meet our 2011 Staff!

	John Page Sunny Cove's founders love for Alaska began in 1983 on a chance opportunity to test skis for Powder Magazine at the Ruth Glacier. While traveling Alaska John learned photography while writing a book about Wrangell-St.Elias, gained interpersonal skills serving as an Executive Director for several non-profits, guided kayaking trips in Prince William Sound and Kenai Fjords, and challenged his skiing abilities covering the World Extreme Skiing competitions in Valdez. John's love for Alaskan life and natural beauty quickly becomes evident whenever he has an opportunity to share his anecdotes or an opportunity to get outside and play. His enthusiasm and unrelenting energy generates an excitement for the natural world to all who share experiences with him.
	Stephanie Millane Stephanie grew up in the woods of Wisconsin building forts, fishing, hunting and canoeing. She began working seasonally in the ski industry early in her 20's but needed to find a way to fill her summers. In 1998 she began her guiding career leading bicycling trips in SE AK and was eventually promoted to lead guide and assistant manager. After four years of bike trips Stephanie opted to go to river rafting guide school and to obtain a Wilderness First Responder certification in Haines, AK. After two years of sales management and guiding river trips Stephanie found herself desiring to spend time with her family. One summer leading canoeing trips in WI prompted her to again head North. Stephanie is now in her 6th year with Sunny Cove as our Operations Manager.
	Kat Chandler Kat spent many years in Florida pursuing her many passions and working as a paralegal and then as a rep for an aerospace component company. Opportunities for sea kayaking, whitewater kayaking, camping, fishing, biking and hiking occupied Kat in her free time year round. In 2004 Kat and a group of friends booked a custom kayak/camping trip with Sunny Cove into Northwestern Fjords. While there the vastness and beauty of the land and it's people inspired Kat. In 2006 she made the journey across the country to make Seward home. This will be Kat's 6th season with Sunny Cove as our Office Manager .
	Audrey Jackson Audrey originally hails from Paonia, CO and grew up in an active family who had her camping, backpacking, fishing, skiing and floating rivers and lakes. While attending Colorado College she was a member of the Outdoor Recreational Committee and lead trips ranging from climbing the Colorado 14ers to the canyons of Utah. Along the way Audrey has obtained her Wilderness First Responder, Basic Fire Fighting, Fire Safety and First Aid Coast Guard certificates. This will be her 6th summer in Alaska and 3rd summer in Seward. Her first three years in Alaska were in Talkeetna before moving to Seward. While in Seward worked as a deckhand before joining the Sunny Cove staff. This is her fourth season with Sunny Cove.
	Brian Studiale Brian was born and raised in the small city of Lakeland, FL. He's been paddling on the Gulf of Mexico for as long as memory serves and is embarking on his first adventure to Alaska. Brian is a very recent college graduate. During college he spent his summers between semesters as a rafting guide on the beautiful Ocoee River of Eastern Tennessee. Brian recently earned his WIlderness First Responder certification and is looking forward to his first summer with Sunny Cove.
	Betsi Oliver I come from suburban Boston, where I would escape to the forests of New Hampshire every summer. The two months of trees and lake and good company there felt more like my life than the rest of the year did. I love to learn, which has led to me to travel and work abroad, take an assortment of jobs, and to attain a college degree. After school I planned to travel the world forever. However, that changed when I fell in love - with Alaska! In my travels I kept coming back to this magnificent state, and it seems there are enough new experiences and wonderful people here to last me a lifetime. So in January 2010 I decided to make the move up here permanent.... at least for now. I love living in Anchorage in the winter, but in the summer I just need to get somewhere smaller people-wise and larger nature-wise. Things that excite me are: learning everything there is to know about Alaska, harvesting natural foods, building friendships, discussing abstract ideas, and of course, recreating outside. I look forward to this season doing all those things at Sunny Cove!
	Caitlin Parker Caitlin was born and raised in a small mountain town in North-Central Idaho. She grew up skiing, riding bikes, hiking, camping, and being outside nearly all of the time. Growing up in such a remote area instilled in her both the desire to get out and see what else there is, as well as a deep appreciation and love for nature and the outdoors. Over the past few years she's been rambling. Caitlin's done a bit of foreign travel, as well as lived in Idaho, Arizona, and most recently living in Seattle Washington. In between travel she's worked for the forest service fighting wild-land fires, and last winter worked at a mountain teaching snowboard lessons. Caitlin enjoys playing tennis, painting, snowboarding, skiing, and recently has gotten really into mountain biking. She has a love for venturing places she's not yet been, seeing different cultures and ways of life, and learning things unknown to her.
	Daniel Perry Daniel grew up in Alaska canoeing, nordic, alpine and backcountry skiing, playing hockey, and camping with his family out of their VW bus and Cessna 170. After graduating from Pomona College with a degree in Geology he lived in the North Cascades, Spain, Juneau and Anchorage before settling in Seattle. While there he earned a degree in Violin Performance. Eventually he ended up in Idaho, playing with the Boise Philharmonic, Boise Baroque Orchestra, Opera Idaho, Castle Rock String Quartet and teaching violin to children ages 4 to 64. Daniel's hobbies include kayaking, sailing, climbing, alpine and nordic skiing and backpacking. He has worked as a ski patroller in Idaho, a park guide in Utah and a park ranger in Yellowstone. Daniel is heading back to Alaska to enjoy a summer of paddling with Sunny Cove. Along the way he will be earning his WIlderness First Responder certification.
	Forest Hoff Surrounded by native burial mounds and singing cottonwoods, this Iowa born clod stomper spent his childhood exploring the creeks of Warren County. Craving to know what was beyond those creeks, he packed up his VW bus and headed to college in Cedar Falls. There he began to take groups of students exploring through the University's outdoor program. With the extra time that summer and winter brought, he decided to jump the pond and find out what was going on in far off lands. During the autumn and spring, you will find him perusing the stacks at the library while he finishes his M.A. in Linguistics. He continues to share weekend and college break adventures with students when he is not participating in the IOWA acronym (intellects out wandering around) and cultivating wild teas and edibles. Everyday is an adventure for Forest, and he is excited to make your tour an exciting and fascinating journey. See you in Sunny Cove!
	Jared Fink Jared was Born and raised in western Alaska, on Lake Clark. After growing up in the outdoors around the guiding industry he decided that after high school guiding was the obvious choice. After two seasons though he grew an interest in emergency medicine, went off to college and left guiding behind. Never giving up his love for the outdoors he continued pursuing water and snow sports in his off time. Finally after 4 years of school and 3 years working as an EMT he decided to get back to his roots and back in to the outdoors and joined the crew at sunny cove. He is now putting down roots in Seward and is expecting his first baby in the fall. When he isn't kayaking he can be found either in his Stand Up Paddle Board or in his kitchen exploring another life long passion cooking.
	Kayti Rowen Hey everyone, I’m Kayti. I was born and raised on the flat lands of the Great Plains. Growing up in a town of 150 people in South Dakota, I always knew I had to get out. I then decided to journey as far away from SD as I could get and headed up to Alaska. My plans were to pursue a degree in Marine Biology once I got up to AK but everything changed when I took my very first look at the mountains. I knew I had to do whatever I could to be in the mountains, and that moment changed my life forever. I am now attending Alaska Pacific University majoring in Outdoor Studies, Senior Year!! What! Since I started OS my passion for the outdoors grew deeper as I went on every expedition. I have took interest in backpacking, skiing, glacier travel, canoeing but what really hit the core was sea kayaking. This will be my second season with Sunny Cove, and I can’t wait for summer. Looking forward to seeing everyone again! Enjoy the Sunshine!
	Matthew Barnes Born and raised around Atlanta, Georgia, Matthew has a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Emory University. He spent several years working outdoors in the "Green" Industry of landscaping and retail gardening. But the lack of sustainable, eco-friendly practice turned him off the career path and onto a meandering trail in search of genuine wilderness experience and more fulfilling work. As an avid hiker with a burgeoning passion for paddling, he loaded up his kayak, hopped in the old truck, and hit the road. Last summer, numerous lakes and streams later, he found his way up to Alaska on an extended road trip which included working in Anchorage, backpacking in the Chugach range, and a sea kayaking excursion in Prince William Sound. Like so many before him, he fell in love with the majestic waterways, mountains, and glaciers. In a search for a means to return to Alaska, Matthew found employment with Sunny Cove. During his travels north he is continuing to explore and has obtained his Wilderness First Responder certification.
	joellyne mackinnon Born in Wasilla, raised on moose meat and salmon, Jo's nothing like Sarah Palin. An artist at heart she enjoys creating, exploring new places and cultures, and making the most of life's moments. For the last four years Jo has divided her life between Alaska and Guatemala. Her passion for good coffee has made Sunny Cup the place to drink. A Sunny Cove employee for nearly 10 years - mostly as a guide, she now serves as chief barista and manager of Sunny Cup.
	Michele Lacsamana Michele, originally from Texas, received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art History from the University of Texas in Austin. She worked for various art museums for 10 years before beginning to work seasonally in national parks and ski areas in Washington state. Her passion for travel has taken her to Patagonia, Egypt, Italy, Indonesia and many places in between. She enjoys yoga, hiking and camping, and is learning how to rock climb, ski and kayak. This is her second summer in Alaska and working for Sunny Cove.
	Sabrina Krewin I was born and raised in Kent, a suburb 20 miles south of Seattle. I enjoyed a childhood of hiking, camping and skiing. It’s hard to say where my permanent home is, because I move around a lot. I studied at UCLA, and after graduating I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ghana, West Africa. During this time I stumbled across one of my life passions, paragliding. In terms of work, it is my objective to have as random of a resume as possible! So far I’ve worked as a freelance graphic designer, art teacher at a school for deaf children, wilderness therapy counselor, US Forest Service employee and ski instructor. In general, I am an outdoor junkie and feel happy when surrounded by a countless number of trees and mountains or vast stretches of desert. I love the smell of campfires, powder face shots and spontaneous dance parties! In terms of life goals, I hope that I can stay healthy and happy while continuing to explore new places and new opportunities. The combination of careful planning and lots of reckless optimism helps me to achieve my life dreams.
	Nicole Geils I grew-up in Girdwood, Alaska experiencing all that this amazing state has to offer… from skiing to sailing, I am an adventurer at heart. After graduating from Portland State University with a Business & Marketing Degree, I moved back to Alaska. I spend most of my free time, with camera in hand, exploring the mountains during winter and voyaging the open oceans during summer. Living aboard our little boat, s/v Mystic Knot, my husband Thom, our beloved dog Chace, and I explore Resurrection Bay, Aialik Bay, and Prince William Sound all summer long. When the snow blankets the mountains, we move to Girdwood and fill our winter months making turns on Mt. Alyeska. I feel so lucky to live in a state that offers extraordinary potential for photographic expression with its dramatic landscapes and engaging wildlife. In short, I heart ALASKA, and I look forward to helping you enjoy this majestic state.
	hannah Craig My childhood was split between the two great states of Colorado and Iowa! I went from hiking and camping with my family in the mountains to biking the flat lands through the corn fields! Growing up in central Iowa I spent much of my time swimming, creek walking, swimming some more, and eating as much ice cream as I possibly could. I currently attend the University of Northern Iowa studying Communication Disorders and Sciences where I still eat ice cream. My weekends have consisted of taking students on adventure trips rock climbing, backpacking, and cross country skiing through our Outdoors program. It has been one heck of a ride and Alaska is next on the list. This is my first summer with Sunny Cove and I am looking forward to making this summer become one of the greatest adventures of my life!