RESUME

In summary

A seasoned professional born into the outdoor and adventure travel industry.

Consummate sales person and innovative marketer with hard business skills and

a sincere love of the outdoors, people and profits. Well traveled, a team player,

experienced leader, comfortable engaging audiences from the board room to the dish room. Insightful, empathetic and instinctively works best under pressure.

On-the-ready for immersion in the biggest challenge.

Skills

Sales & Marketing Facility Management Program Development

Strategic Planning Nonprofit Development Budget Management

F&B Operations Personnel Management Standards Management

Work History

River Guide | May 2011 - August 2011

Kokopelli Adventures

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Professional Guide | December, 2009 - April, 2011

Nova Guides

Vail, Colorado

Owner & Director | January, 2007 - December, 2009

Island Ferry Water Taxi/Island Ferry Tours

San Pedro, Ambergrise Caye, Belize, Central America

Owner & Director | 1994 - December, 2006

Camp Carolina Backcountry

Brevard, North Carolina

Program & Marketing Director

| 1989 - 1994

Camp Carolina Backcountry

Brevard, North Carolina

General Manager | 1991 - 1996

Backcountry Outfitters & Guide Service

Brevard, North Carolina

F&B Manager | 1990

Camp Carolina Backcountry

Brevard, North Carolina

Professional

Highlights

Sales & Marketing

• Raised camp enrollment 87% in a five year period and increased gross income every year of my tenure.

• Maintained a loyal base of return customers by providing a high level of empathetic and personal customer service; encouraging, and listening to, feedback; augmented by internet updates, a crackerjack staff, and a Safety First program; Responsible to over 1000 families each year.

• Nurtured lasting relationships with a stable of 100 outside sales representatives through consistent communication efforts and incentives with primary concentration in the southeast.

• Averaged 100 “on the road” marketing presentations annually.

• Generated an “early sign-up frenzy” with a closing day promotion offering an ultra cool promo item for following year registrations. This generated a income surge for the closing of each camp session.

• Developed a new profit center with a retail strategy based on creating hip wearables with cool logos kids were excited to purchase with fresh designs annually.

• Redesigned and wrote copy for catalog annually. The Camp Carolina catalog continues as an example of my work.

• Expanded the summer season into spring and fall by creating and marketing unique packages, programs and events to a diversified customer base.

• Identified a need and created a profitable outdoor retail venue catering to climbers, cyclists, boaters and backpackers en route to Pisgah Nation Forest.

• emplemented drug testing for all personel, setting the tone for staff expectations, improving safety and professionalism

•developed interactive website still in use today

•maintained programs up to industry standards by adhering to guidelines of santioning bobies such as ACA, NORBA, AEE, OSHA, etc., etc.

Facility Management

• Excelled in hands on day-to-day challenges faced in a vibrant adventure oriented child/teenager guardianship business that included but was not limited to: solely handling of all telephone communication with parents regarding their children’s’ well being at camp, directly handling camper discipline issues, mealtime announcements, Friday night campfire emcee -- personally shaking hands with and presenting “The Old Man of the Mountain Award” to all recipients. Total engagement and total responsibility.

• Managed and maintained 220 acre site, 40 cabins, 5 homes, 4 lodges, 3 acre lake, 5 athletic fields, 6 tennis courts, 2 skate parks, equestrian stables and trails, 16 horses, mountain bike trails, dining hall with commercial kitchen, 5 bathhouses, office, infirmary, drinking water and waste water treatment.

• Managed bi-annual and “when needed” communication with permitting entities.

Pisgah National Forest, Nantahala National Forest, etc. Kept the records, did the math and wrote the check.

Program Development

• Cutting-edge, state of the art program development for both camp and guide service including but not limited to Overnight and Day Trip - Whitewater Kayaking, Canoeing and Rafting; Rockclimbing and Caving; Nature, Hiking, Backpacking and Orienteering; Mountain Biking and Mountain Boarding; Horseback Riding; Freshwater and Saltwater Flyfishing, Snorkeling, Scuba Diving; High and Low Ropes Courses; Golf , Tennis and Frisbee Golf; Swimming and Lake Canoeing; Equestrian; Arts and Crafts; Archery, Riflery and Fencing; Video Production; Skating; Music and Yoga

• Created Father & Son Weekends to introduce timid campers to the camp experience under the guidance and scrutiny of dad’s watchful eye, adding early season revenue.

• Designed, developed and implemented a successful co-educational teenage

international travel camp.

• Conceived and established and saw flourish The Backcountry Institute, an adult education and certification academy to allow CCB and all regional camps’ safer, more professional staff.

• Maintained excellent safety record and managed risk in very dynamic high risk environment.

Strategic Planning

• Revitalized and rejuvenated a timeworn program to that of a fresh, exciting, progressive industry leader while maintaining and embracing tradition.

• Designed, developed and implemented a successful co-educational teenage

international travel camp.

• Conceived and established and saw flourish The Backcountry Institute, an adult education and certification institute to allow CCB and all regional camps’ safer, more professional staff.

Nonprofit Development

• Founded, managed and raised funds for the Nath Thompson Scholarship Fund, a non-profit, set up for deserving children whose families could not afford to send them to camp. Resulting in a dozen kids attending CCB each session and increased summer revenue.

Budget Management

• Negotiated and purchased new sporting goods each spring, thrilling the campers and augmenting the quality of their experience, then resold the gear in the fall, eliminating the problem of accumulating dated, worn out equipment.

• Developed and analyzed the budget, weekly, from April through August and monthly, from September through March. Monitored income statement, balance sheet, bank statements monthly, and payroll semi-monthly. Worked closely with CPA to maximise profits while minimizing income taxes.

• Negotiated insurance rates while safeguarding the camp to assure the best insurance policies were in effect.

F&B Operations

• Converted an antiquated food service, serving primarily processed food, into a healthy, hardy whole foods, scratch cooking kitchen/program with vegetarian options that continues today. Responsible for feeding up to 400 men and boys three meals a day for the summer season.

• Menu planning, purchasing, invoice monitoring, accounts payable, payroll, staff scheduling, monitoring cold/dry storage, inventory and quality control.

Personnel Management

• Recruited and managed a staff of 120 with maximum retention rate resulting from

a concerted effort of positive reinforcement, empowerment, timely feedback and communication of expectations. Accomplished staff retention allowed for utmost in safety, professionalism and moral character as well as faster season start-up, cohesive execution of programs and familiar faces for return customers, overall maximizing each customer’s experience. Recruited locally and abroad annually to continually enhance staff competence. Practiced “Servant Leadership.”

• As Line Head, responsible for approximately 60 boys and 18 cabin counselors each session of summer camp. First hand experience converts to realistic expectations and goal orientation set for staff during program execution.

Education

University of Colorado

Major: English

Appalachian State University

Major: Anthropology

NOLS; National Outdoor Leadership School

Professional Certifications & Memberships

American Red Cross

Basic First Aid and Standard CPR- Current

American Canoe Association

White Water Kayak Instructor 1998 - 2003

Wilderness Medical Associates

Wilderness First Responder 1993-2003

Rescue 3

Swiftwater Rescue 1995-2003

American Camping Association

Certified Camp Directors Course 1993

Ambergris Caye Emergency Rescue Services

Association for Experiential Education

American Canoe Association

American Whitewater

NC Mountain Bike Association (President 1992-94)

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