Staff
Splore has experienced and knowledgeable staff and volunteers running all Splore activities. They are trained in outdoor skills and disability awareness and safety. Our staff members have a wealth of knowledge in working with the diverse needs of special populations. All Splore river guides are licensed through the State of Utah (Division of Parks and Recreation), and rock climbing and skiing instructors are certified by Splore personnel.
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John Librett, PhD., MPH - Executive Director
Dr. Librett's work focuses on the prevention and treatment of chronic disease and disability by bridging public health and preventive medicine with outdoor recreation. On these issues, Dr. Librett has worked with the White House, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services; U.S. Department of the Interior; World Health Organization, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Librett has also worked with governments and corporations in Asia, Eastern Europe, Central and South America, and the U.S. As a cancer survivor, Dr. Librett is a past member of the Lance Armstrong Foundation's Public Health Advisory Board; Saint Joseph's Hospital Cancer Survivors' Network; and Clinical Director of the American Medical Athletic Association's Clinical Advisory Board. He is past chair of the Federal Interagency Council on Recreation and Public Health; Founder and Chair of the Centers for Disease Control, Recreation and Sport Workgroup; and past chair of the Cooper Institute Conference Series on Collaborative Frameworks Between Parks, Recreation, and Public Health. Dr. Librett is currently an adjunct faculty with the University of Utah, College of Health; a member of the American College of Sports Medicine; and Chair of the Utah Cancer Action Network's Evaluation Committee. Combining his vocation and avocation, you can often find John camping, cycling, hiking, skiing, and traveling with his wife Allison and their two children, Sophie and Nick.
Tim Stempel, MSW - Program and Operations Director
Tim was raised in sunny Phoenix, AZ. Upon finishing high school, he sought a change from the desert heat and moved to Portland, OR to attend Lewis & Clark College. He finished there with a B.A. in Hispanic Studies and moved to Washington State to teach for an environmental education program at YMCA Camp Orkila. He has guided many wilderness adventure trips that have included rock climbing, canoeing, mountain biking, backpacking, river rafting, and sea kayaking in Washington, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, and Costa Rica. Tim moved to Utah in 2004 to enjoy the world-class snow of the Wasatch Mountains. In 2006, he returned to school at the University of Utah for a Master's degree in Social Work. Tim is excited to be at Splore because of his passionate belief in the transformative power of wilderness experiences. In his off-time, you might find him skiing in the backcountry, riding one of his many bicycles, listening to live music, or cooking on a cast iron skillet.
Janine Donald - Northern Programs Manager
After growing up in rainy Seattle and going to school in slightly less rainy Portland, Janine jumped at the chance to move to Utah. She quickly fell in love with red rock country, copious sunshine and working outside with people.
After an internship at Canyonlands National Park, she moved to Salt Lake to do wilderness therapy with teenagers and started volunteering for Splore. She was thrilled to join the Splore team in November 2007 and is having a fabulous year playing outside.
Ann Dalton - Southern Utah Operations Director
Ann was born in and raised in the deserts of the Southwest. She completed a double major at Arizona University; Pre-Medical with a Biochemistry emphasis and Fine Arts with a Ceramics emphasis. After graduation, she decided to explore the world and experience as many of her interests as she could, and found that the best place for that was right where she started – in Moab. Ann is ecstatic to be in a place she loves, and has been using her accumulated experience in the organization, production, and marketing of events she gained while working with the Moab Music Festival. She is excited to continue utilizing and developing new knowledge and resources, and feels incredibly lucky that it is for an organization that embodies her passion for helping people experience life to the fullest, no matter their abilities.
Brad Woodford - Southern Programs Manager
Brad was born on the banks of the mighty Mississippi in Memphis, Tennessee. Growing up in Alabama, he spent his youth fishing and golfing until he fell in love with outdoor sports. He began backpacking at age 15, climbing at 17, and paddling at 18. He went to the University of Tennessee and worked for their outdoor program from metriculation to commencement. In his collegiate summers, he lived in Yosemite National Park doing part time work as a house keeper and hiking guide while he climbed and ran trails during his off time. In the summer of 2007, he joined Splore as an intern to complete his degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies. He made his triumphant return for the 2008 season as a guide, and is back for more in 2009 with his dog Blue at his side.
Sarah Whitmore - AmeriCorps VISTA
Sarah Whitmore is Splore's Community Relations Coordinator. Before joining Splore, Sarah taught special education at Harrison High School in Evansville, Indiana and recently received her Master's degree in Special Education from Indiana State University. After teaching for 5 years, Sarah decided to join the AmeriCorps VISTA program and jumped at the chance to serve Splore for her one year term. Growing up a "Hoosier," Sarah told us "my parents instilled in me a great adoration for the outdoors. My love for the outdoors, along with my passion for teaching children with special needs, led me to Utah, where I hope to make many new friends and have an exciting year of service."
Brian Washington - AmeriCorps VISTA
Brian hails from the rolling hills of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. After completing a B.S in Biology from St. Bonaventure University in New York, Brian decided to pursue a M.S in Adapted Physical Activity from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. This allowed him to combine his love for outdoor recreation with his experience working for improved health and recreation opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Brian completed an internship with Splore where he was impressed with the dedication, creativity and passion of Splore employees. Brian is currently serving as the grant compliance officer, developing an adaptive guide certification program and working as staff on every program he can! When not on programs you can find Brian climbing, hiking or running along the granite peaks in the Wasatch or attending the local quad rugby games.
Blue Woodford - Certified Therapy Dog
Blue grew up in East Tennessee roaming the neighborhood till he was just over 2 years old. His owner was moving to an apartment and knew Blue loved to be outside more than anything. So he gave Blue to Brad in September of 2008, which marked the beginning of a lifelong partnership. Since then Blue has had adventures at the beach, cliffs, now rivers. In March 2009 Blue passed his therapy dog test to officially join the Splore crew. He always enjoys a good hike and a belly rub.