Kate Weihe

Higher Ground Executive Director

A Florida native and flip flop lover, Kate offers her sociological and cheerleading expertise to the Higher Ground crew. She has worked her way through many roles with the organization, starting as volunteer coordinator in 2008, where she was able to experience the power of recreation therapy on a regular basis, and also connect the Higher Ground mission to the local community. She is incredibly proud of the positive impact we have on participants through therapeutic recreation and the outdoors. A beachcomber turned mountain lover, Kate revels in the high altitude lifestyle, but is pretty much freezing all of the time.

Rich Cardillo

Higher Ground Director of Military Program Expansion

As the leader behind our national expansion, Rich inspires us all with his drive and commitment. He came by his strong work ethic and willingness to go the extra mile through his time with US Army where he served in leadership roles for more than 30 years. In addition to a soldier’s sense of duty and mission, Rich also brings a warm sense of humor and a quick smile to his work at Higher Ground--traits that make our days, as well as those of our participants, brighter.

Lili Hansen

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Development Manager

Monty Heath

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Director of Military Programs

Monty was honored to serve our nation as a US Navy SEAL. After years in the defense contracting and executive protection arenas, he has landed back with the population he believes deserves the most respect and attention – our nation’s men and women who have voluntarily chosen to protect the freedoms some take for granted. When Monty isn’t working with veterans, he’s most likely skiing, dirt biking or creating general mischief with his two young boys.

Jean Seymour

Higher Ground Accounting Manager

Justin Safley

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Logistics Coordinator

Where would we be without Justin? Justin is our heavy lifter, literally and metaphorically. Where there’s a task to be done, Justin checks it off the list! His favorite part about being on the Higher Ground team are his interactions with our participants, whether they're veterans from across the country or local kids and adults. When he’s not at work, Justin takes advantage of the stellar ice hockey and mountain biking in the Sun Valley area and whenever possible, he rocks out at metal concerts. Oh yeah, and guess how many tattoos he has! We dare you!

Aly Tolles

Higher Ground Financial Controller

Mya Magney

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Recreation Program Coordinator

Cara Barrett

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Director of Recreation Programs

Cara can basically claim that all HG programs are her brainchild. As the very first intern and then employee of Higher Ground, she is known throughout the office as the “grandma” due to her tenure since 2001. Cara has known she wanted to work in the outdoors since middle school, and her driving passion in the organization is not only the time she gets to spend with local kids with disabilities, but also in demonstrating to all local kids that having a disability does not limit what is possible in life. She cherishes time outdoors with her husband, two boys, and dog, Billy. I bet you can’t guess what sport she took home the Long Island regional championship trophy for?! (Hint: it’s race walking)

Elyse Smidinger

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Volunteer Coordinator

Elyse is the smiling face who matches our volunteers to our programs. Her continuous support and energy is immensely impactful for our participants and volunteers. So what powers this ginger’s engine? People. Elyse trusts in the power of relationships and being able to inspire and motivate one another--and that goes for participants and volunteers. On another note, one of Elyse’s personal goals is to meet and pet every dog in Sun Valley and by all accounts, she’s doing quite well in her quest.

Mose Duchano

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Recreation Program Manager

Playing where’s Mose is like a game of where’s Waldo? In fact, he may just have the best job here at Higher Ground. Mose appreciates this and loves taking participants through an array of adaptive activities, from back country skiing to adaptive cycling on the single-track trails of the Sawtooth Mountains. Mose brings his unique ability to bring people out of their comfort zones while never impeding on their personal space and keeping the mood positive. If Mose isn’t he guiding people through the back country, he’s out there pushing his own limits on a new adventure!

Kirstin Webster

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Internship & Impact Manager

The longest tenured member of the current SV military team, Kirstin brings a genuine compassion and heartfelt curiosity to the HG staff. Kirstin can boast a published work among her many accomplishments; she analyzed and published findings about the power and influence through serving veterans in the outdoors. Kirstin is especially adept in helping connect others to the HG mission as she oversees the growing HG internship program. If you don’t catch Kirstin in the hot springs or chatting with local veterans, you may find her recreating in the wilderness through rafting, camping, climbing, or water skiing. Occasionally you might also steal a glimpse of her rocking a headstand on her stand up paddleboard, or speaking American Sign Language with our local participants!

Alaina Wilson

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Military Programs Manager

Jeff Burley

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Director of Adaptive Sports

Natasha Roseboom

Higher Ground New York
Military Programs Manager

Natasha is the pioneer who created our first Higher
Ground program east of Idaho. Using our established
HG model, she’s built a balanced program in New
York that continues to draw and serve veterans in
need. In turn, she’s found that by growing this new
chapter, she too has grown in her work as a
recreational therapist and she looks forward to
continuing to improve and expand the program so
that it will also become a model for future Higher
Ground chapters.

Kayla Pedrolini

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Recreation Youth Program Manager

Our Midwestern charmer from Michigan, Kayla brings a wealth of experience to our staff, including adaptive water skiing, swimming, and a lifetime of working with her younger brother who is on the autism spectrum. She sees nothing but the best in people and programs, and is excited by the potential for growth, innovation, and community partnership at Higher Ground. Kayla loves all things outdoors, as well as dancing, painting and drawing. She is also fluent in Spanish and has an adorable dog, Frida!

Kate McKenzie

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Military Program Participant Manager

Justin Rujawitz

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Military Program Specialist

A current Preventive Medicine Officer in the Idaho Army National Guard, Justin loves being able to serve his fellow soldiers as well as those who have served before him. Justin originally came to Higher Ground as an intern to better himself as an Army Officer, as well as give back to those who have selflessly sacrificed for our country. But the more Justin experienced what we do and saw the positive changes in the participants’ lives, the more he wanted to stay. So he did and is now full time at Higher Ground. Beyond the fact that Justin thinks his co-workers are awesome, he’s also happy to live at the gateway to the Sawtooth Mountains and enjoy all this area has to offer.

Robyn Marrelli

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Office Administrator

Ruler of the nest, stickler for organization, and a positive force, Robyn makes sure our office is running smoothly and efficiently. She originally came upon Higher Ground through volunteering more than 15 years ago. In addition to keeping the office running like clockwork, Robyn also volunteers the Wood River Animal Shelter, putters in her garden and rides her road bike. Bonus skill: Robyn can sing just about any showtune you name!

Chris Dooley

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Military Program Specialist

Kris King

Higher Ground Los Angeles
Military Programs Manager

If Kris could be any kitchen appliance she would be a blender
because she likes to mix things up. And at our Higher Ground
chapter in Los Angeles, she does just that, combining her grit,
creativity and strong belief in inclusivity as she works with veterans.
When not at Higher Ground, Kris loves being with Karen, her wife,
and adorable pup Patches. She’s also an avid outdoorswoman and
enjoys paddleboarding, camping, hiking and cycling. Kris also
volunteers at a local LGBT Center, an adaptive climbing program
and at an inclusive education group called GenderFwd.

Lauren Terschluse

Higher Ground Los Angeles
Director of Military Programs

To call Lauren multi-talented is an understatement. Not only does
she smoothly and effectively run the programs in our Los Angeles Chapter she also brings extensive experience in mental health care. Lauren has a masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from USC and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (Lic # 105861). Through her work with how Higher Ground and in her own life, she has witnessed the powerful blend of how recreation, nature and novel settings can shift one’s perspective. Lauren says the most exciting part of the her job is seeing the light turn on in veterans’ eyes during Higher Ground L.A. programs--and it’s that flicker of hope and the healing that fuels Lauren’s strong belief in the positive impact that she and the entire Higher Ground team has on the veteran community.