John Edwards - President:

John has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Idaho's College of Forestry with a Major in Wild Land Recreation Management and a minor in Outdoor Recreation Leadership.  He is a board member of the Rock Creek Alliance, a local environmental organization, and is founder and Vice President of Misty Mountain Furniture in Sandpoint, Idaho as well as Founder and Principal Organizer of Sandpoint SummerFest, a local music festival, now in it's 17th year.  He is an avid outdoor enthusiast, musician and community supporter and has been a North Idaho resident for the past 27 years.

Jim Zuberbuhler - Vice President:

Jim Zuberbuhler is an Associate Vice President and Financial Consultant with D.A. Davidson & Co. in Sandpoint.  His practice focuses on providing retirement planning, college savings and investment advice to individuals, families, businesses and non-profit organizations.  Jim has a Master’s degree in history from the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, Hawaii and a B.A. in history from the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio.  Previous to becoming a financial advisor in 2007 Jim spent 25 years in education.  In the mid-1980’s he was the Associate Dean of Admission at Chapman University and then spent over 15 years working for independent schools and directing non-profit organizations that focused on helping students prepare for college.  In the early 1990’s Jim was the Dean of External Affairs at the Idyllwild Arts Academy in Idyllwild, California and then directed the Boojum Institute, a non-profit wilderness program serving urban and rural students in California.  Jim also served on the Boojum Institute board for 23 years.  In addition to serving on other educational and non-profit boards in southern California, Jim was a member of the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit in California for 12 years, often as a field team leader and contributed to the leadership of the team in many capacities.

Pam Kosanovich  - Secretary / Treasure

Pam studied at the Indiana University and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.  She holds an associates degree in Fashion Design and had taught Fashion Design and Illustration at the School of the Arts Institute, Chicago, Il and Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, WI. Pam has been employed as a Designer at Coldwater Creek since May of 2005 and also has a wedding gown design business.  Pam volunteers at the Panhandle Shelter for animals and tutors at the Kootenai Elementary School.

Steve Holt - Executive Director

Steve has been the owner of a Design/Build firm for 30 years and is passionate about architecture, building and community development.  He has owned the Eureka Center for over 20 years and has transformed bare land into what it is today.  Steve is also an environmental activist and was instrumental in the creation of the Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper and is currently President of the Board.  As an outdoor enthusiasts he enjoys running, skiing, and as you can see Fly-Fishing!

John Winton - Guide:

John has honed his skills as an outdoor leader and guide in some of the world’s wildest and most awe-inspiring classrooms. For 15 years he has facilitated and guided expeditions and experiences in a variety of settings ranging from the mountains to the sea and has logged more than 1500 days in the field working with adolescents and adults. John received his degree in Outdoor Recreation from Radford University, and after finishing training from the National Outdoor Leadership School Alaska has since worked with at risk teens and their families leading and directing creative experiences for wilderness programs and therapeutic boarding schools.  John enjoys the numerous outdoor activities the Northwest has to offer. He can often be found rock climbing, sea kayaking, windsurfing, playing music, woodworking and skiing the pristine powder of Idaho’s backcountry.

Certifications: 

• Wilderness First Responder
• Swift Water Rescue
• ACA Sea Kayak Instructor
• Professional Ski Instructors of America
• Avalanche Level 1
• Lead Climbing Instructor (18 years)
• American Red Cross Lifeguard

Lars Hall - Guide:

Lars grew up in Massachusetts, but his heart and mind were always fixed upon the vast landscapes and mountains of the West. From a young age he was camping, fishing and embracing the wilderness. His passion for the outdoors led him to enroll in the National Outdoor Leadership School’s Leadership Semester in the Colorado Rockies. It was there that he discovered that he could build upon his childhood dreams, draw from his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Gettysburg College, and make a career out of working with people in the outdoors. And, for more than 14 years he has been doing just that. In his spare time, Lars can be found whitewater canoeing the many rivers found throughout the Northwest and he looks forward to the time when the snow begins to fall and he can put on his other hat as a member of the Ski Patrol team at Schweitzer Mountain Resort.

Certifications: 

• Outdoor Emergency Care
• Wilderness First Responder
• Swift Water Rescue
• RCABC Canoe Tripping Instructor
• Professional Ski Instructors of America
• Avalanche Level 1
• Rope Rescue 1

Phil Ronniger - Instructor:

Phil’s formal education includes an MA in Counseling, and specialized training, mentoring, self exploration and experimentation in optimal learning, applied behavioral sciences and arts, organizational development, mediation, conflict resolution, interpersonal communication and career counseling.  He has been utilizing these skills and experiences as an Observer, Guide and Teacher in assessing talents, designing effective decision making strategies, optimizing teaching and learning, and discovering meaningful work opportunities for more than 35 years.  Over the years he has taught at four diverse institutions of higher education and Phil’s ability to create informative, entertaining and intensely practical workshops, has been enriched by the fact that he has resided in 9 different states within both major cities and small communities.