The real heroes of the impossible2Possible Youth Expeditions are the Youth Ambassadors. They not only defy any perceived physical or mental barriers in their own lives, but they truly inspire the thousands of students who follow their every step during an expedition.

These Youth Ambassadors will lead positive social action and are therefore ideal role models for today's youth. They are joined by the i2P Expedition Team; a group of passionate individuals that volunteer their time before, during and after expeditions. See links below for details!

Youth Ambassadors

Expedition Team

Education & Research Team

Logistics Team

Colin Henderson

Colin grew up in London, Ontario and spent his grade school years involved in a variety of sports such as soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, football and track and field. He also enjoyed keeping active over the summer times as a camper, councilor at multiple camps within the Canadian Shield, and swim instructor/lifeguard. Colin is now in his second year at the University of Toronto studying Concurrent Kinesiology and Physical Education. He hopes to carry on his passion for education, empowerment and leading a healthy lifestyle as a high school gym teacher. Throughout his years, Colin has participated in many extracurricular activities both active and not, including many different types of music, snowboarding, and more recently his favorite intramural; table tennis! He is extremely excited to be a Youth Ambassador and really can't wait to contribute in every possible way to the i2P mission!

Emma Morley

Emma is currently in her third year at Brigham Young University studying neuroscience. Following her undergraduate degree she plans to continue her education with graduate school and eventually establish a career in research. Emma hails from Minnesota where she grew participating in swimming, cross country, Nordic skiing, track and field, and intramural volleyball. In high school she acted as captain for her cross country and track teams and was awarded the cross country Most Valuable Athlete award during her senior year. Throughout college she has competed with the BYU Triathlon Club as well as individually in triathlons, road and trail races, obstacle races, and bike treks. As a student living part-time in the Midwest and part-time in Utah's mountainous backyard she enjoys hiking, running, rock climbing, biking, skiing, and taking advantage of whatever other adventures present themselves. She has always appreciated the importance of athletics and because of this has made them a major component in her life.

Emma is a program director for a BYU service group called Brighter Horizons that recruits volunteers to work with at-risk youth through community service projects. She has also volunteered with the BYU 2ft Prosthetics Club that seeks to develop functional and low-cost lower limb prosthetics for amputees in third world countries. Through her involvement in university functions such as these Emma has gained a greater understanding for the ongoing social issues both close to home and around the world. With this in mind, she is ever grateful for the opportunities that have come her way and uses them as a means to contribute her support in aiding these issues.

As an i2P Youth Ambassador for the upcoming Expedition Utah Emma is excited to challenge herself with such an incredible adventure and use it as an instrument to educate, inspire, and empower youth around the world. She is anxious to expand her limits and teach the reality that through vision, work, and persistence positive change is within the reach of us all.

Zander Affleck

Zander has lived the majority of his life in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and is currently attending Queens University in Kingston, Ontario where he is in the second year of a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Biology. Developing a passion for sports at a young age, he has contended in high performance competitions in soccer, hockey, volleyball, rowing and triathlon. Zander has been fortunate enough to compete in sporting events such as Canada Games '09 and Arctic Winter Games '08, '10 for soccer and is currently on the varsity triathlon team at Queens. In 2011 he participated in a 300km canoe trip down the Coppermine River with a group from the Northern Excursion Club in his high school. This fueled an already existing passion for exploring the great outdoors, leading to his current summer job as a canoe instructor and guide at NARWAL Northern Adventures in Yellowknife. As a guide he has the great job of leading expeditions and instructing paddling courses. He has also traveled to remote northern communities in northern Canada to teach youth paddling skills. Zander is excited to give it his all in Utah and to teach and inspire with the i2P team!

Holy Bull

After graduating from high school in the spring of 2012, Holly spent the last year in her hometown of Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. Having grown up in the Yukon, she acquired a strong appreciation for the outdoors and a passion for many of the activities that it hosts (hiking, running, biking, paddling, skiing and camping). Holly began cross-country skiing when she was four and has raced the Canadian National circuit throughout the past four years. She also enjoys coaching and teaching kids to ski. Her goal in coaching is to provide the younger athletes with a strong role model to help inspire and nurture enthusiasm towards sport and the development of a healthy life style. Holly's other hobbies include tobogganing, singing in the car and playing/teaching violin. She will be moving to Squamish, BC to attend Quest University Canada in the fall.

Steve Drost

Steve is nearing the end of his third year at the University of Northern Iowa, and will graduate in May with degrees in Real Estate and Finance, just days before the expedition begins. While attending high school in Decorah, Iowa, Steve excelled both academically and athletically. He was a member of National Honor Society, earned 30 college credits, and was named an AP Scholar. A competitive spirit, Steve earned 10 varsity letters, all-conference honors in both baseball and basketball, and was named an academic all-state athlete in track and field. Steve discovered a way to combine his love for travel, passion for volunteering, and pursuit of academic excellence through Camp Adventure Youth Services. This program enabled Steve to spend a summer living in Ramstein, Germany on a United States military base, working as a camp counselor for children of United States servicepersons, whilst earning college credit. During his three months overseas, Steve seized the chance to travel, visiting eight countries throughout Europe. Steve is honored and excited to once again merge his fondness for travel with his desire to give back by participating as a Youth Ambassador with impossible2Possible. Steve has never travelled west of Iowa, and is anxious to see the great American Southwest. He is also intrigued at the thought of the great obstacles, as well as the invaluable life experiences and memories that lie ahead.

Ray Zahab

In 2006/7, Ray and two other runners ran the entire width of the Sahara Desert-7500 kms (4600 miles) in 111 days with no rest days-and in the process learned of the seriousness of the water crisis in Africa. The run was documented in a film directed by Oscar winner James Moll and narrated by Matt Damon. One of the goals of the film is to raise awareness for the water crisis in Africa. Ray is an established ultra marathoner and speaker who uses his athletic career to support intiatives and causes he believes in. Ray is official Athletic Ambassador for the ONEXONE organization and is a board member of the Ryan's Well Foundation. Ray has completed 8 major expeditions to date and was recently a member of the South Pole Quest, the Siberian Express teams and in early 2011 ran the length of the Atacama Desert. He is the founder of impossible2Possible. Visit RayZahab.com.

Bob Cox

Bob Cox has been in athletics all of his life (a lifelong surfer with nearly 10 years in the surf industry) and has recently found his stride in endurance endeavors such as the Canada OnexOne, the Oceanside 70.3 Triathlon, multiple 50k's, and the San Francisco 24hour footrace race with a top ten finish. He spent much of his youth surfing in the Pacific Ocean and from those experiences his passion for our big blue planet was formed. Bob earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science with an emphasis on Public Policy from California State University, Northridge. His appreciation for clean drinking water grew from his profession as a potable and recycled water Cross Connection Specialist in California. In October 2007, Bob met Ray at a Livestrong event in Texas and from that moment he knew his life had changed. From that day forward the two men have dedicated their lives to the message and ideals of i2P.

Dr. Ewan Affleck

Ewan brings the combined skills of physician, administrator and ultra runner to the i2P team. A graduate of the McGill School of Medicine, and Dalhousie University where he studied history, he has worked and lived in Northern Canada since 1992. He is the long serving Medical Director of the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority and Clinical Director of Family Medicine at Stanton Territorial Hospital. He has conceived designed and implemented numerous successful Health Information Technology projects. He maintains an active clinical practice, providing both hospital based and remote community services. He is passionate about designing sustainable health services for remote northern communities. Ewan has been running for many years, and much prefers to run on snow than on asphalt. He served as the Medical Director for the 2008 Arctic Winter Games, and volunteered as a physician at the Vancouver Olympics. He has won 2 northern ultra marathons. Based on his commitment to physical fitness he was one of 20 Canadian physicians selected by the Canadian Medical Association to carry the Olympic Torch. He is married and has 2 children who share his passion for sport.

Alan Titus

Alan Titus is a geologist and paleontologist from Las Vegas, Nevada. He is currently Monument Paleontologist for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, a position he has held since its creation in 2000. Alan received his Ph.D. from Washington State University in 1996 and subsequently taught at Snow College (Ephraim, Utah) and Southern Idaho University. As Monument Paleontologist Alan oversees the inventory of new fossil areas, insure the collection of critical specimens for preservation, coordinates outside research programs. His research focuses on the utility of fossils as time markers and the evolution and systematics of dinosaurs, marine reptiles, and ammonites.

Jay Solman

Jay is the Ombudsperson at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Vancouver, BC and a seasoned ultramarathoner. Jay started running 8 years ago to get fit. Running has since become a passion and he has competed in marathons and ultramarathons all over the world. Jay is driven to use running to help others and make a difference in the world. Inspired by a friend's granddaughter who has cystic fibrosis Jay formed Team Trailwinders along with fellow ultra runners Lara Rintoul and Marc Bremner. In 2009 the team competed in the 250km Sahara Race and raised thousands for Variety Children's Charities. Passionate about our youth programs, Jay has been coordinating the relationship between i2P and SFU.

Kathy Adams

Kathy is an Environmental Advisor with a Crown Corporation of the Canadian government whose responsibilities include reviewing environmental and social documentation, benchmarking against international standards. Additional duties include risk reviews and monitoring of international projects. Kathy takes an active role in defining the relationships of i2P's many partners as it pertains to corporate social responsibility policies and initiatives. An experienced ultra marathoner, Kathy has participated in 2 of the i2P Youth Expeditions as both a mentor and coordinator. Kathy also continues to pursue her own athletic goals, with planned running expeditions in the future.

Ferg Hawke

Ferg is a 53 year old father of two children, Carter age 21, and Connie age 18. He lives in South Surrey British Columbia with Cheryl his wife of 26 years. Ferg has been competing in triathlon, marathon and ultra marathons since 1989.

His triathlon resume includes a 9:27 Ironman and a third place finish at the three day Ultraman Triathlon World Championships in Kona Hawaii. Ferg has run a 3:01 marathon split at the Ironman and a 6:44 clocking in the double marathon leg of the Ultraman. Ferg also competed for Canada as a member of the Canadian National Triathlon team in 1991, representing Canada at the World Triathlon Championships in Surfer's Paradise, Australia.

In the sport of ultra marathon Ferg finished first place in the inaugural Eagle 100 miler, Canada's toughest trail run. In the world-renowned classic multi-stage Marathon des Sables, held in the Sahara desert in Morocco, his eighth place performance is the highest ever by a North American. Ferg has twice finished 2nd overall that the 135 mile Badwater Ultramarathon held in Death Valley California. Ferg has also worked on the "Run For One Planet" team as a physical trainer and nutrition consultant during Matt Hill and Stephanie Tait's amazing 11,000 mile run around North America. This is Ferg's second i2P Youth Expedition.

Kelly Stowell

Kelly Stowell, has been the Executive Director of Center for Education, Business, and the Arts, headquartered in Kane County, Utah since 2008. Stowell, also serves as the Kane County Film Commissioner and is a native of southern Utah, where he grew up on a ranch in Parowan, Utah. He earned a degree in Business and Psychology from Utah Valley University and before relocating to Kanab, he was the Executive Director of the Utah Student Association, with the Utah System of Higher Education. Stowell's background also includes stints in Washington D.C. with U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch from Utah, the Senate in the Utah State Legislature. Kelly is a constant adventure seeker and avid outdoorsman, who can be found fly fishing on secluded trout streams in the summer, and high in the mountains on his snowboard traversing the famous Utah powder covered slopes in the winter. Kelly has been involved with local planning for the Utah expedition and looks forward to sharing the adventure of life in southern Utah with the i2P community.

Brad Smith

Brad is an experienced Human Resources Executive with one of the largest companies in Canada. He has an extensive background in Board of Director management, talent and organizational development and cultural change management. Brad enjoys all of the time he can get outdoors with his wife and two wonderful kids. As a lifelong athlete he has played elite hockey, baseball and is an avid participant in Ironman 70.3 and other endurance events. Brad has a passion for youth development. As an educator at the university level, working with i2P and the Duke of Edinburgh leadership award program he is fortunate to be able to help youth expand their horizons and reach their potential. He has earned an Executive Masters in Business Administration from the University of Ottawa, a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) Degree from the University of Manitoba and a Human Resources and Compensation Committee Certification from The Directors College and McMaster University.

Dr. Shawn M Cooper

As a pediatrician, father of three, and long-time international advocate of child rights and education, Dr Cooper is passionate about giving every child the best opportunity for a healthy, safe, and productive life. He is a resident member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Section on International Child Health. He has worked with and advised international travelers and groups for over a decade. Dr Cooper's own travels have taken him through North, Central and South America as well as Europe, and Africa. He has organized and participated in multiple projects and fundraisers benefiting individual children and well known child-oriented organizations including Operation Smile, UNICEF, and the Children's Miracle Network. In addition to his professional pursuits, Dr Cooper is an avid runner, having completed many marathon and ultramarathons. Dr Cooper is a senior resident physician in pediatrics at the Penn State Children's Hospital in Hershey, PA.

Matt Howe

Matt, an outdoor enthusiast is a husband and father of two adventurous young children. He is a passionate educator who has worked in public education for the past 10 years. After receiving his B.A. in Sociology with an emphasis in criminology and law, he earned his Masters in Education from the University of Minnesota. A lifelong resident of Stillwater, Minnesota, Matt currently works as an information savvy technology coordinator and strives to help teachers develop strategies to work with our digital generation.

Several years of a 1:1 learning environment has allowed Matt to develop an understanding of key learning theories and methods of instruction within educational technology. As a technology advocate, Matt has had the opportunity to present on a local and state level as well as to visitors from around the world.

In 2009, Matt was selected as an Apple Distinguished Educator which has allowed him to further his role as an author, advisor, ambassador and advocate of technology through experiential learning opportunities on a global platform. Matt continues to engage learners on their path to the possibilities of being a part of the next big thing!

Ryan Montgomery

Ryan Montgomery is currently a sophomore studying business at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. He devotes much of his time to helping others, finding adventures, running, and looking for opportunities to serve. Recently in 2011, Ryan was a Youth Ambassador for i2P Expedition Bolivia.

Ryan has a long history of competitive running. In cross country, he has competed in state and regional competitions and holds his high school record in the 5K at 16:20. In track and field, Ryan combines long-distance running with hurdles as he competes in the 3000m Steeplechase. Ryan also ran his first marathon at the age of 14. He hopes to someday quality and run in the Boston Marathon.

Aside from running, Ryan serves as a public relations program director for the BYU Student Service Association. Ryan also volunteers for various service projects through Y-Serve, and he is a member of the renowned BYU Men's Chorus.

Ryan is excited to be a team member for Expedition Utah. He is looking forward to mentoring the youth ambassadors and preparing them to embark on the most exciting journey in their young lives!

Peter Sheldon

Peter is a CBC reporter based in Iqaluit, Nunavut. He has spent the last two and a half years traveling around the North, spending time in all three Canadian Territories and Alaska. His formal education includes a BPHE in Physical and Health Education and a BSc in Life Sciences (Queens University, Kingston, ON) as well as a BJ Radio Journalism (King's College, Halifax). Peter became involved in the research leading up to the Akshayuk Pass Expedition, and has settled in to a role with the i2P Education team ever since. Peter brings a passion for adventure and story telling.

Dr. Ewan Affleck

Ewan brings the combined skills of physician, administrator and ultra runner to the i2P team. A graduate of the McGill School of Medicine, and Dalhousie University where he studied history, he has worked and lived in Northern Canada since 1992. He is the long serving Medical Director of the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority and Clinical Director of Family Medicine at Stanton Territorial Hospital. He has conceived designed and implemented numerous successful Health Information Technology projects. He maintains an active clinical practice, providing both hospital based and remote community services. He is passionate about designing sustainable health services for remote northern communities. Ewan has been running for many years, and much prefers to run on snow than on asphalt. He served as the Medical Director for the 2008 Arctic Winter Games, and volunteered as a physician at the Vancouver Olympics. He has won 2 northern ultra marathons. Based on his commitment to physical fitness he was one of 20 Canadian physicians selected by the Canadian Medical Association to carry the Olympic Torch. He is married and has 2 children who share his passion for sport.

Dr. George R. Agnes

George is a faculty member at Simon Fraser University in the Department of Chemistry. He is currently serving the SFU community in an additional role as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies where he is a member of a team responsible for oversight in the training experiences for over 4,500 students in the graduate program. Graduate students working in his research laboratory are engaged in technology development and applications of soft ionization mass spectrometry, and chemistry in container-less environments using levitation techniques. An application of the latter is particulate air pollution where they are developing the capacity to quantitatively learn what lung tissue inflammation occurs as a function of the chemistry of mimics of tropospheric particles that are created in the laboratory. Beyond his passion for alpine skiing, windsurfing, and cycling up Burnaby Mountain to SFU every day, George can also be found coaching one or more of the hockey and lacrosse teams that his boys play on. George and Jay Solman are exploring varied training opportunities for university students with the objective of developing a synergistic collaboration with i2P.

Adriana Rossi

Adriana Rossi has been passionate about developing Leadership in youth for 20 years. She has worked extensively in both the private and public secondary school system initiating programs such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award and outdoor education and leadership programs. Adriana holds a Masters of Arts in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University in British Columbia and a Bachelors Degree in Physical Education from McGill University in Montreal. In addition she is the president of Leadership Ventures which focuses on sustainable leadership development within organizations. She is an avid outdoor enthusiast, triathlete and enjoys spending time with her family.

Matt Howe

Matt, an outdoor enthusiast is a husband and father of two adventurous young children. He is a passionate educator who has worked in public education for the past 10 years. After receiving his B.A. in Sociology with an emphasis in criminology and law, he earned his Masters in Education from the University of Minnesota. A lifelong resident of Stillwater, Minnesota, Matt currently works as an information savvy technology coordinator and strives to help teachers develop strategies to work with our digital generation.

Several years of a 1:1 learning environment has allowed Matt to develop an understanding of key learning theories and methods of instruction within educational technology. As a technology advocate, Matt has had the opportunity to present on a local and state level as well as to visitors from around the world.

In 2009, Matt was selected as an Apple Distinguished Educator which has allowed him to further his role as an author, advisor, ambassador and advocate of technology through experiential learning opportunities on a global platform. Matt continues to engage learners on their path to the possibilities of being a part of the next big thing!

Brad Smith

Brad is an experienced Human Resources Executive with one of the largest companies in Canada. He has an extensive background in Board of Director management, talent and organizational development and cultural change management. Brad enjoys all of the time he can get outdoors with his wife and two wonderful kids. As a lifelong athlete he has played elite hockey, baseball and is an avid participant in Ironman 70.3 and other endurance events. Brad has a passion for youth development. As an educator at the university level, working with i2P and the Duke of Edinburgh leadership award program he is fortunate to be able to help youth expand their horizons and reach their potential. He has earned an Executive Masters in Business Administration from the University of Ottawa, a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) Degree from the University of Manitoba and a Human Resources and Compensation Committee Certification from The Directors College and McMaster University.

Peter Sheldon

Peter is a CBC reporter based in Iqaluit, Nunavut. He has spent the last two and a half years traveling around the North, spending time in all three Canadian Territories and Alaska. His formal education includes a BPHE in Physical and Health Education and a BSc in Life Sciences (Queens University, Kingston, ON) as well as a BJ Radio Journalism (King's College, Halifax). Peter became involved in the research leading up to the Akshayuk Pass Expedition, and has settled in to a role with the i2P Education team ever since. Peter brings a passion for adventure and story telling.

Derrick Spafford

Derrick is a trail, mountain, snowshoe and ultra marathon runner. He has been running competitively for over 30 years, including the past 22 years without missing a day of running. Derrick has competed in distances from 800 meters on the track up to 100-mile trail races and multi-day stage races. His current passion is the 100-mile distance. He has a number of podium finishes to his credit including wins at the Haliburton Forest 100 mile, Finger Lakes 50 mile and Seaton Trail 52 km.

Derrick's enthusiasm for running is also evident by his work with runners of all levels. As owner of Spafford Health and Adventure (www.HealthandAdventure.com), Derrick gets to pass on his knowledge not only to his coaching clients, but also through writing for various publications, organizing trail and snowshoe races, and through the promotion and sales within the sport of snowshoe running. Having coached runners in the past at the high school and club level, Derrick is especially looking forward to working with i2P Youth Ambassadors in the future.

Jill Gilday

Jill is still riding the wave of positive energy and enthusiasm after being a youth ambassador for Running Tunisia 2010. On the trip she was inspired by all of her incredible teammates and learned that if you want to make a difference the hardest part is taking the first step. Since the expedition she has opted out of the idea of the 'first step' and instead jumped head first into initiatives that she feels passionate about. An avid outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys any activity that involves breathing fresh air and hopes to try out adventure racing and ultra running when she is finished speed skating. Along with continuing her studies in kinesiology and psychology, and continuing to pursue her goals in short track, Jill is excited to take on this new role with i2P!

Jay Solman

Jay is the Ombudsperson at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Vancouver, BC and a seasoned ultramarathoner. Jay started running 8 years ago to get fit. Running has since become a passion and he has competed in marathons and ultramarathons all over the world. Jay is driven to use running to help others and make a difference in the world. Inspired by a friend's granddaughter who has cystic fibrosis Jay formed Team Trailwinders along with fellow ultra runners Lara Rintoul and Marc Bremner. In 2009 the team competed in the 250km Sahara Race and raised thousands for Variety Children's Charities. Passionate about our youth programs, Jay has been coordinating the relationship between i2P and SFU.

Alan Titus

Alan Titus is a geologist and paleontologist from Las Vegas, Nevada. He is currently Monument Paleontologist for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, a position he has held since its creation in 2000. Alan received his Ph.D. from Washington State University in 1996 and subsequently taught at Snow College (Ephraim, Utah) and Southern Idaho University. As Monument Paleontologist Alan oversees the inventory of new fossil areas, insure the collection of critical specimens for preservation, coordinates outside research programs. His research focuses on the utility of fossils as time markers and the evolution and systematics of dinosaurs, marine reptiles, and ammonites.

John Zahab

John is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and a Certified Personal Trainer through the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. He has worked full time in the strength and conditioning field for over ten years, and has had the opportunity to work with athletes from a broad spectrum of sports, including those competing and performing at the national and professional levels. Recent career highlights include the development of strength and conditioning programs, which assisted two Canadian athletes to qualify and compete at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. John has developed his training philosophy to provide targeted training for each individual's needs - based on a foundation of stability and control, functional movement, and balanced strength while progressing towards performance goals. John organizes the training programs for the Youth Ambassadors.

For almost half of his lifetime John has trained for and has competed in a variety of disciplines of endurance sport. Some areas where he has pushed his endurance limits include: Triathlon (Olympic Distance to Ironman Distance), Bike Racing (Road), Adventure Racing, and Trail Running.

Mike Stashin

Mike Stashin is a distance runner based in Ottawa Canada who has used running as a gateway for adventures that have included races along the Great Wall of China, at the North Pole and in the Sahara Desert.

As a certified Chi Runner instructor, Mike's passion has been teaching runners how to incorporate efficient running technique to reduce the amount of effort, chance of injury and recovery time. Mentally runners benefit knowing they can rely on their technique rather than brute strength when facing and overcoming challenging distances.

Natalie Fraser

A native of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Natalie has dedicated her life to helping others around the world. She started running in 2010 after a lifetime of inactivity, and has gone from 5k to marathoner. She is also a guide to blind athletes and is currently a mentor with Team in Training. She has a blog for her family and friends to keep track of her training: www.nataliedoes42k.com.

Natalie has a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs and is currently a policy analyst with the federal government in Ottawa. She has received the Junior Chamber International (CB Chapter) award for Excellence in International Affairs and most recently won the W3 Women's Award for Inspiring Young Ottawan of the year.

Natalie's passions have brought her across Canada, Africa and the Caribbean. She hopes to run a marathon on every continent one day and wants use running as a way to help other's live their dreams.

John Toth

Lieutenant Colonel John Toth is a former United States Army Infantry Officer with over 21 years experience leading soldiers in challenging situations around the globe. During his career, John served tours in South Korea and Egypt, and was deployed to combat in Iraq. His assignments included the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions as well as the Pentagon. He is a graduate of the rigorous U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Parachutist and Pathfinder. An expert trainer and mentor, he recently completed his final assignment as the Professor of Military Science at the University of Colorado at Boulder where he was responsible for training future officers for the Army. He holds a Masters degree from the prestigious School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. A devoted husband and proud father of two boys, he resides in Boulder, Colorado where he can share his passion for cycling, the outdoors, and world traveling with his family.

LTC Toth is currently the Senior Director for Veterans Programs at Veterans Green Jobs, a Denver, CO based non-profit dedicated to helping post 9-11 veterans find meaningful jobs in the green sector.

Holly Grant

Holly is a Registered Dietitian from St. John's, Newfoundland, with specialized training in Sports Nutrition from the International Olympic Committee. She works with the Janeway Lifestyle Program and has a private practice where she works with athletes and individuals who are trying to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Holly is the Director and co-founder of the G.I.R.L (Girls Into Running for Life) Club, which is a non-profit organization for junior high girls. This is a learn-to-run program about enjoying physical activity, meeting friends, having fun and supporting a positive body image. Holly is the co-chair of the Body Image Network and is an advocate for embracing body diversity and promoting positive body image. She sits on numerous advisory committees to help bridge the gap between healthy eating, being active and feeling good about ourselves.

Holly is an avid runner and has completed nine marathons, numerous road races and a Half Ironman. She also just finished her first 80km ultra marathon, which has redefined her perceived physical limits. Holly is looking forward to her next upcoming challenge!

Dr. Scott Sampson

Scott Sampson is a Canadian dinosaur paleontologist, evolutionary biologist, and educator who is currently Vice President of Research and Collections at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. After receiving his Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Toronto in 1993, he spent a year working at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, followed by five years as assistant professor of anatomy at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine on Long Island. From 1999-2007, he held a dual position with the Utah Museum of Natural History and the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Utah, serving for the last several years of that period as chief curator and associate professor, respectively. His research has focused on the ecology and evolution of Late Cretaceous dinosaurs, and he has conducted fieldwork in a number of countries, including Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Madagascar, Mexico, the United States, and Canada. His current research efforts are focused on a large scale project in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, southern Utah, which has yielded abundant remains of a previously unknown assemblage of dinosaurs. Sampson has published numerous scientific and popular articles, and has lectured extensively to audiences of all ages on dinosaurs and evolution. Appearing also as "Dr. Scott the Paleontologist," he is presently serving as consultant and host for the PBS children's series Dinosaur Train, produced by the Jim Henson Company.

Dr. Randy Irmis

Randall Irmis received his doctorate in 2008 in integrative biology from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. He received his Bachelor of Science in geology from Northern Arizona University in 2004. In January 2009, he began a joint appointment as assistant professor in the department of geology and geophysics at the University of Utah and curator of paleontology at the Utah Museum of Natural History , affiliated with the university. Irmis' research focuses on major changes in terrestrial vertebrate ecosystems in the fossil record and much of his work has centered on the origin and early diversification of dinosaurs. He is particularly interested in the influence of long-term climate change on these ecosystems, as recorded in the fossil and geologic record. Randall has conducted fieldwork throughout the American Southwest, including Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and California, as well as internationally in Mexico and Ethiopia.

Dr. Joe Sertich

Joe Sertich is Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. He received his B.S. in Geology and Biological Sciences from Colorado State University in 2004, his M.S. in Geology at the University of Utah in 2006, and his Ph.D. in Anatomical Sciences at Stony Brook University in 2011. His research focuses on dinosaurs and other archosaurs, and their ecosystems, during the Late Cretaceous. His field-based research is split between the Gondwanan continents of the southern hemisphere and western North America. He is one of the primary researchers on the Mahajanga Basin Project exploring the latest Cretaceous of Madagascar and has expanded the search for dinosaurs to older deposits across the island. He is also working in the Cretaceous of Antarctica and has several projects searching for the first latest Cretaceous dinosaurs of Africa, including work in northern Kenya and Egypt. In North America, he is currently working on projects in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah and in Cretaceous deposits across the Rocky Mountain west.

Dr. Ian Miller

Ian Miller is a paleobotanist who specializes in Late Mesozoic plant taxonomy and ecology. He received his Ph.D. from Yale University in 2007 and became a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science until 2008, when he was hired as the Curator of Paleontology and the acting Curator for Geology. In 2009 Ian became Chair of the Department of Earth Sciences, which, along with the Curator of Paleontology position, he holds to this day. Ian uses fossil leaves to interpret past climates, fossil ecosystems, and how western North America, particularly in terms of its mountains and basins, has changed over the last 100 million years. These data help us understand climate change and the evolution of life on earth.

Dr. Amber Hughes

Amber Hughes is a Botanist for Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. She has held that position since May of 2005, prior to this she worked as a Biological Plant Technician for GSENM since August of 2002. Amber Hughes received her B.A. in Botany from Southern Utah University. Her interests include eradicating noxious and invasive species that are threatening native plant habitat, restoring disturbed habitats, and gardening with native plants.

Dr. Matt Zweifel

Matthew Zweifel has been working as an archaeologist at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument since 1999, coming to the canyons of southern Utah from the mountains of northwest Montana. Matt received his undergraduate degree in Anthropology from Oregon State University in 1981, and then worked as an archaeologist for several years before returning to school. He received his Master's degree in archaeology from Washington State University in 1994, specializing in the analysis of biological remains in archaeological sites. He has worked as an archaeologist in Oregon, Washington, California, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and Utah. His work in the northwest emphasized the prehistoric use of mountain ecosystems, while in the southwest his attention has turned more to a study of the Virgin Anasazi and the complexities of running the Cultural Resource program at GSENM.

Michael Getty

Mike was born and raised in Alberta, Canada and received his BSc. and MSc. from the University of Calgary, also in Alberta. He has been interested in paleontology since childhood. After working several years for the world famous Royal Tyrell Museum of Paleontology in Drumheller, Alberta, Mike moved to Utah in 2000 to become paleontology collections manager at the Utah Museum of Natural History (now the Natural History Museum of Utah). As paleontology collections manager, Mike is in charge of the museum's fossil specimens from the time they are collected in the field until they are cataloged and curated in the collections. His universally recognized expertise has led to him participating in expeditions in Arctic Canada, Madagascar, Africa, Argentina, and Mexico but Mike considers the Kaiparowits in Grand Staircase-Esclante National Monument one of his favorite places to work.

Ray Zahab

In 2006/7, Ray and two other runners ran the entire width of the Sahara Desert-7500 kms (4600 miles) in 111 days with no rest days-and in the process learned of the seriousness of the water crisis in Africa. The run was documented in a film directed by Oscar winner James Moll and narrated by Matt Damon. One of the goals of the film is to raise awareness for the water crisis in Africa. Ray is an established ultra marathoner and speaker who uses his athletic career to support intiatives and causes he believes in. Ray is official Athletic Ambassador for the ONEXONE organization and is a board member of the Ryan's Well Foundation. Ray has completed 8 major expeditions to date and was recently a member of the South Pole Quest, the Siberian Express teams and in early 2011 ran the length of the Atacama Desert. He is the founder of impossible2Possible. Visit RayZahab.com.

Bob Cox

Bob Cox has been in athletics all of his life (a lifelong surfer with nearly 10 years in the surf industry) and has recently found his stride in endurance endeavors such as the Canada OnexOne, the Oceanside 70.3 Triathlon, multiple 50k's, and the San Francisco 24hour footrace race with a top ten finish. He spent much of his youth surfing in the Pacific Ocean and from those experiences his passion for our big blue planet was formed. Bob earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science with an emphasis on Public Policy from California State University, Northridge. His appreciation for clean drinking water grew from his profession as a potable and recycled water Cross Connection Specialist in California. In October 2007, Bob met Ray at a Livestrong event in Texas and from that moment he knew his life had changed. From that day forward the two men have dedicated their lives to the message and ideals of i2P.

Kelly Stowell

Kelly Stowell, has been the Executive Director of Center for Education, Business, and the Arts, headquartered in Kane County, Utah since 2008. Stowell, also serves as the Kane County Film Commissioner and is a native of southern Utah, where he grew up on a ranch in Parowan, Utah. He earned a degree in Business and Psychology from Utah Valley University and before relocating to Kanab, he was the Executive Director of the Utah Student Association, with the Utah System of Higher Education. Stowell's background also includes stints in Washington D.C. with U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch from Utah, the Senate in the Utah State Legislature. Kelly is a constant adventure seeker and avid outdoorsman, who can be found fly fishing on secluded trout streams in the summer, and high in the mountains on his snowboard traversing the famous Utah powder covered slopes in the winter. Kelly has been involved with local planning for the Utah expedition and looks forward to sharing the adventure of life in southern Utah with the i2P community.

Jordan Thoms

"Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand."

Jordan is a graduate of the University of Ottawa with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics and a Baccalaureate in Education. His interests are in adventure, physical activity and youth empowerment. Some of his favourite sports include long-distance running, hockey and snowboarding. He also has a creative side with interests in multimedia technology, graphic arts and social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Skype.

Very proud and honoured to be recognized as an i2P Inspirational Ambassador, Jordan believes that if we hope to inspire and educate our youth, we must involve them in the process. As an educator, Jordan finds it absolutely necessary to share with the youth that they all have the potential to do whatever they want to in life. Nothing in the world is more rewarding than helping a child reach and overcome their own barriers, achieving their own impossible in life.

Todd Shannon

A graduate of the University of Ottawa (B.Com, 2007) and Queen's University (MBA, 2010), Todd helps deliver i2P's message to the forefront as our Digital Communication Coordinator.

Todd is a marketing, communications, branding, and business strategy specialist with experience in the non-profit and environmental/sustainability sectors, as well as an avid outdoor enthusiast, athlete, and dedicated volunteer. He believes that, with positivity, tenacity and enthusiasm, we are all capable of achieving anything that we set our minds to.

Dr. Shawn M Cooper

As a pediatrician, father of three, and long-time international advocate of child rights and education, Dr Cooper is passionate about giving every child the best opportunity for a healthy, safe, and productive life. He is a resident member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Section on International Child Health. He has worked with and advised international travelers and groups for over a decade. Dr Cooper's own travels have taken him through North, Central and South America as well as Europe, and Africa. He has organized and participated in multiple projects and fundraisers benefiting individual children and well known child-oriented organizations including Operation Smile, UNICEF, and the Children's Miracle Network. In addition to his professional pursuits, Dr Cooper is an avid runner, having completed many marathon and ultramarathons. Dr Cooper is a senior resident physician in pediatrics at the Penn State Children's Hospital in Hershey, PA.

Nick Gravel

Nick Gravel is the Director of Technology Development at Momentous Corporation based in Ottawa (Canada) where he gets to work with one of the brightest and most passionate group of web technology minds in the industry. Nick brings to the i2P team his skills in managing the delivery of high performance Internet based technology solutions, extensive knowledge of software engineering best practices and award winning entrepreneurship experience. His educational background is a Bachelor of Engineering (Communications) degree earned at Carleton University.

Nick is actively involved with the growth of i2P's web presence. His efforts are mainly focused on the ongoing development of web based solutions that enable real-time two-way communication between our audience and i2P team members during expeditions.