Venture Outdoors

About Us
Staff

Venture Outdoors is working hard to increase awareness and participation in the numerous outdoor recreational opportunities available in the region. Here, meet some of the people who are working to make this happen.

Courtney Bell - Email Courtney
Program Administrator
Hometown: Berkeley Springs, WV
Residence: Friendship
VO Projects: Coordinating Public and Private Programs, Customer Service
Education: B.S., Public Relations—West Virginia University
Training: Basic First Aid, LNT, quickstart training in coastal kayaking from the American Canoe Association, Wilderness First Aid, Outdoor Leadership
Outdoor Pursuits: Backpacking, paddling, biking
Other Hobbies: Photography, music, gardening, travel
Volunteer Work: PA Cleanways & Friends of the Riverfront
Prior Work: Volunteer Manager, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
SCA Crew Leader, Pittsburgh
SCA Exotic Plant Management Intern, Golden Gate National Rec. Area/ Point Reyes National Seashore

Sean Brady - Email Sean
Assistant Executive Director
Hometown: Pittsburgh
Residence: Observatory Hill
VO Projects: Fundraising, marketing, and event planning
Education: BS Biology, Allegheny College, MA Professional Writing, Carnegie Mellon University
Training: Wilderness First Aid Responder, Outdoor Leadership Leave No Trace trainer, Boating and Water Safety Instructor, PA Fishing Guide, and National Bike Patrol
Outdoor Pursuits: Nature study, fishing, mountain biking, whitewater & flat water paddling, hiking, and backpacking.
Other Hobbies: Gardening with native perennials, music.
Volunteer Work: Serves on the Allegheny County Parks & Recreation Commission

Liam Cooney - Email Liam
Kayak Pittsburgh Downtown Manager
Hometown: Hartford, CT
Residence: Friendship
VO Projects: Kayak Pittsburgh Downtown, GO Guide
Education: BA Art History Hobart College

Lou DeVito - Email Lou
Operations Manager
Hometown: Somers Point, New Jersey
Residence: Bloomfield
VO Projects: Technology, Marketing/Communications, Public Relations, Banff Mountain Film Festival, Day-to-Day "stuff"
Education: Economics and Philosophy, Boston College
Training: AHA Healthcare provider
Outdoor Pursuits: disc golf, camping, paddling, building fires
Other Hobbies: home rehabilitation
Prior Work: Boards by Design at Duquesne University

Erik Lingren - Email Erik
Executive Director
Hometown: Warren, OH
Residence: Shaler
VO Projects: Overall operation and management of Venture Outdoors
Education: BA in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, University of Akron, Akron, OH, MS in Human Services, Murray State University, Murray, KY
Outdoor Pursuits: wilderness canoeing, hiking, biking, hashing
Other Hobbies: golfing, gourmet and "not-so-gourmet" cooking
Volunteer Work: Youth for Understanding International Student Exchange, Rivers Club Membership Committee
Prior Work: 18 years working for the Boy Scouts of America in 7 cities around the Midwest

Jon Lucadamo - Email Jon Luc
Program Director
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Residence: Regent Square
VO Projects: Youth programming, leading environmental and outdoor education activities for children
Education: BS in Environmental Studies and Outdoor Recreation Management, MS in Environmental Education
Outdoor Pursuits: backpacking, paddling
Other Hobbies: cow jokes, watching movies, music
Prior Work: New York State Aquarium

Rebecca Malena - Email Becca
Membership Coordinator
Hometown: Belle Vernon, PA
Residence: Mount Washington
VO Projects: Membership, Outreach, Volunteer Coordination
Education: BA in Spanish and Communications from the University of Pittsburgh - December 2006 1-month Spanish intensive course @ Universidad Veritas in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Outdoor Pursuits: Kayaking, bouldering, hiking, rappelling
Other Hobbies: Classical piano, foreign languages
Prior Work:
    - EuroProfile, LLC. (5/06-9/06)
    - University of Pittsburgh
      - Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation:
            - Research assistant (2/05-5/06)
    - University of Pittsburgh - Telefund (9/2002-12/2003)

Jeremiah Morrison - Email Jeremiah
Program Coordinator
Hometown: Titusville, PA
Residence: Pittsburgh, PA
VO Projects: Private Programs
Education: B.A. Communications, Allegheny College; M.Ed. Instructional Systems, Penn State University; M.S. Park and Resource Management, Slippery Rock University
Training: Outdoor Leadership, Wilderness First Aid, LNT Trainer, PA Boating and Water Safety
Outdoor Pursuits: Hiking, Camping, Canoeing, Mountain Biking
Other Hobbies: Photography, Travel, Music, Most Sports
Prior Work:
    - Outdoor Crew Leader
    - Technology Coordinator
    - Imaging Project Manager

Cara Rufenacht - Email Cara
Graphic Designer (for her PULSE placement)
Hometown: Archbold, Ohio
Residence: Highland Park
VO Projects: marketing and design related stuff
Education: Art w/ minor in Graphic Design, Bluffton University
Outdoor Pursuits: running, biking, swimming, swinging on my porch swing
Other Hobbies: photography
Prior Work:
Graphic designer for Bluffton University and
Owens Community College

Rob Walters - Email Rob
Program Manager
Hometown: Newark, DE
Residence: Mt. Lebanon
VO Projects: Public Programs
Education: BS in Wildlife Biology, minor in Entomology
Training: NLS, LNT, BWSA (instructor),
Take me Fishing (instructor)
Outdoor Pursuits: Fly-fishing...and everything else
Other Hobbies: Love all sports except soccer
Volunteer Work: I wish I had the time.
Prior Work:
    - Wildlife Rehabilitator
    - Field Technician
    - Environmental Scientist
    - Naturalist
    - Wildlife Biologist

Sherry Buckham - Email Sherry
Operations Administrator
Hometown:
Residence:
VO Projects:
Education:
Training:
Outdoor Pursuits:
Other Hobbies:
Volunteer Work:
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Lora Woodward - Email Lora
Program Coordinator
Hometown: Harrisburg, PA
Residence: Friendship
VO Projects: Coordination of Public Programs
Education: B.A. English Writing – University of Pittsburgh
Training: Wilderness First Responder, Outdoor Leadership Training, Leave No Trace, PA Boating and Water Safety, Basic Canoe Skills (AWA), American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED
Outdoor Pursuits: Whitewater kayaking, sea kayaking, canoeing, hiking, and snowboarding
Other Hobbies: Photography, writing, and traveling
Volunteer Work: Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest, Habitat for Humanity, Grow Pittsburgh, Jatun Sacha Foundation
Prior Work: Student Conservation Association, Crew Leader; Prem Tinsulandonda International School, Junior School Intern/Boarding Staff; Maine Sport Outfitters, Salesperson