Michael O'Connell

Experience: 8 + yrs outdoor facilitator/leader, 6 years kayaking

Highlights: NOLS Alumni, SUNY Cortland Alumni, Appalachian Trail 100 mile thru hike, Climbed Devils Tower, WY & Zugspitze, Germany

Certifications: Leave No Trace Instructor, Wilderness First Aid

For Dollars: Hudson Valley Outfitters Program Coordinator & Retail Sales

For Fun: Rock Climbing, Mountain Biking, Backpacking, paddling

Hometown: Fishkill, NY

JED LUBY

Experience: 30 + yrs outdoor adventures, 8 years sea kayaking

Highlights: Paddling Eastern Canada, Pacific Northwest, Scotland & Wales

Certifications: BCU Coach L3 Sea aspirant, 4* sea, ACA CKI OW, Rolling, Tidal, Maine Guide

For Dollars: Medical Equipment Consultant (day job), Team North Atlantic (passion)

For Fun: Paddling, hiking, yoga, music, chess

Hometown: Goffstown, NH

JOHNNY RAMA

Experience: 20+ years kayaking

Highlights: Zambezi International White Water School Founder

Certifications: ACA Whitewater, WEMT

For Dollars: Jet 2 Adventures

For Fun: Dad, Qigong, Yoga

Hometown: Stockbridge, MA

BILL BURNHAM

Experience: 8 years kayaking

Highlights: Author, Hiking Virginia; trekking in the Yukon, Ireland & Albania

Certifications: ACA, LNT

For Dollars: Write, guide

For Fun: Read, sail, watch baseball

Hometown: Key Largo, FL

SUZANNE HUTCHINSON

Experience:  Long time outdoorswoman with 6 years sea kayaking who dabbles in surf and bigger water when it’s available.
Highlights: Paddling the eastern seaboard from Jonesport, Maine to Georgia along with Cornwall, England and Scotland
Certifications:  BCU Coach L2 trainee, 4* sea, Maine Guide, P&H Team Paddler (http://www.phpaddlers.com/)
Day Job: Work in the toy industry.
Fun Stuff:  Paddling – quiet water when the bumpy stuff isn’t around, kayak surfing when surfs up, learning how to use my surf ski. Camping!
Hometown: Groveland, MA

JOSH GREGORY

Experience: 15+ years, canoe and kayak

Highlights: Instructor, Guide and Retail Associate at Florida Bay Outfitters, Canoe Kentucky

Certifications: ACA Coastal Kayak Instructor Certification

For Dollars: Custom Cabinetry and Design

For Fun: Paddling, Sailing, Hiking, Woodworking, Music, Cooking, Reading

Hometown: Midway, KY

EVAN SHAW

Experience: kayaking instructor, backpacking, mountaineering, bicycle racing

Highlights: ADK Thursday Rock n Roll Sessions, kayaking trips

Certifications: leadership training, Wilderness First Responder

For Dollars: Child Psychologist

For Fun: Enjoying every moment with nature, camaraderie, photography or just lazing about.

Hometown: Ballston Spa

BONNIE K. ALDINGER

Experience: 8 years kayaking

Highlights: All around Waterwoman

Certifications:  BCU 4 star

For Dollars: Partner at Manhattan Kayak Co (99-02), schooner crew, finance analyst in children’s publishing

For Fun: Surfski

JASON LEACH

Experience: 3+ years of kayaking

Highlights: Expeditionary Studies Minor, Plattsburgh State University

Certifications: BCU Four Star Paddler, Aspirant Level 2 Coach, Wilderness First Responder

For Fun: Whitewater, Backpacking and School

GILLIAN BLACK

Experience: 17+ years of kayaking

Highlights: 2 years Outward Bound in South Africa

Certifications: ACA Open Water

For Dollars: Vault.com – Advertising Executive

For Fun: Kayaking & Professional Development Programs

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

ALAN MAPES

Experience: Paddling 35 years, sea kayaking 7 years
Highlights: Great Hudson River Paddle, Cape Cod paddling, Greenland techniques
Trainings completed: BCU 3 Star, 4 Star, Canoe Safety
Instructing: Kayak classes for Adirondack Mt. Club and NYSDEC
For dollars: Environmental Educator/Adminstrator for NYSDEC
For fun: kayaking, kayak building, paddle making, photography
Hometown: Delmar, NY

TERI BARR

Experience: 8+ years kayaking

Highlights: Great Hudson River Paddle Partner

For Dollars: Hudson Valley Outfitters - Owner

For Fun: Kayaking, Hiking, Skiing, Pilates, Yoga

Hometown: Cold Spring, NY

JOHNNY MILLER

Experience: 20 + years of kayaking and outdoor adventures

Highlights: Whitewater kayaking in Costa Rica, Panama, Nepal, Canada

Certifications: ACA, Wilderness First Responder, New York State Guide

For Dollars: Outdoor recreation Consultant, GHRP, Adventure Guide, Saratoga Outfitters Mountaineering & Paddling (Owner 1997-2002)

For Fun: Backcountry Skiing, Biking, Woodworking

Hometown: Saratoga Springs, NY