew up paddling, hiking & skiing in Maine and moved to Colorado to continue those pursuits. She has a background in education, literacy, and the world of books. Most recently she has worked in the nonprofit world as a client relationship manager. She is happiest on the trail, water, or dance floor--ideally surrounded by friends, family, and a very special dog.

Favorite Hikes

Contact

Karin Vermilye

Operational Support Coordinator:

(she/her)

Biography

Karin joined American Hiking Society in 2022.

Karin grew up on the shores of Lake Ontario in upstate New York where her love of the outdoors was sparked by adventures in the woods and navigating the rocky shores of the lake by her home. Her love of travel and commitment to service has taken her to places from Estes Park, Colorado, where she served as a VISTA Volunteer, to the North Province of Cameroon, where she was a Forestry Extension Agent for the Peace Corps. She has worked for several non-profit organizations including serving as a Program Coordinator for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Program Administrator for the Save the Tiger Fund.

Karin earned her Master of Science degree in Resource Conservation from the University of Montana with research focused on community-based conservation in the Sahel Region of Cameroon. Karin also holds undergraduate degrees in English and Psychology from The State University of New York at Geneseo.

She lives in Takoma Park, Maryland with her husband and two kids, having previously resided together in Accra, Ghana and Gaborone, Botswana. Karin enjoys hiking, spending time outside, and reading. Karin is also a writer with a focus on nature and sense of place poetry and essays.

Favorite Hikes

Contact

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

There are currently no open positions. Check back for future opportunities!

AHS Board Opportunities

We are currently recruiting board members for the 2023-2025 term. Learn more and Apply.

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

Saveria Tilden

Vice Chair and Acting Chair

(she/her)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Fred Leffler

Treasurer

(he/him)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Jeff Senterman

Secretary

(he/him)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Matt Griffis

At-Large

(he/him)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Michelle Jackson-Saulters

At-Large

(she/her)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Directors

Maria Betancourt

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Heather Distad

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Latasha Dunston

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Colvin Hedgepeth

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Lauren Jacobs

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Sally Kidd

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Becky Marcelliano

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Wendy McCormack

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

Favorite Hikes

Elyse Rylander

Board Member

(she/her)

Biography

American Hiking Society
Board of Directors