Team
Kristin Stelmok, Interim Executive Director | Email Kristin
Kristin Stelmok is serving as Interim Executive Director for the Summer of 2012 while Alyssa Walker is away on maternity leave. Kristin holds a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from the University of Maine, and is currently working on a doctoral degree in British Literature at the University of New Hampshire. Kristin has worked as a climbing guide in Acadia National Park, with Upward Bound (a federally-funded program for economically disadvantaged children aiming for college), and as an instructor of literature and composition at UMaine, UNH, and Plymouth State University. When she’s not reading, Kristin loves hiking and skiing in the White Mountains with her husband Steven and their two large dogs.
Alyssa Walker, Executive Director | Email Alyssa
Alyssa is thrilled to have joined the year-round staff team as the Executive Director. A public educator for the past 10 years, Alyssa is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a BA in English Literature and an MAT from Tufts University. Alyssa has taught in Philadelphia, PA and most recently in Gorham, NH. In addition to teaching, Alyssa has also worked as a nonprofit grant writer, guided teenagers on month-long backpacking trips, and spent time learning Spanish. Alyssa lives in Jackson with her husband Brian Walker. She enjoys running, backpacking, hiking, skiing, and anything else in the outdoors. She is looking forward to leading Kismet to new and creative successes, and is anxious to improve her climbing skills!
Michael Jewell, Founder and Program Director | Email Mike
Michael, founder of Kismet, is also a full-time technical climbing guide (30 years). He is a graduate of the University of Maine (BS in Wildlife Management) and attended Naropa University, a Buddhist university for the study of the arts. Michael is also a professional pianist performing classic, jazz, rock, and fusion. He has worked clubs and restaurants in New Hampshire, Arizona, and California. He has climbed/guided throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Michael is a certified Wilderness First Responder.
Lisa Woodbury, Administrative Coordinator | Email Lisa
Lisa is a graduate of Plymouth State University in NH with a BA in Graphic Design. She is a Floral Designer and Event Planner for weddings and events. Lisa lives in Conway with her husband Dave, son Miles, cat Boo, and a crayfish named Little J. She enjoys running and yoga. Lisa’s family is involved in outreach to families and individuals in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Bayard Russell, Climbing Instructor
Bayard is a 33 y/o moutain guide who lives in Madison NH with his fiance Anne. He has been guiding for seven years and runs his own guide service, Cathedral Mountian Guides. He is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, in Durham, where he began climbing in 1996. Bayard is a AMGA cerified rock instrucor and Mountain Rescue service team leader and board member.
Phil Thalheimer, Climbing Instructor
Philip has been adventuring since he was a child when his family took annual summer vacations backpacking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. His love for the outdoors grew from that seed. He added winter mountaineering to his list of outdoor passions while in college and started rock climbing in the late 1980s. His adventures have taken him to Washington’s Mt Rainier, Nevada’s Red Rock Canyon, Montana’s Tobacco Root Mountains, the Wisconsin Dells, the Shawangunks in New York and throughout New England. He has been a professional mountain guide since 1998. Phil’s current certifications and adventure education include AMGA certified Top Rope Site Manager, AMGA certificate of completion Rock Instructor course, American Red Cross Small Craft Safety Canoeing, Wilderness First Responder medical training and American Heart Association CPR.
Other members of the Kismet team include our in-house staff and our summer interns. More soon on that!