As a leader, teacher, and facilitator

I center collaboration, curiosity and directness. I believe interpersonal conflict can be an important site of connection, if only we turn toward it. I am known for my thoughtful and thought-provoking communication style and my willingness to admit what I still have yet to learn.

I’ve led backcountry trail crews, directed wilderness skills and LARPing camps, trained people to use chainsaws, managed trail systems, coordinated volunteers, taught environmental skills, worked on many farms, been a Wilderness EMT on trail crews, and coordinated AmeriCorps programs, among other roles. I have taught hundreds of people all sorts of skills under circumstances where conflict resolution and de-escalation were central to success.

Thanks to living in harsh conditions and close quarters with all sorts of people, I carry with me a strong sense of the resiliency of the human spirit, and a belief in the power of community. It is important to me that these shine through wherever I go, especially when I am in a teaching role.

Unlike many of today’s leaders (bosses! managers!), I have been through multiple immersive leadership development trainings where I was offered direct feedback and given the opportunity to experiment and self-correct. Here, I have reshaped my ideas about when and why we each deserve power and voice, and come away believing that leadership works best when bestowed—and frequently checked—by the individuals our leaders serve.

As a Mental Health First Aid instructor, I am proud to have been given the first 100% score ever awarded by my National Trainer when I was having my instruction methods evaluated for certification.

If you are interested in testimonials, please reach out — I’m happy to provide you with feedback about my strengths and shortcomings that I’ve received from students, peers, and team members in my charge, or to connect you directly to my references.