Shawn Farrell - Executive Director
Joined Aspen in 1996
Professional Experience:
AEG Outdoor Division - Operations Director
SUWS of the Carolinas - Program Supervisor, Academic Director, Senior Field Instructor
Explorations Wilderness Program - Program Director
Aspen Achievement Academy - Senior Instructor
On Track - Field Instructor
Special Project Experience:
Family Brat Camp UK - Program Director
Britian's Youngest Boozers - Program Manager
Interim Executive Director for PTR & LSE

Leah Madamba - Program Manager/Therapist
Leah is a Certified Counselor with the National Board of Certified Counselors, has a Masters of Science Degree in Community Counseling, and is applying for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor here in the state of North Carolina. She completed her degree with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2000. Her clinical specialization is in providing therapy in a wilderness setting for families who have adolescents in crisis. Leah worked as a therapist with the Aspen Achievement Academy in Utah from 2000 until 2002 and recently transferred to the SUWS of the Carolinas program. After completing her undergraduate degree in psychology at Vanderbilt University, she began her career in outdoor behavioral healthcare working with at-risk teens at the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School in Florida. In her free time, she and her husband enjoy hiking with their chocolate Labrador, Zeb .

Mark Oerther - Admissions Director
Mark joined SUWS of the Carolinas in 2001, starting as a field instructor and worked his way to a Senior Instructor and Graduation Coordinator. In the fall of 2002, Mark worked at the Wilderness Treatment Center. In the spring of 2003 Mark joined the start-up team at Adirondack Leadership Expeditions. During his time at ALE, Mark was promoted to Field Director and then later to Admissions Director. Mark has a B.S. in Business from Coastal Carolina Univ. in S.C. and is currently in the process of earning his Addictions Certification. He enjoys Surfing, Wakeboarding, Softball, Flag Football, and attempting to play golf!

Nick Pearl- Field Director
Nick has worked in the outdoor industry for nearly a decade. Born and raised on a horse farm in Kentucky, Nick went on to attend Western Kentucky University where he studied Chemical Engineering. He is certified as a Wilderness First Responder, Clinical First Responder, and is a Trainer for “Leave No Trace” outdoor ethics. He joined SUWS of the Carolinas in January of 2003 as an instructor, and worked his way to the honor of Master Instructor. A man of many hats, Nick has worked as the Field Medic, Instructor Resource Manager, Program Supervisor, and became the Field Director in April of 2007.

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