In college, Zuzana studied literature and competed internationally as a member of the U.S. National Slalom Team. She moved to the Nantahala Gorge area in 2011 to take a job planning the 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships. For the next eight years, she worked with the Nantahala Racing Club, a 501(c)(3) focused on fostering whitewater athletes and competitions in the Southeast, to revive development programming and events for local youth. Today, Zuzana teaches English to seventh graders as well as kayaking to both children and adults. She loves to travel, to have conversations, and to help her students find joy in their own skills and the wonder of the world around them.

Steven has been paddling for over 25 years. Many of those years were 200+ day years as an instructor and guide internationally. He likes to be as versatile as possible by spreading his paddling around from the mountains to the sea and using as broad a variety of craft as available. Steven says “Paddling has given me so much, and I have made it my mission to give as much back to paddling as I can by introducing as many people as possible in the hopes that they may benefit from the opportunities paddling has given me. There is magic in moving water.”

Laura Farrell lives in Bryson City, North Carolina, with her husband, son, and their two dogs. She has been whitewater kayaking passionately since 2003 and has spent many years of her life working as a kayak instructor and guide. While that is no longer her full-time career, it is still her passion to be able to share the sport with others and help build community within the sport. In 2014 she started hosting the annual Green River Takeover event, which brings women from all over the southeast together on the river. The goal of the day is to help build community, friendships, and mentorships and raise money for meaningful causes. Professionally, she works in the travel industry managing adventure travel trips around the globe.

Tony grew up in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York.  Spending much of his formative years in the outdoors fostered a passion for outdoor activities.  He is a retired Air Force officer and his career allowed him to experience many outdoor adventures across the United States and abroad.  Through these experiences, he and his spouse, Lisa, have instilled a love of the outdoors into their three teenage and young adult children. Tony’s sports include hiking, camping, whitewater and flatwater paddling, rafting, road and mountain cycling, tennis, golf, hockey, and fishing, just to name a few.

Because of his commitment to service, Tony participates both as a volunteer and as a member on various boards and organizations in our community.  Additionally, he spent six years as a high school teacher inspiring students to lead others in service to their community and nation.

Yolanda Saunooke serves as the Behavioral Change Specialist for Cherokee Choices. Roles include Summer Camp Coordinator; lead for the Stress & Healing Arts Retreat, 5K’s, After-school Spiritual Warriors Program, and she teaches yoga, tai chi and the Resources for Resilience program plus much more!
She is an EBCI Tribal Member of the Yellowhill Community
She is married to TW Saunooke, former Tribal Councilman, and is the mother to 5 children Tristan, Breece, CeAnna, Tivan, Walika and 2 grandchildren.
Yolanda graduated from Western Carolina University in 2012 with a BA Anthropology, Minor Cherokee Studies.

Robin Callahan is honored to serve as the Program Director for the Nurse Family Partnership Program and Cherokee Choices, a Chronic Disease Prevention Program for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. She is a Registered Dietitian with a Master of Health Sciences from Western Carolina University, with 23 years of experience in chronic disease prevention.

Robin believes in the power of prevention and has seen the positive impact it can make on the community. Integrating evidence based practices with the Cherokee culture is at the core of programming. She lives the beautiful Smoky mountains in Franklin, NC with her husband and 2 children. She loves to travel, listen to live music, snuggle her babies & escape to their 1800’s log cabin to read and do yoga.

Mary has been an educator for 33 years and is currently teaching high school Science in North Carolina  and is also an adjunct professor for graduate level education courses for a private university.  In 2015,  she finally made a dream come true and moved to WNC to be closer to the rivers and mountains she loves and share her passion for teaching young people in the NC school system.  After being voted  teacher of the year for her school in 2022, she was awarded a scholarship to travel with 48 North Carolina Educators to Australia to visit schools,  different ecological areas,  and snorkel on  the Great Barrier Reef to learn about conservation efforts .   She has been a whitewater kayaker since 2007 and her passion for  kayaking and teaching got her involved with Needmore Outdoors and the after school kids clubs.  She also loves to travel and frequently goes to Ecuador over winter break and is planning more adventures.