Leadership Counts
Meet the Siskiyou Mountain Club Staff
Interested in Joining Our Team?
We are currently accepting new positions for 2026. We'd love to hear from you!
Permanent staff:
Executive Director
Gabe Howe
Gabriel Howe started exploring the Siskiyou backwoods in 2005 and moved to the Rogue Valley from Portland in 2008. Howe received his B.A. in English-Writing from Southern Oregon University in 2012 and lives in Ashland with his wife, Jill, and their two children, Carter and Azalea.
He enjoys the most remote reaches of the Siskiyou backcountry, all things water, and hiking at night.
Program Manager
Trevor Meyer
Trevor Meyer grew up in the Rogue Valley and attended University of Oregon to earn an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies. He came on as a Wilderness Corps intern in 2017 and served through 2021. Meyer returned in 2023 in an administrative role.
Since then he has added the responsibilities of managing our volunteer programs and training initiatives.
Communications Coordinator
Vincent DiFrancesco
Originally from Ohio, Vince joined SMC as a Wilderness Corps intern in the summer of 2022, and has been serving as a lead in our communications since 2023, adding film and video to our media portfolio. He helps manage social media, captures content in the field, and assists with the newsletter.
Vince enjoys ultramarathons, bike rides, and long days in the mountains.
Program Manager
Karly White
Karly White started with Siskiyou Mountain Club in 2017 as a Corps intern. She was promoted to a crew member position in 2018 and has had a permanent position with the Club since that fall. White has worn lots of hats, and currently maintains our database, leads our cartography, assists with graphic design, and other tasks.
Program Manager
Nick Hodges
Program Manager Nick Hodges started with SMC as an intern in 2016. He is in charge of leading crews, training staff and interns, supporting volunteers, and project planning.
Hodges enjoys pack rafting, long runs, and is well known for his spoons.
Administrative Financial & Operations Coordinator
Ryan Debreceni
Ryan has served on our Wilderness Corps starting as an intern in 2023 and serving as an assistant crew leader in 2024 and 2025. In the off-season, he assists with bookkeeping, data management, GIS, website management, and provides general operational support. He also serves as caretaker at our Gold Hill facility and staff quarters.
Ryan was born and raised in New Jersey. During his off-time, he enjoys gardening and staying connected with his friends and family.
Member Services Coordinator
Chloe Grimes
A native of Michigan, Chloe served as a Student Conservation Association intern at the Padre Island National Seashore before joining the Corps in 2024 as an intern. That fall she promoted onto the September staff crew and helped produce the short film Grimes Goes Wild featured in our 2025 Siskiyou Mountain Film Tour. She returned to the crew in 2025 and in the off-season serves as our membership services coordinator.
She graduated from Grand Valley State University with a degree in Biology. When she’s not on the trail or helping serve the SMC community, you might find Grimes on a volleyball court or reading.
Operations Coordinator
Cole Boback
Cole served as an intern in 2022, an assistant crew leader in 2023, and returned in 2025 after a hiatus with the Student Conservation Association. In the slow season, Cole helps lead volunteer trips and other winter trail projects as well as maintaining our tool cache and fleet. Cole grew up in Pennsylvania and completed his undergrad in biology at Dickinson College.
When he’s off the clock, you might find him running marathons or fishing on the banks of the Rogue River.