Trip leaders who work for Santa
Barbara Adventure Company are truly special people. We hire
only the top 10% of all applicants who apply. Because the
Santa Barbara area is so beautiful, and our trips sound
more like fun than work, we find ourselves with piles of
applications. We are fortunate that we draw experienced
guides from a variety of interesting leadership backgrounds:
Outward Bound instructors, NOLS course graduates, river
guides, sea kayaking guides, professional mountaineers,
environmental educators, teachers, experienced surfing instructors
and teambuilding facilitators.
Most of our staff members were raised in the Santa Barbara
area, offering local insight on secret spots and little
known lore and history. All trip leaders and assistant guides
are CPR and First Aid certified—many have earned EMT, Wilderness
First Responder, and Lifeguard certifications—and our rockclimbing
instructors boast American Mountain Guide Association certification
as well.
Guide training: Our leaders are constantly learning and
perfecting the skills necessary to lead great trips. We
offer hundreds of hours of training to our guides through
Trip Leader mentoring, focused in-services and ongoing staff
training sessions for all the activities we offer. Check
out pictures from our 2009
guide training days.
Michael Cohen
Owner/Director/Guide
Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Michael started Santa
Barbara Adventure Company in 1998 with the goal of offering
local adventures of the highest quality and led by incredible
guides. In his 20 years of outdoor leadership experience,
Michael has worked as guide and trip leader for several well
known outfitters in the west and abroad, always returning
to his hometown between seasons.
Michael’s past leadership experience includes working as
a river guide and trip leader in many of the western United
States’ most loved sections of river: Idaho’s Middle Fork
and Main Salmon, American, Tuolumne, Rogue and he rowed
baggage on the Grand Canyon. He also enjoyed leading multiday
self-supported sea kayaking trips in Belize, and spent two
winters as a diving instructor and underwater vidoegrapher
in the British Virgin Islands. He also worked as a manager
for one of California’s largest outdoor education outfitters
before opening the doors of his own business, SBACo (Santa
Barbara Adventure Company).
“I really just wanted to show my guests this incredible
and unique section of our country. Ever since I was kid
I have been running in the creeks and playing in the ocean
here in Santa Barbara. As I worked as a guide in equally
beautiful places, I kept coming home to recharge and realized
there is so much to offer travelers here as well. SBACo’s
continued success comes from word of mouth and return clients.
Our guides bring a huge component to the trips with their
personalities, backgrounds and field experience. ‘You can
always take the guide from the river but you can never take
the river from the guide.”
Name: Matthew Fienup
Years with SBACo: 10+
Education: Brooks Institute of Photography, Associate's
Degree (Summa cum Laude)
Woodbury University, Bachelor's of Science (Magna cum Laude)
Leadership Background and Experience: AMGA certified,
1999 and 2004
Level I Avalanche certified, National Outdoor Leadership
School,1998
Level II Avalanche certified, American Avalanche Institute
(AAI), 1999
Level III Avalanche certified, AAI, 2000
Level III Avalanche for Mountain Guides (real-time forecasting)
certified, AAI, 2001
Favorite Climbing Routes: “Wings & Stings”
(5.7), Hammer Dome, Central Sierra; “Anti-Jello Crack”
(5.10a), Dome Rock, Southern Sierra; “Coarse &
Buggy” (5.11b), Joshua Tree National Park
Favorite Adventure Trip: Any time I’m on my
telemark skis in the winter backcountry.
Favorite Piece of Gear: K2 World Piste telemark skis;
Nikon 17-35mm, f:2.8 lens with D200 body
Other than guiding: Other specialties
include California Natural History, adventure photography,
gourmet coffee, and backyard astronomy. My photography collection
is represented and distributed by World Sports Images, Ltd.
(http://www.worldsportsimages.com). I am an enthusiastic
member of 1% for the Planet.
Name: Simon O'Brien
Years with SBACo: 7+
Education: BA in Geography and Anthropology @UCSB
Favorite Adventure Trip: My favorite adventure trip
would have to be trekking in Nepal. I also really enjoy
the vastness and colors of the deserts in the South West.
Other than guiding . . . I love running in the creeks,
surfing, riding my bike, and making art and building things.
Favorite piece of gear: My favorite piece of gear
is my Gymnastik Ball because it improves balance and strength
and is really fun stand on. Everyone should have one!
Name: Jessica Gray
Years with SBACo: 5+
Education: BA in History, University of
California, Santa Barbara
Leadership Background and Experience: For
a few years after college, I ran the education department
of a state historic park here in Santa Barbara, where I
designed educational programs, resources and events for
visitors and outside audiences. I’m currently a kickboxing
and martial arts instructor, and have a black belt in the
Korean art of Hapkido. Most of my outdoor leadership skills,
however, have been picked up while working for Santa Barbara
Adventure Company.
Favorite Adventure: A few summers ago a
friend and I spent six weeks backpacking through Europe.
Every day there was an adventure.
Other than Guiding: I like being in the
water, training in martial arts, and just about anything
that involves being outside. And I’m always up for
learning new things…
Favorite Piece of Gear: My surfboard
Name: Jennifer Baker
Years with SBACo: 4+
Education: B.S. in Biology & Sociology
Leadership Background and Experience: When
I was a kid I practiced on my little sisters... putting
them on the luge track as toddlers, coercing them into litter
pick-ups, etc. I've since refined my methods as a certified
ropes course instructor & women's self-defense instructor.
Favorite Adventure Trip: Sailing/hiking/diving
around the Virgin Islands
Other than guiding: Hanging out with my
dog
Favorite piece of gear: Ibex hoodie
Name: Christi Stockhaus
Years with SBACo: 1+
Education: M.Ed (Higher Education &
Student Development) from the University of South Florida
and a B.S. in Communication Studies (Health Communication)
from James Madison University in Virginia.
Leadership Background and Experience: I
began teaching and leading adventure activities 10 years
ago working at camps as a college student. I began working
on high ropes courses and climbing walls, and gradually
began leading new activities. I haven't been able to stop
since. From kayaking, white water rafting, rock climbing,
caving, biking, and scuba diving, I just love exploring
and experiencing beautiful places, and I love using my experience
to help others enjoy it too!
For the last 4 years, I have been a full time faculty lecturer
at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. I was lucky
to be able to teach a Rock Climbing course each semester,
and taught a Mountain Sports class in the summers in New
Mexico. I loved having my summers free to travel and find
new adventures.
Favorite Adventure Trip: Its hard to pick
one! I'll always love my first long trip that I took in
college camping and biking around the country and exploring
the Southwest and Colorado for the first time. We hiked
the Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce canyons, mountain biked
in Moab, and explored the Rocky Mountains. I'd never left
the East Coast, so it was incredible to discover a new part
of the country.
Other than guiding: I love traveling and
exploring my new home in Santa Barbara with my husband and
my dog. I am teaching at UCSB, and enjoy working with college
students. I teach Pilates, Kickboxing, and a variety of
other fitness classes and train both groups and individuals.
I also love spending time in the Wine Country and hosting
wine tasting parties!
Favorite piece of gear: A camera
Name: Rob Sporrer
Years with SBACo: 7+
Education: 2 classes short of a BA in business
(Entrepreneur Program USC)
Leadership Background and Experience: Eagle
Paragliding Chief flight Instructor, United States Hang
Gliding & Paragliding Instructor Administrator, and
Tandem Administrator, 2002 USHPA Instructor of the Year,
Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue, Certified EMT,
Team coach of the 2009 US Paragliding Team.
Favorite Adventure Trip: Guiding pilots
in Valle De Bravo (Valley of the Brave) Mexico on Cross
Country Paragliding flights
Other than guiding: Hiking and flying The
Andes in Peru
Favorite piece of gear: Compass
Name: Dave Rosen.
Years with SBACo: 7+
Education: SJSU, illustration/graphic design.
Leadership Background & Experience: Skofield
Park Nature Camp Counselor-2 years, Peabody School Rec.
Director-2 years Kayak, Bike guide SBACo. Surf Instruction
SBACo.
Favorite Adventure trip: Costa Rica/Mexico trip 2003,
36 days.
Favorite piece of gear: My
longboard.
Name: Amy Di Chiro
Years with SBACO: 1+
Education: UC Santa Cruz Graduated with
Honors in Community Studies: Social Change with a focus
on Youth Empowerment.
SBCC: Business 101
Leadership: 5 Years with City of Santa
Cruz Parks and Recs Leading Teen Center Programs, Activities,
Adventures, and Field Trips.
1 Year Teaching surf lessons to Moms ages 20-50 with Toes
on the Nose in Orange County.2003 Volunteer of the Year
City of Santa Cruz. 2008 US lifesaving Heroic Act Award.
Favorite Trip: Mountain Biking Wine Tasting.
Other than guiding: Playing guitar and
singing (6 years of Opera). Surfing, Biking, Kayaking, Yoga.
I dream of opening my own restuarant one day and singing
back up in a band.
Favorite piece of gear: A nice new, warm
, dry, wet suit. Its an amazing invention.
Name: Brina Carey
Years with SBACo: This is my first season.
Education: BS in Recreation Administration
with an Outdoor Emphasis, from San Diego State University.
Leadership Background and Experience: I
worked as a ropes course facilitator at the SDSU ARC Team
Challenge Ropes Course for 2 years. I interned for Outdoor
Outreach, a non-profit organization working with at-risk
youth through outdoor programming. I also worked for I Love
a Clean San Diego, where I delivered presentations on topics
including resource conservation, waste reduction, recycling,
community enhancement, and pollution prevention to youth
and adults. Most recently, I spent 5 years working for the
California Department of Parks and Recreation. I worked
as a field biologist, environmental planner, and was also
the Interpreter and Docent Coordinator at Ano Nuevo State
Reserve, a major Northern elephant seal rookery. There I
managed the docent program and trained the docents on how
to give effective and meaningful tours and also gave tours
myself.
Favorite Adventure Trip: Last October
my husband and I spent 2 weeks driving the north coast of
Spain. The coastline was incredible and we got some fun
waves. We followed that up with a 3 week trip to Northern
Baja. It's pretty rugged, as there's no shelter or running
water where we go - but that makes it a great chance to
re-center and lose track of time.
Other than guiding: I love to surf, hike
with my dog, do yoga and pilates, and just explore this
incredible place that I live in.
Favorite piece of gear: Any of my Moss
Research Surfboards.
Name: Melissa Gomez, Office Manager
Background and Education:
Melissa was born in Colombia, grew up in Miami and attained
her Bachelor of Arts in Natural Sciences from New College
of Florida. She then drove west to the Santa Cruz Mountains
where she worked as a Naturalist with Exploring New Horizons
Outdoor School. She spent three years singing songs about
compost, skipping stones in Pescadero Creek, and telling
stories beneath redwood trees. She recently graduated with
a Masters Degree in Conservation Planning at the Bren School
of Environmental Science and Management (University of California,
Santa Barbara).
Other than managing the office:
Melissa spends her days cooking local food, swimming in
creeks, and spinning the pottery wheel.
Favorite piece of gear: New
bike to commute to work.
Also on our team...
(Pictures coming soon)
Kenji Webb
Ryland Grivetti
David Erickson
Joanna White |
