meet our leadership team

Avid4 Adventure is committed to creating and maintaining a diverse, inclusive, welcoming, and equitable environment for all. Our team has a broad diversity of lived experiences. However, we are working hard to achieve more racial and ethnic diversity for our team, and our broader Outdoor Industry community. To read more about our justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion commitments and work, please visit our culture of inclusivity page.

Dave Secunda

Founder & CEO
David has spent his career as a national advocate for outdoor recreation and its positive effects. After gaining his degree in recreation, he worked for Outward Bound in the UK and US before becoming the Director of Outdoor Education at the University of Colorado. During his tenure, he helped found the Association for Outdoor Recreation and Education, as well as the Outdoor Network, a leading outdoor trade publication. Subsequently, he became the executive director of the Outdoor Industry Association, where his accomplishments included launching a DC lobbying operation, creating the first industry census of sales, pioneering the first accreditation program for climbing gyms and designing some of the first comprehensive outdoor recreation participation studies. Additionally, he served as a founding board member for the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, as well as a board member for the American Hiking Society, American Camp Association RMS and the Student Conservation Association (SCA). Later, David founded PlanetOutdoors, an online retailer of outdoor recreation products, and was awarded the designation of Small Business CEO of the Year by the Denver Post. After selling the company in 2001, he switched tracks and began working with Sequel Venture Partners and Mobius Venture Capital as an Entrepreneur in Residence. David felt distant from his outdoor roots, so he moved on to found Avid4 Adventure in 2004. He is the recipient of the Jim Rennee Outdoor Industry Leadership Award as well as the Woodchuck Award. He has served as the Governor Appointed Chairman of the Licensing Advisory Committee of the Colorado Department of Human Services which focuses on licensing and standards for youth programs in Colorado. After being away from Avid4 Adventure for a decade leading another company, he returned as CEO in 2023.

Sarah Pekala

Chief Operations Officer
Sarah has been teaching in the outdoors since 2002. She attended school at the University of North Carolina at Asheville and graduated with a degree in Natural Resource Management. Much of her experience began during college, where she was actively involved in her university’s outdoor program, UNCA Outdoors. After graduating, Sarah went in search of bigger mountains and found herself in Colorado. She has played in the woods with different organizations, including time spent as an instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School. Sarah found Avid4 Adventure as an instructor in 2007 and never looked back- she's since been a Camp Director, Regional Manager and now serves as our Chief Program Officer. It's safe to say she has a passion for creation, management and execution of quality outdoor programming. What drew Sarah to Avid4 way back when remains the same to this day- to inspire kids to find an appreciation of the outdoors and the transformations that can come from spending time outside. While she still loves making those individual connections with our campers and staff, she also finds joy in her current role by supporting the program team. When not with Avid4, Sarah can be found cooking, traveling and adventuring with her husband, daughter and their two ridiculous labs.

Heather Davies

VP of Overnight Programs​
Heather developed a love for the outdoors by attending summer camp every year in Michigan. As she moved on to become a camp staff member, she discovered a passion for the positive changes that she saw in her fellow staff, campers, and herself. This experience led her to pursue a degree in Outdoor Recreation, Leadership, and Management from Northern Michigan University. Heather has worked in the outdoors for over 15 years, including a memorable summer as a backpacking guide in the San Juan Mountains in Colorado. She strongly believes in the value of camps in filling the need for children to be known and to know others. When she is not working at camp, Heather enjoys backpacking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing with her husband and daughter.

Mike Arnold

Chief Marketing Officer
Mike moved his family to Colorado in 2011 in search of sunshine, mountains, and outdoor adventure: climbing 14ers, biking, and trail running. Mike initially became aware of Avid4 Adventure years ago when his kids spent multiple summers enjoying Avid camps. Mike loves participating in the growth and development of kids, and enjoys coaching youth sports as well as volunteering in several school and military-related activities. As the Chief Marketing Officer, Mike is passionate about Avid4 Adventure's mission and vision, and elevating the company's voice on the importance of screen-free time outdoors with friends. Mike started his marketing career in brand management at Procter & Gamble, and then transitioned into growing small and medium-sized companies including start ups. Prior to a career in Marketing, Mike graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and successfully completed U.S. Navy Flight School. He operated as a Mission Commander while performing missions in several countries, continents, and oceans.

Robb Green

Events Manager​
Robb was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and has had a love for the outdoors his entire life. After being transferred by MicroSoft to Colorado in 2000 he has rearranged his career to better suit his active lifestyle, teaching snowboard lessons in the winter months and working for Open Space during the summer months before joining Avid4 Adventure in 2008. In his free time, Robb has seized the opportunity to pursue his passion for Mountain biking, Hiking, Fishing, Rock Climbing, snowboarding or most anything else you could think to do in the mountains. ’With all of the beautiful days Colorado has to offer I can’t sit still for a moment’.​

Claire Dunlap

Resident Camp Manager - Windy Peak​
Claire discovered her passion for working with kids at camp the summer of 2010 and has had the pleasure of working in the summer camp industry every year since. She spent her first summer working at Southwoods, a camp in Upstate New York, as an Outdoor Adventure Instructor, soon after becoming the Director of the program. Claire was charged with leading her staff and campers on hiking, camping, mountain biking, caving, rock climbing, and paddling adventures all over the Adirondacks. She’s directed programs for the YMCA and Camp Adventure, where she worked on military bases to serve in their Child Development Centers. “I love working with kids because it provides an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself. I enjoy empowering campers to be themselves, to grow outside their comfort zones in a safe and supportive environment, and to realize their potential, all while discovering new passions and creating memories that will last a lifetime! I love cultivating a community that feels like family at Windy Peak!” Claire started with Avid4 Adventure in 2018. She spent the first two summer’s as the Assistant Director at Windy Peak, learning the ins and outs of what it takes to provide a positive experience for campers, parents and staff, to now having served multiple years as the Director. She went to Murray State University in her home state of Kentucky, where she majored in Outdoor Recreation and Youth and Nonprofit Leadership. When Claire’s not working you can find her involved in her church community, exploring the outdoors by way of hiking or skiing, traveling the world, and spending quality time with friends and family. During the summer, catch her at camp in her unicorn onesie leading a song by the campfire!

Aimee Gunn

Expedition National Manager​
Aimee grew up with the sand between her toes on the beaches of southern Florida. Her appreciation of nature and the outdoors led her to get a degree in Natural Resource Conservation from the University of Florida. Eager to encourage youth to become more passionate about the outdoors and nature, Aimee worked in a variety of settings including facilitating leadership initiatives at camps in Maine, guiding therapeutic wilderness survival trips in Utah, working to promote backpacking skills in Colorado, and managing experiential service learning trips across the globe on every continent since 2007. Aimee has spent the last 10 years traveling between the South Pacific Islands and the United States creating and managing immersive travel experiences for youth focused on leadership, cultural exchange, environmental education, and ethical travel. She is a Leave No Trace Educator, an American Red Cross Lifeguard Trainer, has several wilderness medicine and mental health certifications and is currently pursuing her Masters in Leadership in the Outdoor Recreation Industry through the University of Denver. Serving as the Expeditions National Manager Aimee is excited to continue to encourage Avid campers to push themselves in outdoor pursuits with inclusive and innovative programming. When not working, she can be found getting first tracks on her snowboard, trying to catch waves on her longboard, or a backpacking trip in the wilderness.

Tori Madsen

Talent Acquisition Operations Manager
Tori discovered her love for the outdoors in her own backyard in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. A self-taught naturalist and bushcrafter, Tori spent many years working in youth recreation before transitioning to the tech industry where she received numerous awards and recognitions in her time as an HR Manager and Talent Acquisition leader. She led companies through several Best Place to Work awards, participated in industry panels, and was featured in a Washington Post best selling book on operational excellence. After completing her Masters in Public Administration, she returned to her true calling - finding and empowering recreation professionals to do their best work in changing young lives. You can now find her SUPing & hiking with her family of three, homesteading, sustainably foraging, and thrifting.

Heidi Gordon

Customer Support Manager​
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers. Heidi was born and raised in sunny Colorado and grew up in the Evergreen/Conifer area surrounded by the wilderness which initially sparked her love for the environment and adventure. Heidi graduated from the University of Colorado - Denver with a Bachelors Degree in Geography and Earth Sciences that continued her passion for the outdoors. Her love for the outdoors and desire to connect younger generations with their environment brought her to apply to be a Day Camp Instructor in 2017 at the Highlands Ranch and Greenwood Village Day Camps. Heidi joined the team in 2018 and now manages the Avid4 Customer Support Team. In her free time, Heidi likes to ski, SUP, kayak, hike, listen to music and podcasts, travel, and spend time in the mountains with family and friends.

Katie Morton

Regional Manager
Born and raised in Colorado, Katie grew up with a healthy dose of play: swimming, family bike rides and imagining the greenspaces in her neighborhood as expansive wild places. She always carried with her a spark of curiosity around beautiful places, leading her to travels to Cambodia, Thailand and Haiti as well as exploring the Colorado backcountry. Her true love of the outdoors ignited after a high school backpacking trip in the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness of Northwestern Colorado. Katie received a Bachelor's in International Affairs from the University of Colorado Boulder alongside minors in Chinese and Leadership Studies. Her love of experiential education and the role it has had in her personal life led her into international higher education, where she worked with WorldStrides on custom programs around the world. In 2020, the international education landscape shifted, and Katie joined Avid4 Adventure for the first time as a Camp at Home Instructor. In the years that have followed, she has also been an Assistant Camp Director with Avid4 Adventure in Boulder, returned to WorldStrides for a few more travel seasons and empowered young entrepreneurs at the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the Leeds School of Business. Katie loves to support young people as they get out of their comfort zone, whether that be traveling to a remote part of the world or learning how to ride a bike for the first time. In her spare time, you can find Katie training for big trail runs, hiking, doing yoga and wildflower spotting. She also enjoys a great podcast or book on her rest days. She splits her time between her home state of Colorado and Montana, where her husband is pursuing a Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy (and "double-majoring" in bikes).

Heather Mrozek Novak

Compliance Manager
Heather grew up in the Midwest, studying music intensely from early childhood through college. Her earliest outdoor memories are camping and canoeing with her family in northern MN, and exploring the lake in her rural IL back yard. She now lives in Bailey, CO. Heather studied Music Education at the University of Illinois and spent her college summers working at Isle Royale National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. She discovered backpacking and kayaking at Isle Royale, then rock climbing and skiing in CO. After graduating from U of I, she made a beeline for the mountains before the ink on her diploma had dried. Heather began working for Avid4 Adventure in 2011, starting as a day camp instructor. By the end of staff training week, she knew she wanted to build a career with Avid4 Adventure. Over the years, Heather has held a variety of roles with Avid4 including 3 summers as Golden Day Camp Director and 2 years as a Staffing & Onboarding Specialist before joining the HQ team as a CO Regional Manager from 2016-2022. Heather now holds the role of Compliance Manager, ensuring that Avid4 Adventure upholds the highest standards in ACA Accreditation, B Corp Certification, and State Childcare Licensing. She is constantly inspired by Avid's mission to empower kids in the outdoors. Heather is also an Avid4 camp parent, and loves watching her own daughter build skills, gain confidence, and experience the joy of outdoor adventure at camp. Outside of work, Heather loves spending time outside with her husband and daughter: camping, paddling, climbing, skiing, biking and hiking around CO and beyond.

Vanessa Olivieri

VP of Day Camps​
While growing up in the California Bay Area, Vanessa developed a love for the environment through backyard play, summer camp with Girl Scouts, and hiking on family vacations. Her early school-aged experiences with outdoor education inspired her to pursue a BS in Wildlife Biology at the University of California, Davis. Vanessa has worked as an on-trail teacher in the coastal Redwoods, a medic for youth, a leader of urban outdoor summer activities, a field instructor for wilderness therapy programs, and as an Assistant Camp Director for Avid4 Adventure. She has kayaked in Patagonia, backpacked in Thailand, summited Mt. Kenya, and hiked the Alta Via 1 in Italy. Vanessa was an EMT for 10 years, has completed Mental Health First Aid, speaks Spanish, and can identify birds by their call or song. Since beginning work at Avid, Vanessa has become a dog mom, a wife, a mother of two children and has filled the professional roles of Assistant Director, Regional Manager, Senior Regional Manager, and now VP of Day Camps.

Tyler Keyes

Sr. Operations Manager​
Tyler spent his childhood in Southeastern Pennsylvania and loved spending as much time as he could outside. He went on plenty of hikes and camping trips with his family at a young age. Throughout high school, his focus turned from soccer, to trails. Daily trail runs and mountain bike rides through the muddy and rocky trails tested his bike handling skills. He pursued his passions through college by attending Garrett County's Adventure Sports Institute in Maryland. Surrounded by West Virginia, Tyler had a wonderful backyard to rock climb, mountain bike, whitewater raft, and learn the skills necessary to be an outdoor professional. Tyler then went on to earn his B.S. at Slippery Rock University. If you had to sum up the adventures that Tyler enjoys the most, it would be categorized as “Type 2 Fun.” From completing Leadville’s Leadman Challenge, to commuting to work by bike on the icy streets, Tyler is always up for a challenge. Currently he is raising 2 sons which is a whole new challenge. After being hired as a mountain bike instructor in 2013, Tyler has now worked with Avid4 for over 10 years and has watched the number of van, trailer, & bike wheels to manage grow exponentially. He enjoys figuring out the logistical puzzle to ensure our camps have the equipment to operate.

Cynthia Podrouzek

Sr Mgr Talent Acquisition
Originally from Canada, Cynthia has had the opportunity to live and travel across beautiful North America and abroad; gaining an appreciation for the wonders that the great outdoors has to offer. After a few years in Japan, she and her partner, Tim, had truly found their calling in realizing that getting outside could be a lifestyle AND a career! She returned to Penn State University and graduated with High Distinction with a BS in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management, receiving multiple scholarships and awards. Shortly after, she packed her bags and headed west in search of bigger mountains and deeper snow. Cynthia has been fortunate to have many outdoor adventures both personally and professionally. She has been a whitewater raft guide (and rafted the Grand Canyon), a backpacking guide, a backcountry ski guide, a naturalist, a program manager, and much, much more. She has facilitated programs from coast to coast and in multiple countries in Asia. After working for the Army guiding soldiers on high adventure activities post deployment, working for a NGO based in Bangkok, Thailand, and as a naturalist educator in Washington's Cascade Mountains, she finally grew roots in Colorado and now enjoys a slightly less adventurous life with her partner, son, and lab mix. Cynthia has been with Avid4 Adventure full time since 2017 and after spending her first 6 years as part of the Colorado Day Camp Team, she transitioned to the role of Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition in 2023. She gets fulfillment from seeing the confidence kids gain from Avid4 camps, and now gets to focus that energy on providing that same experience for staff!

Garrett Schilling

Resident Camp Manager - Camp Blue Sky
Garrett’s first camp experience was in 2014, when he went out on a whim to work at a summer camp outside of his home city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. That decision led to falling in love with camp and a five-year progression from a group counselor to the Program Director for YMCA Camp Edwards. After earning his B.A. in Secondary English Education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, he felt compelled to reenter the outdoor education space, leading Garrett back to camp to serve a program for individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses in the heart of Texas, then to leading an experiential education backpacking program in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and ultimately to Avid4 Adventure to join the leadership at Mt. Evans in 2019. While planning to return in 2020, the pandemic led him to pivot into the privilege to help lead at TGHTR, a youth homeless shelter program in Boulder County. Through all of these experiences and more, Garrett has been in awe at the resilience and empowerment that young folks discover in themselves while overcoming challenges in collaboration with others in the outdoors. These transformative lessons has led Garrett back to Avid4 where he is excited to lead and learn alongside our campers and continue this work at Mt. Evans. When Garrett isn’t working, you can find Garrett exploring with friends, hiking the backcountry with his dog Marvin, cheering for his beloved Packers, and engaging in life talks around a campfire​

Nate Thoreson

Regional Manager​
Nate grew up in a small village in northern Wisconsin where he was fortunate enough to have his backyard be his own personal summer camp. His mom served as the neighborhood ‘Camp Director,’ teaching local kids biking, swimming, and the fundamental rule “safety first and always be kind.” This cultivated a love for nature and adventure at an early age and would shape his life’s journey. As Nate navigated the world in his late teens, his path led him onto the football field at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls, where he embraced the camaraderie and discipline of college sports. However, his pursuit of knowledge took a pivot turn when he decided with his Academic Advisor and Mentor to transfer colleges to chase his educational dreams. This transition became the bridge between his love for the outdoors and his academic aspirations, marking a significant milestone of his purposeful journey. In 2013, Nate received his Bachelors in Adventure Education from Fort Lewis College in Durango and was awarded the department’s Major of the Year. Nate loves working with kids outdoors and in particular, that Mother Nature teaches adaptability. He enjoys helping kids find their natural path of learning and growing. He truly believes in empowering the youth to live outdoor, active lifestyles. An Avid4 veteran, Nate has worn many hats over the years. His path has taken him from Instructing to Events to Staffing to Directing Day Camp Programming. Nate also holds the distinction of being one of two candidates selected for Avid4 Adventure’s inaugural Class V: Management & Outdoor Leadership Practicum. Now serving as a Regional Manager in Colorado, Nate is dedicated to instilling a love for the outdoors with staff and campers each summer. Nate thrives in experiential education, leveraging it to empower, foster growth, and cultivate a new generation's appreciation for nature, conservation, and adaptability. When he is not tinkering in his garage or working on a house project, you can find him on a slackline, disc golf course, or cross-country skiing with his wife. As a new father, he looks forward to passing the torch of the love of the outdoors to his little one and is excited for his kiddo to become an Avid4 Adventure Camper one day!

Amber Ballenger

Talent Acquisition Supervisor
Amber, a Talent Acquisition Specialist, was born and raised in Gallup, NM where she developed a deep appreciation for nature by exploring her family’s ranch on the Navajo Reservation. She graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor's degree in Family & Child Studies and a minor in Psychology. Amber has since pursued her passion for encouraging kids to spend time in nature and reconnect with the land. She has worked with the National Indian Youth Leadership Project to support Indigenous youth in developing healthy lifestyles and positive relationships with the natural world. In addition, Amber has also been a nature preschool teacher in San Francisco and spent her summers as an Instructor for Avid4 Adventure. With her experience in recruiting and her passion for adventure and the outdoors, Amber is committed to identifying and attracting top talent to join our team and help create an unforgettable summer camp experience for our campers. She strives to find individuals who share our values and are dedicated to providing a safe, fun, and engaging environment for all our campers. When she’s not interacting with candidates you can find Amber backpacking in the mountains, rock climbing, taking a yoga or aerial class, or getting crafty with DIY projects. ​

Mary King

HR Manager​
While Mary was exposed to various outdoor adventures at an early age her love for it really began right before college when she began rock climbing. When Mary isn't working she is adventuring with her puppy, Tank, traveling, playing board games, swimming, and enjoying climbing any rock she can get her hands on. Currently she is training for long distance swimming and triathlons. Mary has a B.A in American Sign Language and a minor in Recreation from Clemson University. She first journeyed to Colorado for a summer climbing trip and fell in love with the area. Prior to working at Avid, Mary has worked as an American Sign Language Interpreter and managed multiple climbing gyms across the country. Now focusing more on the administrative side of the outdoor industry Mary has received her senior HR certification (SHRM SCP) and enjoys being the support and advocate for the employees of the company.

Rafael Rebllo

Talent Acquisition Specialist
Rafa Rebello is 38 years old, born and raised in Rio de Janeiro - Brazil. Rafa is climber for 20 years and an outdoor guide at Chapada Diamantina National Park area since he moved to the area 8 years ago. Rafa is co-founder of a non-profit that supports BiPOC youth to access climbing at the area where he lives. Rafa has published articles related to diversity, inclusion and anti-racism in the outdoors and in 2023 was invited to be ambassador of the non profit Mountains Beyond Borders. Rafa started working as a Climbing Specialist at Colorado Expeditions in 2023 than joined Avid`s Accelerator program when he joined our talent acquisition team.

Megan McDevitt

Brand Manager
Born in the mountains of Idaho, Megan grew up playing in wild spaces and had trouble differentiating showers from lakes. Wild landscapes have always been a fundamental part of her world. She reflects that, “It’s really hard to play in the mountains without feeling a strong obligation to protect them, and to fight for the authentic connections we develop in wild spaces.” Her degrees in Public Relations and Natural Resource conservation overlap in the realm of work she loves — which is telling stories of the outdoor community. Stories of challenge, success, curiosity, and joy. She connected with Avid in 2017, as a multisport guide and climb specialist, then found her way back to the HQ team in 2021 as the Assistant Brand Manager, where she’s thrilled to grow the community and help connect young people to wild spaces. When she’s not working on branding, social, or community engagement, you can find her deep in a powder stash, flowing on a mountain bike, or grinning on a tall piece of granite.

Amy Diiullo

Marketing Director
Ohio born and Colorado grown, Amy has the friendly laugh of a Midwesterner and the grit of a high alpine adventurer. She received a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from Indiana University and moved to Colorado to live and teach at a Buddhist center in the Never Summer mountains. Leveraging her innate drive for growth, Amy landed in a fast paced career leading sales and marketing for hemp industry start-ups which saw her managing national revenue and brand strategy for large multi-state operators. She is passionate about women moving forward in both professional and personal arenas, and is a co-founder of the Badass Lady Hikers, a women's adventure group based in central Colorado. She joined the Avid4 Adventure team in 2021 and has enjoyed aligning her personal and professional passions with people who are just as avid for adventure as her.