Rendezvous – Seminars

“Map & Compass Overview” – Presented by Russell Crispell, Mark Sorel & Stephen Hagenbuch
Time: 8:15pm – until. Location: Cleveland

Russ Crispell – Russ is a DEC Licensed Guide (#4082) and NYSOGA Master Guide. Russ retired from the University at Buffalo having directed the Outdoor Pursuits Program. There, Crispell has taught a number of academic courses including but not limited to; backpacking, intermediate backpacking, Canoeing and Kayaking, Adventure Recreation. He returned to the University at Buffalo three years ago where he teaches in the Department of Environment and Sustainability two Wilderness First Aid courses each semester. Additionally, Russ is an active CPR Instructor for UB’s Undergraduate Student Association. Active in Wilderness Care Since 1996 Crispell is a WFA/WFR/WEMT Upgrade Instructor for NASAR. He has led 26 expeditions to Alaska and is currently an adjunct professor at SUNY Niagara where he teaches advanced first aid in the Division of Nursing and Allied Health.

Mark Sorel – Mark serves as the University at Buffalo Undergraduate Student Association Administrative Director as well as the Paddling Program Director for the university. Mark serves as a facilitator for two Wilderness First Aid Courses at UB, Additionally, he serves as a Earth Spirit Assistant Trip Leader in Alaska. Mark is a long-time Scout Leader having held numerous leadership positions.

Stephen Hagenbuch – Stephen serves as the Small Groups Coordinator for the University at Buffalo’s Undergraduate Student Association. There he manages a CPR program that teaches and certifies about 500 students annually. Stephen serves as a facilitator for two Wilderness First Aid Courses at UB Other duties at UB includes running the Paddling Program at UB teaching several thousand students how to paddle annually. Stephen is also an Earth Spirit Assistant Trip Leader for Alaska and currently is active as a scout leader in WNY.

“Pro Discounts for Guides” – Presented by Jamie Arnold
Time: 5:00-6:00pm. Location: The Teepee

NYSOGA Region 7 Director, Jamie Arnold, will share knowledge he has acquired as a longtime Licensed Guide on how to access the best discounts available for the guiding community.

Come prepared to learn how your guiding business can benefit from these opportunities!

Seminar #1 – Time: 9:00 – 9:50 am. Location: Cleveland

“Guide Business Operations Roundtable” – Presented by NYSOGA President – Scott Locorini, with NYSOGA Region 7 Director – Jamie Arnold

Seminar #2 – Time: 10:00 – 10:50 am. Location: Cleveland

“Guide Business Marketing Roundtable” – Presented by NYSOGA President – Scott Locorini, with NYSOGA Region 7 Director – Jamie Arnold

Join fellow Guides and aspiring Guides to discuss the biggest Operations & Marketing challenges in operating a guiding business. Topics of discussion may include anything from business set up, insurance, waivers, and health forms to websites, social media, advertising, and SEO. Bring your questions and your solutions and be ready to share!

These two roundtable discussions will be led and moderated by Scott Locorini, President of NYSOGA, who has many decades of experience in the outdoor industry, owning and operating businesses with 1 – 600 employees. Currently, Scott owns and operates an international guiding business as well as doing marketing and operations consulting for clients in the tourism industry around the world.

Accompanying Scott will be Jamie Arnold, NYSOGA Region 7 Director, professional guide and owner/operator of Outdoor Opportunities Guide Service. Jamie has been an avid outdoorsman for over 30 years and passed his first License to Guide exam in 2004.

Seminar #3 – Time: 11:00 – 11:50 am. Location: Cleveland

“Visitor Use Management vs. Carrying Capacity” – Presented by Kevin Prickett & Matt McNamara – Adirondack Park Agency

Kevin Prickett & Matt McNamara from the Adirondack Park Agency will discuss the evolution of public land management tools from the earliest efforts to where we are today, including the most recent developments regarding the Carrying Capacity and Visitor Use Management models.

Kevin Prickett is an Environmental Program Specialist (Natural Resources) with the New York State Adirondack Park Agency.  Kevin has worked on state land planning since joining the Agency in 2007.  Prior to working for New York State, Kevin worked with Parks and Trails New York to help communities develop trail systems.  Kevin first came the Adirondack in summer of 1995 from his childhood home in WV and worked as a profession trail crew member leading volunteers with the Adirondack Mountain Club.  Kevin holds a Master of Arts in administration and leadership from State University of New York Plattsburgh and Bachelor of Science in recreation from West Virginia University.

Matt McNamara graduated from the University of Vermont’s School of Natural Resources where he earned a B.S. in Environmental Science with a concentration in Geographic Information Systems. Matt left his home state of Vermont after college and spent ten years working in various seasonal conservation and trail management roles in eight states where he worked on federal, state and private wildlands.  Matt transitioned into the world of public land planning and regulatory affairs in the Adirondack Park in 2011 when he joined the Essex County New York Office of Community Resources as a Junior Planner, and in 2012, he accepted a position as an Environmental Program Specialist at the Adirondack Park Agency.  Since joining the staff of the APA, Matt has served as an Enforcement Officer, Project Review Officer, and now a Planner within the State Land Planning Division since 2015.  Matt’s commitment to sustainable recreation and land use extends to helping to establish the Barkeater Trails Alliance, a trail advocacy group based in the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks.  Matt lives in Wilmington, NY with his wife and dog where he enjoys exploring abandoned ski areas and fixing an old kit house.

Special Lunchtime Speaker – Time: 12:50-1:45pm. Location: The Lodge

“Invasive Species” – Presented by: Justin A Perry, Chief
Bureau of Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
Division of Lands and Forests
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Justin Perry will discuss the continuous battle against invasive species here in New York State. This is one of the most important subject matters for those of us who work in and appreciate the outdoors, and as Licensed Guides, we need to be leaders in protecting our natural resources from invasive species.

Justin has worked for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) since June 2003. Justin began his career with DEC as a service Forester assisting private landowners and the public on forest management in the Catskill region of NY.

Since 2017 Justin has been overseeing the Bureau of Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health which houses the DEC’s Forest Health Research Lab, early detection and rapid response program, and manages the annual Environmental Protection Funds budget for invasive species management.

In 1996 Justin received a Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State University with a concentration in Forest Management. Justin is also an alumnus of Paul Smith’s College receiving an Associate Degree in Forest Technology in 1993.