Our Leadership

Year you started climbing? 1999
Year you started working at Sportrock 2000
Favorite climbing spot? Kaylmnos, Greece.
Most memorable climbing experience? Too many and all memorable for different reasons - sending a hard climb, being in a beautiful place, climbing with my husband and friends...
What roles have you had as a Sportrock employee? Instructor, Investor, President.
Passions in life? Creating opportunities in the climbing community that support people in discovering their potential!
How would your family or friends describe you in 3 words? Passionate, driven, reliable.
What would surprise us to learn about you? I LOVE M&Ms (dark chocolate specifically!).
If you could be any animal in the world - what would you be and why? Grizzly bear because I love the great outdoors, eating fish and scaring campers!

Year you started climbing? 1999
Year you started working at Sportrock 2002
Favorite climbing spot? Red Rocks, NV.
Most memorable climbing experience? The Great Arch in Stone Mountain, NC.
What roles have you had as a Sportrock employee? I’ve done them all.
Passions in life? Family.
How would your family or friends describe you in 3 words? Caring, Committed, Clean.
What would surprise us to learn about you? On hard, crimpy boulder problems, I only climb with 9 fingers.
If you could be any animal in the world - what would you be and why? A pet panda for my daughter because she LOVES them.

Year you started climbing? 2002
Year you started setting? 2004
Year you started working at Sportrock 2002
How many comps have you set for? 100+ including multiple World Cup and National Championships.
What is your goal when setting? For gym setting, I try to make every climb consistent in grade, with respect to height and reach, with flow and memorable sequences or movement. For comp setting, the goal is to create fun and fair routes or problems to separate the field of competitors. We try to test all abilities and styles for the overall "best" climber of the event.
How do you come up with route names? That's the hardest part of my day. Normally, it comes down to the first two words I can rhyme that are appropriate.
Favorite route name? One Crazy Hooker.
What inspires you to stay constantly creative? My reputation.
Setting pet peeves? When climbers do a sequence or move incorrectly or harder than what is obvious and then complain the movement was "awkward"... sometimes it's not the climb that’s awkward, it's the climber.
Words of advice to climbers who get stumped on your routes? Try harder.
Passions in life? My wife and son, cars and trucks, fixing stuff.
How would your family or friends describe you in 3 words? He’s a Workhorse.
What would surprise us to learn about you? I train and compete in Brazilian Jiu-Jutsu.
If you could be any animal in the world - what would you be and why? A Lion, because he's the King of the Jungle!

Year you started climbing? 2001
Year you started working at Sportrock 2010
Favorite climbing spot? Yosemite in early spring.
Most memorable climbing experience? One of my most memorable moments came at the end of the first day of my first big-wall climb. I was hating life, had been belaying on a 6 inch ledge for hours, was cold, hungry, and had forgotten my headlamp in the bottom of the haul bag. I was just about ready to give up on climbing forever when the sun started to set, and a cloud of a thousand swifts started feeding all around me. Climbing to me is all about stepping back to find beauty in these extreme environments and experiences. You have to get out of your head and recognize that it's a pretty cool planet.
What roles have you had as a Sportrock employee? Outdoor guide, Desk staff, Closing manager, Basic Skills instructor, Camp Director, Director of Alexandria, Director of Outdoor Programs.
Passions in life? Aside from climbing, I love baking bread, sailing, and playing dungeons and dragons.
How would your family or friends describe you in 3 words? Evidence-based, Glittery, Color-coordinated.
What would surprise us to learn about you? I once hitchhiked over 2,000 miles in 8 months around the southwest US climbing. I also started climbing after attending a Sportrock birthday party.
If you could be any animal in the world - what would you be and why? I would be a blue whale - it's the most alien landscape and fundamentally different experience I could imagine.

Year you started climbing? 1994
Year you started working at Sportrock 2003
Favorite climbing spot? Chattanooga, TN
Most memorable climbing experience? Leading my wife up Old Ladies at Seneca Rocks to propose on the south summit.
What roles have you had as a Sportrock employee? I started as a routesetter and continued with that part-time through most of my Sportrock career. I was also the SR Rockville Gym Director, Operations Director, Instructor, IT Department, Cleaner, Builder, Repairman, Purchaser, Installer, etc. And I continue to do many of these roles while also working as the Director of Membership.
Passions in life? My family is always at the top of my list. A recent and strong passion of mine though has become obstacle course racing. If I'm not spending time on either of those things, then you will probably find me in the shop fixing or building something.
How would your family or friends describe you in 3 words? Sarcastic (from my wife), Strong (from my daughter), Blank stare (from my son).
What would surprise us to learn about you? I can add poop and fart lyrics to most Disney tunes, especially Frozen and Descendants. If you want to get your daughter laughing, just sing “let it go, let it go, can’t hold it back anymore.”
If you could be any animal in the world - what would you be and why? Okapi. It is rarely seen and rarely heard of. However, when it finally comes to light you can only think that Prometheus’s children got a hold of the clay one day.

Year you started climbing? 2004
Year you started working at Sportrock 2007
Favorite climbing spot? Echo Cliffs or Red River Gorge.
Most memorable climbing experience? Deep water soloing in Mallorca, Spain.
What roles have you had as a Sportrock employee? Yoga Instructor, Climbing Instructor, Front Desk Staff, Outdoor Instructor, Lead Manager, Assistant Director, Director of Alexandria, Director of Programs & Events.
Passions in life? My family, jigsaw puzzles, my dogs, camping, climbing, running, baking, neurobiology, and eating.
How would your family or friends describe you in 3 words? Passionate, Crazy, Independent.
What would surprise us to learn about you? I used to run my own catering baking business, DC Treats, which served to over 15 bars/restaurants in the DC area, including Good Stuff Eatery and Sticky Rice.
If you could be any animal in the world - what would you be and why? An elephant because they are strong, intelligent, loyal to the group, and unstoppable.

Year you started climbing? 2002
Year you started working at Sportrock 2020
Favorite climbing spot? Joshua Tree National Park (Favorite) or Mt. Gretna (Local)
Most memorable climbing experience? Feeling nostalgia mixed with pride as one of my Virginia athletes climbed a V10 I had climbed a decade previously in California.
What roles have you had as a Sportrock employee? I was pulled in to direct the SRPI, but my hope is that I can sample a variety of roles at SR.
Passions in life? Climbing, teaching kids, analysis, research, foresight, and disaster policy.
How would your family or friends describe you in 3 words? Always. Overcomplicating. It.
What would surprise us to learn about you? I was a little quiet in my youth.
If you could be any animal in the world - what would you be and why? a dinosaur, because some day I'd like to be extinct and have people try to imagine me covered in feathers.

Year you started climbing? 2005
Year you started working at Sportrock 2010
Favorite climbing spot? Summerville, WV.
About Me:Climbing means a lot to me; I started climbing with my younger brother when I was 15 years old. The challenge of moving your body through space and moving between holds like a big puzzle is amazing. The gratification of trying something that seems impossible at first, and working it until it becomes doable, is something I hope everyone gets a chance to experience. The opportunity to help foster that feeling in others is a really rewarding one. If you could be any animal in the world - what would you be and why?A giraffe; it would be nice to use that tall beta.

Year you started climbing? 2008ish but wasn't very dedicated until 2018
Year you started working at Sportrock 2018
Favorite climbing spot? Undecided.
Most memorable climbing experience? First trip to The New...it rained day one hahaha. The sun came out for the rest of the trip and it was a great week.
What roles have you had as a Sportrock employee? Basic Belayer, Basic Skills Instructor, Front Desk Staff, Front Desk Manager, Marketing Manager
Passions in life? I'm an artist on the side; I like to draw and paint from time to time. Otherwise I genuinely just enjoy being active, spending time with my friends, and being outside in nature.
How would your family or friends describe you in 3 words?What.Is. Sleep?
What would surprise us to learn about you? I hate winter and being cold, but I love the snow.
If you could be any animal in the world - what would you be and why? Orca whale because the sea is cool, mysterious, and would be neat to explore...and also because I was going to say dolphin but Orcas are bigger tougher dolphins. Dolphins 2.0!

Year you started climbing? 2010
Year you started working at Sportrock 2010
Favorite climbing spot? Red River Gorge and Reeds Creek.
Most memorable climbing experience? The Red River Gorge was my first outdoor trip ever. I knew nothing and went with experts! It was my first lead belay and the first time I cleaned a route. I fell in love. And the experience reminded me that I was improving, growing, and getting over my fear of heights every day.
What roles have you had as a Sportrock employee? Birthday Party Instructor, Front Desk Staff, Front Desk Manager, Instructor, Retail Manager, Assistant Director of Alexandria.r
Passions in life? My passion in life is helping others work for and achieve goals. Every personality test I’ve taken led me to the same common theme: helping, teaching, and motivating others. Currently, I want to share the love of climbing with those who may not have the opportunity to do so and introduce a new mental and physical challenge into their lives.
How would your family or friends describe you in 3 words? Loyal, Enthusiastic, Supportive.
What would surprise us to learn about you? Other than being absolutely afraid of heights...I love love love the sound of lawnmowers because it reminds me of warmer weather and free time. It's the sound of summer! I played soccer since I was 2 years old, was a Middle School PE teacher, and completed a 500 mile hike. I also lived in Istanbul, Turkey for six months and scored free tea and coffee almost daily for three of them!
If you could be any animal in the world - what would you be and why? Golden Retriever - The extroverted, loyal cuddler that loves to play and meet new people. They are energetic, active, and they love and want to play with everyone. They also like meeting new people, going on long hikes and adventures, and sharing hugs and treats.