Board of Directors

AMGA Board of Directors 2024

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Geoff Unger | Board Chair

Pronouns:  He / Him / His
Years served on the AMGA Board: 7
Board Committees: Professional Compliance, Governance, Finance
Year joined the AMGA:  2005
Certifications: IFMGA Mountain Guide
Education & Professional Experience: BA in International Political Economics from Colorado College, Guiding and Instructing since 2001, IFMGA Guide since 2008, AMGA Instructor Team Member teaching and examining in all the disciplines of the Mountain Guide Program, AIARE Instructor Staff teaching PRO I and II Avalanche Courses Home: Mammoth, CA
When not guiding –  Cooking, Mountain Biking, Paragliding

Silas Rossi | President

Pronouns:  He / Him / His
Years served on the AMGA Board: 6
Board Committees: Executive, Financial, Technical
Year joined the AMGA:  2001
Certifications: IFGMA, TRSM, Rock, Alpine, Ski
Education & Professional Experience: BS in Parks, Recreation, & Tourism; IFMGA Mountain Guide; Elementum Certified Life Coach; Instructor Team Member; 22 years of mountain guiding experience
Home: New Paltz, NY
When not guiding –  exploring remote ice climbing areas or riding his dirt bike.

Elaina Arenz headshot small

Elaina Arenz | Vice President  

Pronouns: She/Her/Her’s
Joined Board In:  2019
Board Committees: Technical, Ad Hoc SPI / UIAA & Awards
Education & Professional Experience: Professional Compliance, Risk Management, Governance, Technical
Year joined the AMGA:  2003
Certifications: AMGA Rock Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide, Single Pitch Instructor, and SPI Provider Trainer       
Education & Professional Experience: BS Advertising from UT Austin
Home: Las Vegas, NV
When not guiding – dirt biking.

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Lyra Pierotti | Secretary

Pronouns:  She / Her / Hers
Joined Board In:  2018
Board Committees: DEI (Chair); Nominations & Environmental Ad Hoc
Year joined the AMGA:  2009
Certifications: AMGA Rock Guide, Apprentice Alpine, Ice Instructor Course, & Assistant SPI Provider
B.S. Biology: Ecology, Behavior, Evolution, minor in French Literature; Outdoor & Experiential education since 2004; NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist; writer
Home: Vashon Island, WA
When not guiding – Lyra lives on a certified organic farm.

Charles Rutstein | At Large Member of the Executive Committee

Pronouns:  He / Him / His
Joined Board In:  2023
Year Joined the AMGA: 2023
Education & Professional Experience: Charles Rutstein is Group CEO at AlpineX, a private equity-backed company focused on a portfolio of innovative services industry roll-ups including LegalX Group (back office legal services), Axcel (professional education services), Axia water services (well and pump services) and Canopy Service Partners (residential tree service). The company is backed by San Francisco-based Alpine Investors
Home:  New Hamshire

When not working loves time in the mountains and giving back to the climbing community

DIRECTORS

Steve Banks

Pronouns: He / Him / His
Joined Board In
:  2021
Board Committees:  Finance, Risk Management
Year joined the AMGA:  1999
Certification: American Mountain Guide / IFMGA Guide
Education and experience: BA in Outdoor Recreation from Western Colorado University, AMGA Instructor Team Member, Vice President and former Director and Forecaster for the Crested Butte Avalanche Center, AIARE Course Leader, SPI Provider
Sponsors: Mammut
Home: Crested Butte, CO
When not guiding- Climbing, Skiing, Mountain Biking, chilling and…. keeping certifications up to date!

Tracy Faber

Pronouns: She / Her / Hers
Joined the Board In: 2023
Board Committees: Finance
Year joined the AMGA: 2023
Education & Professional Experience: Bachelor’s in Social Science from Michigan State University and Master’s in Labor and Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota.  Retired Chief Human Resources Officer and Executive Vice President at McKesson.
Home: Las Vegas, Nevada
In retirement enjoys rock, ice and alpine climbing. 

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Jon Rockefeller

Pronouns:  He / Him / His
Joined Board In:  2019
Board Committees: AMGA Board Appointed Professional Director
Year joined the AMGA:  2019
32 years in the Outdoor Industry with brands like Petzl, Arc’teryx, Patagonia, The North Face, and specialty retailers
Home:  Salt Lake City, UT
When not working – passionate about industrial design and photography.

 

Eddie Schoen 

Pronouns:  He / Him / His
Joined Board In:  2024
Year Joined the AMGA: 2014
Board Committees:  Finance
Education & Professional Experience: Eddie is an IFMGA/American Mountain Guide based in North Bend, WA.  In addition to guiding, Eddie works as a Finance and Project Manager for Wyssen Avalanche Control.  Prior to beginning his guiding career, he worked in both corporate finance and public accounting and held a license as a Certified Public Accountant.  In 2024 Eddie stepped in to fill the vacant role of Treasurer on the AMGA’s board of directors.
Home:  North Bend, Washington

screen-shot-2020-12-02-at-10-19-20-amKevin Shon

Pronouns: He/ Him/ His
Joined Board In: 2020
Board Committees: Nominations Committee and Advocacy Committee
Year joined the AMGA: 2009
Certifications: CWI Provider, Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock and Alpine guide, Ice Instructor course completion.
Education & Professional Experience: Master’s in Social Work with a focus in clinical mental health care (WVU ’16), B.S. in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Resources with focus in sustainable tourism development and adventure-based learning (WVU ’99).
Home Base: Bellingham, WA (3 seasons) Bozeman, MT (winter)
In another life I am a professionally trained drummer/percussionist: I hold a minor in music from WVU and still make music when I can.

Sean Taft-Morales

Pronouns: They / Them / Theirs
Joined Board In:  2021
Board Committees:  Governance
Year joined AMGA:  2010
Certifications: Rock Instructor, Single Pitch Instructor Program Provider, Director at Sportrock Climbing Centers
Home:  Washington DC
When not guiding or climbing, Sean can be found dancing in the streets of DC, baking, and playing dungeons & dragons.

Matt Wade, AMGA Executive Director

Pronouns: He / Him / His
Joined Board In:  2023
Board Committees:  Executive, Finance, Advocacy, Professional Compliance
Year joined the AMGA:  2001
Certifications: AMGA Rock and Ski Guide
Educational & Professional Experience: Matt holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Minor in Chemistry from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA. Matt founded Peak Mountain Guides, a climbing and skiing guide service that he directed for 9 years; he is an AMGA Certified Rock Guide and Ski Guide with 19 years of career guiding experience; and he served in leadership and management roles at Cornell University Outdoor Education and Pacific Lutheran University Outdoor Recreation.
Home:  Ridgway, CO