Amber Barnett

Director of Programs & Safety

Amber has been working for Outward Bound for over a decade. She came to Colorado Outward Bound School after spending time as an Instructor and Manager at Outward Bound Australia. While with COBS, she has taken on a variety of roles including the Manager of Training and Curriculum and now the Director of Programs and Safety. Amber tirelessly and enthusiastically works to ensure that each student and instructor has an epic and safe experience on course. She lives with her family in Salida, Colorado. 

Melissa Fuller

Director of Student Experience

Hi there, my name is Melissa (she/her/hers) and I am the Director of Student Experience. I hold a Bachelor Degree in Biology from Northern Michigan University, a Master of Education Degree in International Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago, and a Graduate Certificate in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Florida Atlantic University.

I began my professional journey teaching scuba diving and underwater photography from liveaboard dive yachts in the warm waters of the Caribbean and South Pacific. That role enabled me to travel the world, meet all kinds of unique characters, exercise my teaching muscles, and gain an immense respect for cross-cultural learning and collaboration. I then shifted careers and spent 6 years working in international higher education at a non-profit study abroad provider. There I was a Program Manager for International Internships and simultaneously earned my Master’s Degree. After the international higher education field collapsed from Covid-19, I landed in Colorado working in Operations and Logistics for another non-profit study abroad provider before before finding this remarkable opportunity at COBS.

My entire career has focused on experiential education – something I never would have imagined when I attended my own North Carolina Outward Bound program fresh out of high school. However, through that experience I discovered the value of learning outside of the classroom and have concentrated my career on encouraging others to experience that personal growth that only happens when we push ourselves – whether in a foreign country, or the backcountry!

Steve Creech

Safety & Training Manager

Working for COBS is the best job possible – it has the best curriculum you can hope to teach - it actually matters in people's lives.  How to communicate with intention and compassion, how to lead with authority and compassion, how to learn what truly matters and sustains us in our lives, how to serve others and the world surrounding us.  

I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to have Outward Bound in my past, and I’m so grateful to have it in my present and future.  After working in the outdoor industry for nearly a decade, I landed at COBS' Southwest Program in 2008. I fell in love with the desert, its canyons, wildflower-filled mountains, endless climbing, and long river expeditions. In 2012, I stepped up and on to the Leadership Team through the early summer of 2016 as an Associate Program Director of Course Quality & Safety.  In 2016 I moved back East with my partner, got a master’s in Administration (Recreation & Parks), continued instructing and CDing for NCOBS in NC and the Everglades, honed many skills and got an alphabet soup of certifications, and spent two years as a Coordinator for Virginia Tech’s outdoor program.   In my spare time I love to do all the things that happen on COBS courses; canyoneering, rafting and canoeing, backpacking, climbing, and watching the setting sun turn into an ocean of stars.  I am thrilled that as of March 2020 I have been able to be back out on the Colorado Plateau and serving as COBS' Safety Manager to positively influence safety in the frontcountry and backcountry so that all of the challenge and discovery can take place.  

Britta Mireley

Development Officer

Britta joined COBS in 2021 after moving back to the Front Range from northern Idaho. She grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming before attending the University of Wyoming in Laramie. In 2013 she received her Master’s in Tourism Administration from The George Washington University. Her career has varied from public lands stewardship and advocacy, to historic downtown revitalization, community development, and state-level tourism. Before joining COBS, Britta was the Deputy Executive Director of a small Wilderness advocacy non-profit in northern Idaho and northwestern Montana. 

Britta and her husband have one daughter and two cats. When she’s not working, she enjoys exploring our public lands on day hikes with her daughter and planning just how many native and xeric plants she can fit in her yard. 

Kelsey Maxwell

Marketing & Communications Manager

Kelsey (she/her) joined the Colorado Outward Bound team in 2022 as the Marketing and Communications Manager. She was raised in Rhode Island but has appreciatively called Colorado home since earning her bachelor’s degree at Colorado College and working in the non-profit sector in Denver. With a degree in Environmental Science and Feminist and Gender Studies, Kelsey is committed to prioritizing equity, justice, and caring for the land in her work with Outward Bound. Every day that Kelsey spends in the mountains, she is overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. She is eager to give back by helping others find joy in the mountains and increasing access to the outdoors in Colorado. After a short time of living in North Idaho, Kelsey is excited to return to the outdoor and environmental advocacy community in Colorado. In her free time, you can find her trail running, rock climbing, and eating ice cream. 

Mackenzie Bettmann

Student Services Manager

Mackenzie joined COBS in 2019 after graduating from Hamilton College where she studied Literature, Spanish, and Theater.  While at Hamilton, Mackenzie was involved with their outdoor program and helped lead outdoor trips that ranged from outdoor orientation trips for first year students to wellness trips through the counseling center.  At COBS, Mackenzie is a Course Advisor and works with students from the time they enroll until they go on course.  Mackenzie is an invaluable resource to make sure students feel confident about their upcoming course and to make sure each student is prepared to succeed while on course. 

Outside of work Mackenzie loves to read, hike, plan scavenger hunts, backpack, swim, and generally explore.  Mackenzie has also started doing some acting at a local murder mystery dinner theater and reading books about conflict resolution at local elementary schools.

Jennette Riley

Human Resources Manager

Born and raised in Chicago Illinois, Jennette placed her roots in Leadville over 12 years ago, spending time working and living in Glacier, Denali and Yellowstone National Parks. Jennette started at COBS in 2015 and brings her extensive customer service background having an Associates in Resort Management from Colorado Mountain College, into her roll of supporting COBS employees.

When she is not running payroll or placing gear/food orders, she enjoys spending time with her two cats, Elbert and Antero. She and her partner enjoy going to new places, dining at restaurants as seen on TV and trying new things every chance they get.

Miguel Sanchez

Course Advisor

Miguel joined COBS in 2021 as a Course Advisor. Before joining COBS he worked in Emergency Management and alongside several non-profit agencies. Having completed their undergraduate degree in Austin, Texas, Miguel decided to join Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas. Miguel worked to introduce and provide support to individual youth, families and their mentors for a few months in person before transitioning to virtual support. Having worked virtually with families and their mentors throughout 2020 Miguel decided to move to Colorado and pursue more engagement with the outdoor community. Outside of work Miguel enjoys days in the mountains with his two pups Luna and Bella. In his first year in Colorado, Miguel summited seven of Colorado’s renowned 14ers and hopes to summit all 58 of them sooner rather than later! Miguel is excited to help others get outdoors and is always willing to talk gear for your next adventure.

Jackie Kuusinen

Course Advisor

Jackie started climbing in 1995 and guiding in 2005. She has taught backpacking, climbing, and canyoneering across Alaska, Colorado, and Utah. After working as a research librarian and supporting early literacy in public libraries for twelve years, Jackie is delighted to use her background in education to help Outward Bound students connect with the transformative power of wilderness in her role as Course Advisor. As a lifelong learner herself, Jackie became the 10^th female in the United States to earn a full Rock Instructor certification with the American Mountain Guides Association in 2016, and holds Bachelor of Sociology and Master of Library and Information Science degrees. Growing up in Colorado shaped her worldview so that few things bring her more joy than being in the mountains alongside friends and family.

Sky

Director of Student Pup-dates