Leader Spotlight

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. It is a platform for our leaders to share tips and tricks, favorite memories, and inspiration for new and rising leaders.
Mountaineer of the Week: Duncan Cox

Mountaineer of the Week: Duncan Cox

Meet Duncan, a 31-year volunteer and sea kayaking aficionado who loves going anywhere as long as it's with his fellow paddlers.

Mountaineer of the Week: Kiana Ehsani

Mountaineer of the Week: Kiana Ehsani

Meet Kiana, a volunteer with our basic and intermediate climbing programs whose favorite post-trip meal of choice is lots and lots of pizza.

Mountaineer of the Week: Khrum Kashan

Mountaineer of the Week: Khrum Kashan

Meet Khrum, a 6-year volunteer whose favorite Mountaineers memory is climbing the west ridge of Mt. Stuart.

Mountaineer of the Week: Emily Smith

Mountaineer of the Week: Emily Smith

Meet Emily, a 4-year volunteer who didn't let rain and broken snowshoe straps keep her from falling in love with the mountains.

Mountaineer of the Week: Louise Suhr

Mountaineer of the Week: Louise Suhr

Meet Louise, a Mountaineers member who began volunteering back in 1999 and has been addicted to spending time with The Mountaineers community ever since!

Mountaineer of the Week: Karina Vanderbilt

Mountaineer of the Week: Karina Vanderbilt

Meet Karina, a 5-year Mountaineers volunteer and climb leader who cares deeply about creating inclusive and accessible experiences within the outdoor community.

Mountaineer of the Week: Hannah Karbarz

Mountaineer of the Week: Hannah Karbarz

Meet Hannah, a five-year Mountaineer who is passionate about providing equitable and non-hierarchical learning experiences for our members.

Mountaineer of the Week: Josh Taylor

Mountaineer of the Week: Josh Taylor

Meet Josh Taylor, a volunteer leader with the Everett Branch and member of the Equity & Inclusion Working Group. Josh has benefited from the experience from The Mountaineers community and is proud to pay it forward.   

Foothills Volunteer Spotlight: Susan Conbere

Foothills Volunteer Spotlight: Susan Conbere

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Foothills Branch. This month we celebrate Susan Conbere, a backpacking, hike, and snowshoe leader.

Leader Spotlight: Meredith Mosman

Leader Spotlight: Meredith Mosman

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: Meredith Mosman. She is a lifelong learner who aims to lead with kindness, compassion, and humor.

Leader Spotlight: Alyssa Opland

Leader Spotlight: Alyssa Opland

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: Alyssa Opland. She leads climbing programs with the Tacoma Branch and focuses on inclusive leadership.

Leader Spotlight: SuJ'n Chon

Leader Spotlight: SuJ'n Chon

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: SuJ'n Chon, a Seattle branch leader who has volunteered with The Mountaineers for the past 11 years.

Leader Spotlight: Peter Tran

Leader Spotlight: Peter Tran

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: Peter Tran. Peter is our 2021 Mountaineers Service Award recipient and current chair of the Foothills Climbing Committee.

Leader Spotlight: Brynne Koscianski

Leader Spotlight: Brynne Koscianski

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: Brynne Koscianski. She is a Mountaineers Board Director and prospective Mini Mountaineers volunteer!

Leader Spotlight: Joel Guay

Leader Spotlight: Joel Guay

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: Joel Guay, a Sea Kayak leader.

Leader Spotlight: Randy Oakley

Leader Spotlight: Randy Oakley

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: Randy Oakley, a backcountry skiing and trail running leader.

Leader Spotlight: Takeo Kuraishi

Leader Spotlight: Takeo Kuraishi

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: Takeo Kuraishi. A Mountaineers Board Director and a climbing leader who has been volunteering with The Mountaineers for 21 years.

Leader Spotlight: Larry Walker

Leader Spotlight: Larry Walker

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: Larry Walker. A volunteer involved with various activities and committees through the Kitsap and Tacoma Branch.

Leader Spotlight: Molly Kirk

Leader Spotlight: Molly Kirk

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: Molly Kirk, a volunteer with Everett's Climbing and Nordic Skiing program.

Leader Spotlight: Alan Kearney

Leader Spotlight: Alan Kearney

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: Alan Kearney, a volunteer involved with the Alpine Ambassadors and Bellingham's climbing program.

Leader Spotlight: Gretchen Ta

Leader Spotlight: Gretchen Ta

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: Gretchen Ta, a volunteer leader deeply involved with various committees through the Kitsap Branch.

Leader Spotlight: James Pierson

Leader Spotlight: James Pierson

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: James Pierson. He is a 14 year member who started with the Olympia Branch and now helps with the Basic and Intermediate Climbing Courses in Bellingham!

Leader Spotlight: Deloa Dalby

Leader Spotlight: Deloa Dalby

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: Deloa Dalby. She is a volunteer leader with the Foothills Branch who is passionate about trail restoration and stewarding our public lands.

Leader Spotlight: Laurel Geisbush

Leader Spotlight: Laurel Geisbush

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: Laurel Geisbush. She is a leader with the Everett Branch who says that joining The Mountaineers to take the Basic Climbing course is one of the best decisions she's made in her life!

Leader Spotlight: Alina Badus

Leader Spotlight: Alina Badus

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: Alina Badus. She is an active volunteer with the Seattle hiking, snowshoeing, and climbing programs who believes there's no single way to be an effective leader.

Leader Spotlight: Danny Casady

Leader Spotlight: Danny Casady

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: Danny Casady. He is a 6-year member who loves the experience of introducing fellow members to the mountains, coast, or an alpine lake for the first time!

Leader Spotlight: Steve Payne

Leader Spotlight: Steve Payne

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: Steve Payne. He is a 15-year member whose deep volunteerism and leadership was inspired by participation in our Conditioning Hiking Series (CHS) program.

Leader Spotlight: Barbara Folmer

Leader Spotlight: Barbara Folmer

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: Barbara Folmer. She is 13-year member with the Foothills Branch who has simple advice for fellow leaders - lead trips you're excited about and communicate clear expectations. People have a good trip when they've into the plan!

Leader Spotlight: Chase Gruszewski

Leader Spotlight: Chase Gruszewski

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: Chase Gruszewski. He is a 10 year member and active climb leader who says the Kitsap Branch is his Mountaineers hero!

Leader Spotlight: Bruce Durham

Leader Spotlight: Bruce Durham

Leader Spotlight is a monthly blog to showcase our incredible volunteer leadership at The Mountaineers. Meet this month's featured leader: Bruce Durham. He is a self-proclaimed "paddling enthusiast" who continues to plan and schedule kayaking day trips that allow fellow Mountaineers to get out into the great outdoors during the pandemic.