The Adventure Scientists Team

CJ, our Executive Assistant, is a passionate advocate for citizen science and conservation. CJ draws from his experiences as a field scientist and passion for the outdoors to assist Senior Leadership in assessing new project ideas, create committed partnerships, and ensure Adventure Scientists is actively addressing key impact areas to the fullest extent possible.

CJ obtained his bachelors of arts in environmental policy and analysis from Boston University and spent 3 years working as an Environmental Scientist and Research Assistant in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His career choices reflect a love for conservation and the outdoors, bolstered by his passion for rock climbing, skiing and SCUBA diving. He gained a foundation in client services, market data analysis, and project administration while working in Real Estate but returned to environmental work at Adventure Scientists to follow his passions. Day to day, CJ has the great pleasure to work with AS Senior Leadership to push forward impactful conservation initiatives.

Lydia grew up in the mountains of West Virginia, where she spent much of her time running around outdoors. She obtained a B.S. in Finance from West Virginia University and has built a career in business and financial analysis, product management, and consulting. She recently became a Virginia Master Naturalist to facilitate her career transition into conservation.

Outside work, she volunteers extensively by walking and training dogs and cats, building homes with Habitat for Humanity, teaching English, maintaining trails, removing invasive plants and planting native species, and much more. You can find her hiking, biking, kayaking, doing home renovations, or pet-sitting while traveling.

Alisa sits on the Programs team and supports program management of AS projects, focusing on recruitment, communications, and creating the volunteer experience.

Areas of expertise: program management, product management, teaching & facilitating, event management, Asana, Jira, foreign languages.

Alisa received her Bachelors of International Relations at Boston University, and has supported educational, environmental, and sustainable projects at international organizations, including Camfed, UNESCO, Sustainable Ocean Alliance, and Facebook. She also trained as a tour guide, earning Wilderness certifications and working through the US and Canadian National Parks. Alisa leads recruitment and community efforts at Adventure Scientists, building volunteer experiences and creating partner relationships. She believes that together, we create and protect the world that we want to live in.

Gianna supports the project management team by leading cross-functional project planning, coordinating stakeholder collaboration, and transforming complex ideas into actionable, community-centered solutions.

Areas of Expertise: community-based conservation, project management, environmental planning, scientific communication, GIS and bioacoustics.

Gianna graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Science degree, and earned a Master’s degree in Environmental Management from Cornell University. Originally from Santa Cruz Island in the Galápagos Archipelago, her passion for nature and community-rooted conservation was shaped by the unique biodiversity and culture of her home.

With over seven years of experience across eco-tourism, environmental education, invasive species analysis, and nonprofit entrepreneurship, Gianna brings a systems-thinking approach to project management. She has collaborated with a wide range of stakeholders; from artisans and municipalities to scientists and local communities in coastal, forest, and lake regions, developing initiatives with triple-impact outcomes: social, environmental, and economic.

Gianna excels at creative problem-solving, bringing structure, strategy, and heart to every project. She is passionate about using Nature-based Solutions to tackle conservation challenges and believes in the power of leadership grounded in trust, integrity, and collaboration. She is committed to equity, inclusion, and lifelong learning. When she’s not working to protect our beautiful wild blue planet, you’ll likely find her exploring nature or swimming (ideally in the ocean!.)

Ricky is a core member of the programs team developing strategies for project data infrastructure, management, and visualization.

Areas of Expertise: Data science, data visualization and storytelling, statistical analysis, GIS, R programming, Salesforce administration, field data collection, field protocol development, printer whisperer

Ricky holds a BS in Soil and Water Sciences from Montana State University and certificates in full stack web development, data visualization and storytelling. A dedicated volunteer turned full time staff member, Ricky is a member of the local climbing and mountain biking coalitions, and as always, a passionate volunteer for Adventure Scientists’ land based projects. Ricky brings nearly a decade of experience in systems administration and data management, as well as a lifetime of stoke for science in the great outdoors.

Nico supports our mission by optimizing our team’s internal workflows for enhanced productivity and streamlining our service delivery to partners and volunteers.

Areas of expertise: UX design, product development, no-code automation, organizational efficiency.

Having pursued Industrial Design at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nico discovered his passion for digital products and enterprises. With over 15 years of experience in various roles—as a founder, full-time employee, and consultant for startups and companies spanning e-commerce to education—Nico offers valuable insights.

Guided by a commitment to innovation and a focus on leveraging software for optimization, Nico is dedicated to shaping a dynamic future for Adventure Scientists.

Gabe supports Adventure Scientists and its staff by overseeing financial operations, ensuring transparency, compliance, and the strategic allocation of resources.

Areas of Expertise: financial reporting, FP&A,taxation, forensic accounting, corporate finance, risk management, compliance and regulation.

Gabe graduated from the University of Montana with Bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Finance. His diverse expertise across multiple industries greatly benefits the organization by providing valuable insights and innovative solutions. Beyond managing day-to-day financial activities, Gabe strives to provide strategic guidance to our leadership team by generating accurate financial forecasts and recommending actionable insights to support decision-making. Additionally, Gabe works with external auditors and regulatory agencies to ensure compliance with accounting standards and reporting requirements.

Devynn supports the Development team with grant writing and operations support.

Areas of expertise: grant research and writing, development operations, Salesforce, and graphic design.

Devynn holds a BA in Sustainability Studies from Alaska Pacific University, and has served the conservation and agriculture sectors for the State of Alaska.

Devynn supports Adventure Scientists’ Development Team through grant writing, data management, and partner stewardship planning. With a passion for protecting both people and the planet, she brings her unique background in local farm promotion, rural community outreach, and federal grants management into her work here at Adventure Scientists.

Alison supports the Programs team by designing the methods for projects focusing on our forests impact area, using our participatory science model to collect data at large scales.

Areas of expertise: forests, biodiversity conservation, research project design, sustainability, environmental education.

Dr. Alison Ormsby has a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies from Antioch University New England, a M.S. in Environmental Studies from the Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and a B.S. in Environmental Science from the College of William and Mary. She is a certified Environmental Educator, certified Interpretive Guide, and is SCUBA certified. She has served on the boards of numerous environmental organizations, and on the Sustainability Advisory Committee for the City of Asheville, NC and is currently co-chair of the Tree Protection Task Force for Buncombe County, NC. She brings to Adventure Scientists her 30 years of work experience in biodiversity conservation, as a professor of Environmental Studies for 20 years, and a wide variety of other work experiences – as an environment/parks Peace Corps Volunteer in Sierra Leone, a Fulbright scholar in India researching sacred forests, a journalist with the United Nations reporting on environmental treaties, and an educator with the Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Society.

Becky supports the programs team by creating volunteer training modules, project communication plans, and managing external project communications.

Areas of Expertise: field science, communications, storytelling, instructional design.

Becky graduated from Longwood University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She is currently a PhD candidate at Prescott College studying Sustainability Education. She has been an educator for 19 years in public and private school settings and at a museum. She has been a field scientist and science communicator since 2018, focusing on long-term conservation in the Peruvian Amazon, and has completed field seasons in Antarctica, Iceland, Belize, and Galapagos. Her diverse experience as an educator, field scientist, and science communicator greatly benefits the organization by providing expertise in field data collection, instructional design, and bridging the gap between science and the public. Becky brings creative energy and positivity to the team and a passion for being outdoors, education, and combining the two whenever she can!

Samantha supports the project management team by managing volunteers and project equipment, supporting the design and build of projects, and processing samples to assure quality and quantity of data to scientific partners.

Areas of expertise: volunteer experience, management, ecology, conservation biology.

Samantha graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Environmental Studies from St. Lawrence University in upstate New York. Her senior thesis focused on the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone National Park, which sparked her relocation to Bozeman, MT, where she crossed paths with Adventure Scientists. Samantha’s decade of experience in customer service and management, coupled with her scientific background, plays a crucial role at AS. She oversees the successful data collection by volunteers and ensures that scientific partners receive top-notch research-grade samples.

Nate works with researchers, organizations, and government agencies to create projects and training programs for collecting large-scale, rigorous data to solve conservation challenges.

Areas of expertise: Conservation behavior, outdoor recreation, sustainable travel, youth development, program design and evaluation, and partnerships.

Nate is an enthusiastic collaborator focused on supporting others in collecting data and building scalable systems that make a positive difference. He is a part-time Ph.D. student in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at Clemson University and earned his master’s degree in Educational Psychology, Measurement, and Evaluation from UNC-Chapel Hill. Since 2003, he has worked at the intersection of conservation and recreation. He is passionate about engaging diverse communities in outdoor activities that educate and inspire action toward a more sustainable future. Nate has traveled to over 50 countries and led groups on multi-week adventures and research expeditions on five continents. He loves being outside and helping others explore and learn about nature.

Gregg founded Adventure Scientists in 2011 based on his passion for exploration, scientific discovery and galvanizing “the choir” to more directly participate in conservation.

National Geographic named Gregg Treinish “Adventurer of the Year” in 2008 when he and a friend completed a 7,800-mile trek along the spine of the Andes mountain range, and he has participated in multiple ecologically focused expeditions around the world. His field work has included projects focused on wolverine, lynx, bears, owls, sturgeon, and more. Gregg holds a biology degree from Montana State University and a sociology degree from CU-Boulder.

In 2015 he was named a DRK Foundation social entrepreneur and one of Men’s Journal’s “Most Adventurous Men.” In 2017, Gregg was named an Ashoka Fellow, and in 2020, a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. He was named to the Explorer’s Club 50 and the Hatch 100 in 2023.

Madelyn serves Adventure Scientists as an intern helping support the communication needs of the organization.

Madelyn grew up in Richmond, Virginia where she was able to enjoy both inland and coastal outdoor activities. The closeness of Virginia Beach inspired her love for the oceans at a young age and encouraged her to practice living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Madelyn is currently studying Strategic Communication and English at Washington and Lee University. Outside of those courses, she has taken Environmental studies and biology courses to foster her investment in conservation. Outside school and work, you can find Madelyn competing on her university’s track team, reading, walking her dog, and spending time with family and friends.   

Meet Ana, a tree-climbing enthusiast turned Talent Recruiter. Growing up in the countryside, she swapped the indoors for the great outdoors (and never looked back). With a master’s in International Economics, she launched a globe-trotting career, tackling quality assurance, startup strategy, and finally, HR and Recruitment—a field where her passion for people truly shines.

Now based in Spain, she balances hiring top talent with organizing mindfulness events like Forest Bathing workshops and indulging her artistic side with painting.