Come hang with us at the 2026 NEO Adventure Fest on 5/16 in Downtown Cuyahoga Falls. Learn more here!
Meet our People
Our team is made up of amazing people from Northeast Ohio and beyond. We are a robust group of volunteers, adventurers, and people wanting to share our love for the outdoors with Every Body.
Founder + Executive Director
Kara Lapso (she/her)
Kara is a mom, adventurer, and lover of nature. She enjoys climbing, biking, hiking, yoga, and trail running. She loves going fast—flying down hills, zipping around turns, paddling white water. She also enjoys taking it slow to look at the bugs, the birds, the patterns, and colors.
She works remotely as an adjunct professor for the University of Denver's Graduate School of Social Work.
Director of Events
Josh Mohr (he/his)
Josh enjoys trail running, mountain biking, canoeing/kayaking, and rock climbing. Josh has over fifteen years of experience in large-scale event production, project management and experiential marketing. He currently has his own event production company, Terrain Experiential.
Director of Environmental Impact
Nathan Kreis (he/his)
Nathan is happiest outside—whether he's biking, hiking, trail running, or heading off the grid for a backpacking trip. He lives in West Akron with his two kids, and together they’re always on the lookout for the next adventure (or at least a good snack).
When he's not on the trails, Nathan brings over 15 years of nonprofit experience to the table. He currently serves as the Director of Strategic Projects at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, where he helps turn big ideas into meaningful impact.
Adventure Lead
Sarah Waite Fekete
Sarah is a trauma-informed yoga practitioner, forest bathing guide, and Thai Massage practitioner who offers a variety of programs under her business, YouBloom LLC. Being of service to others in aiding them to blossom as a person is her calling in life- whether that be through body work in Thai Massage, offering nature based educational programs with parks, or leading yoga classes. She completed her 200 hour training five years ago and has since continued her education through trauma informed, chair, cancer care, restorative, assisted stretching, and fitness class trainings.
Sarah runs community programs through her LLC, YouBloom. 🧘🏼♀️🌳
Adventure Lead
Natalie Simmons (she/her)
Natalie is a full time educational sign language interpreter at Cleveland Metro Schools. Part time she works for the conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. She loves visiting all the different national park units and collecting all the Junior Ranger badges. So far she has collected 26 badges. In her free time she loves going for hikes and her favorite trails are the Tree Farm trail and Nelson Ledges Trails.
Lead Birder
Megan Delong-Borick (she/her)
Megan's interest in birds comes from working with a 4th grade science teacher to revitalize a neighborhood park into a no-mow meadow. After that, being outside finally clicked. As a plus size person and a self proclaimed big fan of cities, outdoorsy activities never really felt like her thing. But now, birds allowed kayaking, cycling, and taking walks to be more than they ever were before: a chance to see new birds, meet new people, and be comfortable in nature. Megan is certified as an Accessible Birding Outing Leader through Access Birding and has lead bird walks with Everyday Akron & OTC. Megan's favorite kinds of birding are mindful birding, bird walks, and sitting in her backyard birdwatching
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Adventure Lead
Amelie Springer
Amelie loves being outside, whether that’s taking it easy in her favorite local parks with her dog, Nova, or stretching beyond her norm through new adventures. Her favorite spots in NEO are Headwaters Park, for camping, and the Ohio Erie Canal Towpath for biking! She also enjoys floating on her paddleboard with a book and some snacks, backpacking with her family, and finding different ways to experience being outside. Amelie is especially committed to creating brave, welcoming spaces for people who may not always feel comfortable, confident, or seen in outdoor environments. She sees the outdoors as a place to foster connection, build community, and make space for everyone to belong.
Adventure Lead
Chrissy Bennett (she/her)
Chrissy’s favorite place is to be anywhere outside. You’ll usually find her chasing some good old “type 2” fun or relaxing trailside in her hammock with a book and a cup of camp coffee. She loves being part of the outdoor community and fills her days with gravel and mountain biking, hiking, climbing, adventures with her dogs, and the occasional paddleboard session with great company.
She met Kara from OTC at Rockmill Climbing Gym on a totally random night—an encounter that gave her the spark (and final push!) to open Take a Hike Resale Shop. Now you can catch her at local pop-up events or reach out anytime you’re looking for clothing or gear to help you get outside, explore more, and try something new.
Board of Directors, Treasurer
Gwennan Richmond (she/her)
Gwennan's love for outdoor spaces is deeply tied to her years as a whitewater guide, with six seasons on the New and Gauley Rivers in West Virginia and one season on the Shotover River in New Zealand. In addition to white water rafting, walking her dog Kepler, and working to restore her 1920s Craftsman home.
She works for Conservation Legacy managing a non-profit partnership with the National Park Service, creating internship opportunities for young adults in the historic preservation field.
Board of Directors, Secretary
Nikki Alden
Nikki is a realtor in Northeast Ohio passionate about volunteering in the community and showcasing our beautiful natural resources. When not selling houses or off on an adventure, she pours her heart into her local community cleaning up the Cuyahoga River or volunteering for the CVNP helping to remove invasive plants.
Board of Directors, Officer
Saira Galindo-Vazquez (she/ella)
Saira is an educator working for Denver Public Schools in the dept of Social Emotional Learning. She is very passionate about equity, culture and language accessibility. She likes to spend time with her husband, cat, and dogs.
Board of Directors, Officer
Nicki Almes
Nicki is an artist, animal lover, outdoor explorer, and a passionate advocate for accessibility. Having first-hand experience with disability and adaptations, she is dedicated to creating inclusive and adaptive environments through creative solutions.
Board of Directors, Officer
Alanna Wathen (she/her)
Alanna enjoys trail running and hiking with her dog, backpacking/camping with her spouse, traveling the world, and fly fishing. She works as a physical therapist and has pursed outdoor certifications such as Advanced Wilderness Life Support and a Wilderness First Responder. Her interests include adaptive, outdoor recreation for those with mobility or accessibility limitations and educating others on the benefits of nature and healing in healthcare