Meet the Family
The Heart & Soul of Wildwater
Meet the Wildwater crew. The people that make Wildwater special are the folks you see around here every day!
Bodie Beitz - River Manager
Bodie is our River Manager, bringing experience from a variety of professions. Bodie's steadfast love of the river and commitment to staff development makes him the perfect candidate for the job. Bodie can be found in the back of a raft, videoing your trip, swinging a hammer at basecamp or manning the phones in the office.
Jonathan Danz - General Manager
Jonathan's Wildwater roots go back to when he was 7 years old and his parents, longtime Wildwater enthusiasts, ventured to Thurmond West Virginia for a week of whitewater. They were kind enough to throw the kids a bone with a token Upper New trip. Jonathan surfaced in West Virginia in 1991 to train as a guide. After an eight year hiatus spent pursuing a graduate degree and working in the corporate world, Jonathan returned to the Wildwater family. Best we can tell, he likes being back.
Mike Mather - River Guide / Climbing Guide / River Rescue Instructor
Mike Mather is an institution here at Wildwater Expeditions. Mike started guiding back in the late 80's and when he's not teaching river rescue clinics around the globe, tuning skis in Vail, CO, or driving his big black truck to some destination in between, you may find Mike at the helm of your boat during Gauley season. We welcome back Mike with open arms every year! Mike plays a mean guitar and puts on quite a show. If you have the opportunity to catch him performing, don't miss it!
Brad Atkins - River Guide / Video Boater
The boy from Kalamazoo and the smoothest raft guide you'll ever meet. Once you meet him you'll know why we lovingly refer to him as "Disco B".
Dan Wallen - River Guide
Senior Guide. Dan has been with us for over 20 years and we've enjoyed every minute. Dan visits us on the big weekends, but spends much of his time managing his investment company Wallen Wealth Management in northern Virginia. Dan also continues to work at jiu-jitsu as co-owner and instructor at Fightworks.
Rich Knight - Senior Guide
Rich Knight is a mountain of a man who is steadfast at the controls and quick with a smile. Rich hails from Jefferson, PA and joins us throughout the year on the New River and during Gauley Season. Don't let the size fool you, Rich is as nice as they come.
Mike Becker - Senior Trip Leader
Mike Becker has been part of the Wildwater team for about a decade now and we're glad to have him. Mike is the consummate guide, both on the water and on the rock. He'll leave you in stitches (or groaning) with his awful jokes and amazed at his river and climbing skills. Mike is working towards his nursing degree and when he's not here at Wildwater, you can find him patrolling the slopes at Snoshoe Ski Resort here in West Virginia.
Alex Overmiller - River Guide / Video Boater
With rosy cheeks and a kind word, Alex makes every raft trip special. Whether videographing your trip or guiding your raft he's sure to make it a day to remember.
Heather Ignaszewski - Senior River Guide
With 20+ years of guiding experience, Heather is one of a kind. A year-round resident of Thurmond, WV (Pop. 6), Heather knows as much as anyone about the river and surrounding area. She rows a mean raft on the New and Gauley rivers--be warned--she likes to hand out nicknames.....and they tend to stick.
Chris Wallen - River Guide
Chris has been a part of Wildwater since the early 80's. When he's not running his company, Dynamic Solutions with his wife Julie, Chris can be found kayaking, hunting or lounging in a chair here at Wildwater when the work is done. A second generation of Wallens often accompanies Chris on his visits to Wildwater. Before long, you may see them in the back of your boat!
Katie Smith - River Guide
We didn't hire her just cause she works for REI, we swear! It's just a bonus. She is as sweet as the day is long and has some of the worst jokes known to man, How that combination works, we don't know, but it does.
Sam Stewart - River Guide
Our all American Apple Pie Kid! If the Ken doll came to life, he would look like Sam although his personality is something of a mix between Rocky and Bullwinkle.
Braddock Stevenson - River Guide
We've been training Braddock to be a raft guide since he was 12 so he definitely knows his stuff. That knowledge combined with the biggest blue eyes you've ever seen will simply 'wow' you. He is constantly amazing us.
Torie Bowman
We love having Torie back year after year because she is so much freaking fun to be around. Her smile and laugh are enough to cheer the biggest curmudgeon. Torie is a true southern belle, hailing from Alabama. You won't see a banjo on her knee, however, as she had a small surgical procedure to have that removed.
Eric Autenreith - River Guide / Driver
The happiest elf to be found east of the Mississippi, he is the builder of all things great and small and the keeper of all useless knowledge.
Hank Wilkinson - River Guide
Hailing from Richmond, VA, Hank is as cool as they come. His gentle nature and soft-spoken demeanor will having you "floating" in a state of Zen by the end of your trip.
Julia Papayanopoulous - River Guide
Bright brown eyes and winning smile, Julia will keep the energy level high and the fun level turned up to the max. Just don't try to pronounce her last name.
Steve Sanborn - River Guide
Fresh from Colorado, Steve is an Engineer when he's not guiding rafts. Steve's cherubic smile and "aw shucks" personality makes him an easy guy to like.
Bobby Ahlers - River Guide
Soon to be Physical Therapist and Muy Thai instructor, Bobby brings his Blue-grass-state manners and charm to Wildwater. His bad jokes will make you laugh despite yourself...."God dang it Bobby...you failed English!"
Nate Hollister - River Guide
Nate is as home on the whitewater as he is talking black holes, rips in the fabric of time, and artificial intelligence. We're pretty sure that's a good thing, but you'll have to join him on the Cosmic Journey to find out for yourself.
Matt Wadsworth - River Guide
Also known as the "Praying Mantis", Matt always knows just what to do on the river. His clean lines and big hits amaze us everyday.
Joe Nehme
A recent addition to the Wildwater family, we can only say....A.W.E.S.O.M.E.
Billy Kinney
With an infectious grin and an impish air for chicanery, Billy keeps us in stitches and smiles. He can do the same for you too!
Marti Mitchell - River Guide
She skis, she rafts, she skis, she rafts, she rafts, she skis? Marti loves the outdoors and anything to be found in it and spends her days looking for yet another adventure she can embark upon. She has no fear of the unknown, only of being bored. She keeps us all on our toes and on the lookout.
Jay Perry - River Guide
Just one of the nicest people in the world. Good ole Jay. Not much to say about him other than the fact that not one of us can remember ever having seen him in a bad mood.
Gary Miller - River Guide
Just one of them good ole boys from Summersville. He gets you down the river real good. It may not be pretty, but he does a heck of a job. (Ya gotta say this one with a real 'southern' accent.)
Rick Roberts - River Guide
River Guide. (Manager of Kohls). "Willis" learned one of his skills as an extra on Aliens, and with all the girls (his wife and daughters) in his life he likes to guide so he can actually get to the bathroom.
Jessica McGowan
Jessica has migrated to beautiful Colorado to broaden her whitewater skills, but usually makes her way back to West Virginia to join us on the Gauley River in the fall. Jessica is one of the nicest people you will meet and always ready to pitch in. Jess's diverse interests always make for interesting conversations.
Sam Hess - River Guide / Video Boater / Safety Boater
Don't be led astray by his boyish good looks, he may look like a little tyke but his knowledge of the river is immense and his personality is pure sunshine.
Bill Hoblitzell - River Guide
Bill is, in our opinion, the King of the one-lines. He just sits there looking all sweet and innocent and then, wham, out of nowhere comes this insightful bit of wit and wisdom that just leaves ya staring. It's incredible.
Chris Perkins - River Guide
River Guide. (Director of Secondary Schools / Vocational). Perk's put in many miles on the river and is now trying to match that on the road. "I said PADDLE!!"
Frank Vaughan - River Guide
River Guide. (Professional Student). There is not much that you can say about Frank. Even if we tried, you wouldn't believe us. Let's just say that we all want to be Frank when we grow up.