Our Team
About Us
Our intimate team of professionally and medically trained guides, overseas operators, office staff, and guests help make WWTrek so successful. Boasting a long history of adventure travel, giving back, and leading guests on successful journeys across the globe, we would love to introduce you to the faces of WWTrek.
Our Office:
7404 Union Park Ave
Midvale, UT 84046
Open Monday-Friday, 9 am – 5 pm (MT)
Founder/Lead Guide
Dean Cardinale
Founder/Lead Guide
Dean Cardinale is an avid mountain climber, outdoors enthusiast, and adventure lover. Founder of World Wide Trekking and President and Founder of Human Outreach Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, he has climbed and led expeditions to North America, Central America, Africa, Europe, South America, and the Himalayas, including summiting Mt. Everest in 2005. Dean is the former president of Wasatch Backcountry Rescue and U.S. representative to the International Commission of Alpine Rescue, where he served for over a decade. He is an avalanche instructor with the American Avalanche Association, a professional ski patrolmen and avalanche forecaster for Snowbird Ski Resort, and a level-III certified U.S. Sailing Captain. Dean has recently made a self-supported ski traverse of the Greenland Icecap and sailed a Transatlantic Ocean crossing. He has also authored the book, Inspired – Lessons Learned from a Life of Adventure. Dean has taught and guided people of all ages and professions and is well known for his professional ethics and conduct evident in all of his pursuits. He has a longstanding record of leadership, program development, and community service.
Our Domestic Team
Jill Cardinale Segger
Director of Operations
Jill always had a passion for travel and the outdoors. After graduating from Clarkson University with a BS in Industrial Engineering, Jill spent many successful years working in industry before her entrepreneurial spirit got the better of her. She finally sought out her dream job in hospitality. Jill and her husband Frank purchased an inn in Lake Placid, NY, moved the family up to the Adirondack mountains, and never looked back. Over the next 18 years, they operated the inn as lodging for athletes and vacationers, ran a successful restaurant, hosted international world cup teams during competitions, and organized beautiful weddings and celebrations. It was time for Jill and Frank to pass the torch to a new guard, so in 2022 they sold the inn to focus on their family and other passions. Living in the Adirondack mountains, Jill spends her free time hiking, biking, and skiing but also spends time traveling with her husband. Jill has spent years volunteering in the Lake Placid community, helping organize events, and serving on the local tourism board. Jill enjoys being a supportive mom and a fun-loving grandmother who takes her grandchildren on adventures as often as possible. Jill loves the excitement of working in adventure travel and the gratification of being involved in all the impactful things the Human Outreach Project does.
Jillian Goulette
Communications and Adventure Specialist
Jillian is a native of Lake Placid, NY. Living in the Adirondack region of New York is a unique and beautiful experience. Nestled within the 6 million acres of Adirondack Park, the region is home to countless natural wonders and stunning landscapes. It’s the ideal place for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike; having hosted two Olympic Winter Games in the town’s history, there are many opportunities to watch sports throughout the year. Jillian especially enjoys watching sliding sports in the winter and spending the warmer months on the water. Jillian temporarily moved away from the mountains for college, where she gained both a BA in Speech Communication and an MS in Management, before returning to her hometown, where she and her fiancé live with their two boxers. She is eager to take what she has learned in her studies, and combine that knowledge with her passion for nature and the outdoors, to help craft the voice of World-Wide Trekking and the Human Outreach Project!
Mandy Bowen
Finance Manager
Mandy is our Finance Manager from Utah, who takes care of our budgeting, accounts payable, and receivable and helps coordinate our HOP funding. She took a brief leave from her native state to move to Las Vegas with her husband, who owns an auto business that Mandy also helps run but has since returned to be closer to family. Mandy has a passion for reading, camping, and cars; she and her husband are zealots of Formula 1. She loves working in adventure travel and has found that working at WWT and HOP allows her to help make others’ dreams of traveling a reality.
Andrew Scarborough
Office Administration
Andrew is our Office Admin and was born and raised in Salt Lake City, UT. Andrew grew up with a passion for the sports and travel industries, leading him to receive his bachelor’s degree in Parks, Recreation & Tourism from the University of Utah. Andrew enjoys watching sports– as an avid baseball fan, he works for the local Salt Lake Bees baseball team in his free time. Andrew also has a passion for travel– venturing to countless places within and beyond the United States. He currently runs and produces a sports podcast called “The Scarbz Show”, which breaks down all of the breaking news happening in the sports world each week. He enjoys working with a team of dedicated and passionate professionals who share his love for the sports and travel industry and is eager to share his passion with others so that they may experience all of the mighty wonders of the world through World Wide Trekking and Human Outreach Project.
Julie Tomek
Julie is a proud Mom & Utah native. She spent many years of her childhood camping and exploring some of the great trails and lakes Utah has to offer! One of her fondest places to visit and camp is Mirror Lake in the Uintah Mountains. Her love for travel started at a young age, traveling to see family on the east coast, visiting New York City. Her experience spans to many different types of jobs; her favorite always being Travel and Hospitality. She hopes to travel out of the United States to experience many of the amazing places around the world, including the natural wonders and cultures that surround them. She is always ready to take on the next adventure!
Our WWTrek Guides
Matthew Biddle
Guide
Matt Biddle is a career outdoorsman who divides his year between the mountains and rivers of the American Southwest. For more than 20 years, Matt has made his living as a professional whitewater, ski, and trekking guide. During the summer, Matt and his wife live in Colorado, where Matt focuses his guiding efforts on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. In the winter months, Matt migrates to higher ground and is often helping guide helicopter skiing and ski patrolling in the Wasatch Mountains in and around Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. Traveling and spending time with his wife at their rural property in Colorado is Matt’s other passion. Matt’s desire to share the earth’s most beautiful places coupling up with a natural knack for guiding and helping others has made him a perfect fit with World Wide Trekking. Join him in Tanzania, Peru, or Europe!
Tina Biddle
Guide
Tina spends her winters ski patrolling at Snowbird and summers working in the Colorado high country. As a career outdoorswoman, she has worked as a commercial river guide, Breckenridge ski patrol, Snowbird ski patrol, and mountain bike guide. Her passion for travel has led her to explore not just the Western United States, but the world: Turkey, Thailand, and New Zealand are among her favorites. She is certified by the American Avalanche Association and the American Mechanized Guide Association.
Ed Chauner
Guide
Ed has taught skiing at Snowbird for three decades and is the most requested private instructor at the resort. He is the only instructor who also serves on ski patrol. He is certified by American Avalanche Association in Outdoor Emergency Care and is also a Wilderness First Responder. Ed is an experienced leader who has traveled to over 40 countries, trekked in the Spanish Pyrenees, Austrian Alps, and Italian Dolomites, and summited Kilimanjaro multiple times.
Allen Krabill
Guide
Allen is a self-proclaimed life artist and explorer. He is forever searching for that which is real and true, and because he is always looking, he often sees the beauty that is continually available to us. He combines a passion for travel and the outdoors with a heartfelt connection to and humble service for the people and the world around him, modeling an uncommon respect and integrity for the land and its inhabitants. He has backpacked thousands of miles all over the world – from the rugged mountains of Appalachia to the scorching desert of the southwest, the unforgiving wilderness of Alaska to the swamps and white sand beaches of Florida, from the vineyards and fields of northern Spain to the picturesque hills and cottages of rural England and Ireland – and he has built his own wooden skin-on-frame canoe. He values the space and peace available in nature and the support and humor of good friends.
Paul Lang
WWTrek Guide
Paul is originally from Bristol in the UK. He would spend his school summer holiday growing up and staying with his great aunt. After listening to her tales and watching slideshows of her worldly travels, he wanted to get out there and explore himself! Paul spent his 20s traveling around the world extensively and experiencing different cultures. He spent the last 15 years living in Chamonix, France, inspired by the community of people motivated for adventures in the great outdoors. Aside from guiding and exploring the world, Paul has a passion for snowboard mountaineering and kite surfing and is an advanced motorcyclist.
Paul Spranklin
Guide
Paul grew up in Maryland and attended St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where he played soccer and studied economics. After graduating, he pursued a career in finance before his love of the outdoors brought him to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail in 2015. After completion, he moved to Utah, where his affinity for snow and the Wasatch Mountains led him to become a Snowbird ski patroller. He is certified in Outdoor Emergency Care and has traveled extensively throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, appreciating all the Earth offers. When Paul isn’t working, you can find him exploring with his wife Tessa. Rock climbing, hiking, skiing, or traveling to a new place; he doesn’t sit still for long.
Carolyn Wale
Guide
Originally from the south of England, Carolyn moved to the US in 1994. Living in Memphis, Chicago, and Southern California, she discovered her inner mountain girl in the canyons of the Wasatch. Fifteen years later, this is the longest she’s lived in any singular place. Currently working as a Recruiter for Snowbird, she has 12 years of experience as a PSIA-certified alpine ski instructor. She has worked for both Snowbird Mountain School and Wasatch Adaptive Sports. In her spare time, Carolyn loves to ride bikes, hike, raft, canyoneering, and train for her next triathlon.
Trent White
WWTrek Guide | HOP Outdoors
After moving to Utah at a young age, Trent has grown up exploring and doing all things outdoors in the Utah mountains and surrounding areas. He is attending Southern Utah University pursuing an Outdoor Recreation degree. Having completed multiple rim-to-rim runs of the Grand Canyon and many marathons and endurance events, Trent is passionate about challenging himself in the great outdoors. In his free time, Trent enjoys skiing, rock climbing, trail running, and playing the drums and piano.
Our International Team
In each region that we visit, we have built familial and professional relationships with local, professional guides, educators, and porters. They are an integral part of our successful operations abroad. We value their knowledge and experience, and we pass the benefit of these relationships on to our guests.
Geljen Sherpa
Nepal Operations Manager/Guide
Geljen helps organize group treks, mountain climbs, and private tours for World Wide Trekking in Nepal and Asia. He helps organize everything from Khumbu treks and expeditions to the peaks at the top of the world. Geljen Sherpa is an Everest summiteer who understands the demands of hard work, perseverance, and community. Geljen has been instrumental in establishing contacts for the Human Outreach Project (HOP), including family members of children in remote Himalayan villages. He is a HOP board member.
Raymond Massae
Tanzania Operations Manager/Guide
Raymond is a professional educator and integral leader in our efforts in Africa. He has over 15 years of experience in the African tourism industry and helps organize all our logistics for group treks and safaris. He works diligently to organize our local endeavors, oversee operational details, and mentor the African staff. Raymond, a member of the governing board of HOP, plays a critical role in guiding HOP community service projects. Raymond holds a degree in education and uses his expertise to help the Tanzanian people.
Robert Malusha
Tanzania Assistant Operations Manager/Guide
Robert has been sharing his country and all it offers with WWTrek guests since 2012. After receiving his degree in Tourism & Travel Management in Kenya, Robert found his passion in sharing and teaching visitors about the ecosystems, animals, customs, and history of East Africa. Robert assists in organizing all of the WWTrek operations in Tanzania, including handling logistics for our Kilimanjaro climb and African safari. He also plays a role in managing the efforts at the Kilimanjaro Kids Community. When on safari with Robert, you can look forward to hawk-like animal spotting; while climbing Kilimanjaro with him, you can look forward to his friendly encouragement and knowledge of the ecosystems you will be traveling. Robert speaks Swahili, English, and German.
Elinani “Comfort” Malewo
Tanzania Safari Driver
Comfort is World Wide Trekking’s private safari driver. He has over a decade of experience with some of Africa’s most outstanding safari and adventure companies. On your safari, Comfort will provide an interpretive experience and answer any questions you may have. His skills include, but are not limited to: speaking fluent English and native Swahili, knowledge of local flora and fauna, and being an exceptional teacher of Tanzanian natural history and culture. He attended Mweka College of African Wildlife Management and received a certificate in Wildlife Management. Comfort holds a certification in Tourism, is additionally certified in medical first aid, and is committed to ensuring your safari is safe and informative.
Emmanuel John Macha
Tanzania Safari Driver
Emmanuel John Macha received a certificate of wildlife management through Mt. Meru and Mweka College of African Wildlife Management. John has since acquired a decade of guiding experience, making him an extremely knowledgeable and valuable driver. John has been part of the WWTrek team for over nine years, providing our guests with safe, informative, and high-quality safaris. John speaks fluent English and his native Swahili. On tour, you can look forward to learning all there is to know about Africa’s flora and fauna and Tanzania’s natural history and culture.
Rodolfo Reyes Oropeza
Peru & Ecuador Guide
Rodolfo is a fully certified professional Mountain Trekking Guide. He studied at CEAM, (Center for High Mountain studies), a training institute for Mountain Guides in Peru. He has more than 15 years of experience in adventure tourism, trekking, and climbing. Each year Rodolfo renews his training with a mountain rescue course organized by the Peruvian Mountain Guide Association. Rodolfo was part of the film crew for the movie “Touching The Void”– filmed in the Huayhuash mountains of Peru. He leads guests in the Cordillera Blanca, Cordillera Huayhuash, and Cordillera Raura. Rodolfo has climbed numerous peaks in Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia.
Joseph Rivas Urrutia
Peru Operations Manager/Guide
Joseph was born in Cusco, where he developed a passion for Andean culture and Peruvian history at a very young age. This passion led him to study tourism at university before becoming an adventure tour guide in 2005. After many years of guiding, Joseph has become an expert navigator on the many Inca trails throughout Cusco and expanded his guiding into Bolivia. Joseph is so well-versed in anthropology, archeology, and Incan history that he was selected to contribute to the Peruvian tourism documentary in 2010. On tour with Joseph, you can look forward to tons of laughter while learning all about Andean culture and Peruvian history from the source himself.
Cristian Oyarzo
Patagonia, Chile Operations Manager/Guide
Cristian was born in Puerto Natales, Chilean Patagonia. As a child, he accompanied famous international climbers on their big expeditions in Torres del Paine, serving as a porter to watch and learn! He loved the mountains so much that, each winter, he traveled to Spain for his formal mountain education in Benasque. Cristian has dedicated his life to the tourism industry for the last 30 years! Along with incredible personal trekking and sea kayak expeditions, he is also a mountain bike lover, which he competed in, in the U.
Andre Labarca
Patagonia, Chile Guide
Andre grew up playing in the Andes. His passion for nature has taken him to places only a few have been. He has climbed most Torres del Paine summits: The 3 Towers, The Paine Horns, and an attempt at the mighty Paine Grande (the highest peak of the massif). Andre’s expeditions have taken him from being among the group that discovered the first Ictiosaurios in the region—considered today one of the most important discoveries of this ancient species in the world, to summits and trails in Perú, Chile, U.S.A., Nepal, and India. The incredible thing about Andre is that after all of his achievements, he is always a very humble person, thrilled to share his knowledge and have a good laugh!
Kristján Jónsson
Iceland Operations Manager/Guide
Kristján is a veteran mountaineer and tour designer that has been a professional guide for over 20 years. He is originally from the Westman Islands, located south of Iceland, where he developed a love for hiking and climbing. Kristján spent the first half of his guiding career as a highland guide for trekking expeditions but has spent more time in recent years planning tours and traveling to his beloved island in search of new opportunities and trails. Kristján is also a professional artist, and his work can be seen regularly in exhibits in Reykjavík and abroad.
Kristján Björn
Iceland Guide
Kristján is a nature enthusiast, visual artist, and experienced guide with an infatuation with Iceland’s extreme landscapes. He has been guiding both in Iceland and Greenland since 1998. During his years as a guide, he developed a fondness for the extreme environments across Iceland, where he has led countless excursions over glaciers and through the highlands. Originally from a small town in southern Iceland, Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Kristján currently lives in Reykjavík.
Marcos Couch
Argentina Operations Manager/Guide
Marcos organizes and guides trips for World Wide Trekking in Argentina and Chile. He is an International Federation of Mountain Guides Association certified guide who has accomplished many first ascents and summited peaks worldwide. His expert experience includes multiple summits on Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, and California’s El Capitan; establishing and leading new routes on Fitz Roy; daring kayak descents in Patagonia; and first ascents in his home mountains of Bariloche, Argentina.
Mustapha Bouinbaden
Morocco Operations Manager/Guide
Mustapha is from the Imlil region of Morocco and has almost ten years of experience guiding treks through the Atlas Mountains with visitors from around the world. He is the son of one of the first mountain guides in Morocco. He is fluent in English, French, Berber & Arabic. He has a BA in English Studies and is a graduate of the Mountain Guide School in Tabant (CFAMM). Mustapha truly loves his job and the region where he grew up. He loves sharing it with visitors.
Diego Cumbajin
Ecuador Operations Manager/Guide
Diego was born and raised in El Pedregal (11,482 ft) near Cotopaxi National Park. His father, Pedro, was one of the first mountain guides in Ecuador, and Diego followed in his footsteps to become an expert guide and trekker. He is a licensed naturalist and a native guide for six protected areas, including Cotopaxi National Park, Sangay National Park, the Llaganates, and Boliche Recreation Area. During high season, Diego typically climbs Cotopaxi 2–3 times a week and has summited several South American peaks.
Our Partner Consultants
Phil Levy, M.D., M.P.H.
Medical Advisor
Dr. Phillip Levy is our medical advisor and HOP Board Member. He is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Wayne State University and works clinically at Detroit Receiving Hospital. In addition to being a board-certified Emergency Physician, Dr. Levy has a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Michigan. He is also a co-founder of 3 non-profit organizations (International Society for Emergency Care, Soft Power Health, and EMEDEX International), which all work to provide reciprocating educational opportunities and develop self-sustaining medical infrastructure for emerging nations. Dr. Levy serves on the education committee for the Wilderness Medical Society and is a nationally recognized speaker on travel-related illnesses. When not working, he is often in a far-off location with his wife and their two little world travelers.
Barton McGuckin
Fitness & Nutrition Specialist
Driven by a passion for fitness and nutrition, Barton helps individuals achieve peak performance and well-being. Since 2003, he has honed his expertise as a renowned coach. He has guided countless individuals towards their health goals, owned and operated gyms across Australia, run Fitness and Lifestyle Retreats in Bali, and even lived with clients for immersive 7-day transformative experiences. Born and raised in Brisbane, Barton’s love for sports and the outdoors began early. This passion led him to conquer challenging treks like the Kokoda Trail and Everest Base Camp, deepening his understanding of human resilience and the power of physical and mental fitness. Barton’s unique approach goes beyond the gym. He provides personalized coaching to help clients make sustainable behavior changes and live happy, healthy, and fulfilled lives. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Barton’s passion extends to sharing his health knowledge with others. He thrives on seeing his clients feel better, look better, and perform better.
Our Human Outreach Project Board
Dean Cardinale
President, HOP
Dean is the President and Founder of HOP. He has climbed and guided expeditions in North and Central America, Africa, Europe, South America, and the Himalayas. He is the U.S. Representative to IKAR (International Commission of Alpine Rescue), an avalanche instructor with the American Avalanche Association, and an avalanche forecaster at Snowbird Ski Resort. Dean is working on a Seven Summits bid, summiting Mt. Everest in 2005. Dean has taught people of all ages and professions and is well known for his professional ethics and conduct showed in all of his pursuits. Dean has a longstanding history of leadership, program development, and community service.
Mike Sanders
Chairman of the Board
Mike Sanders is a business executive spending thirty years in the technology and software industry; Mike started his career with an Aeronautical Engineering degree from Purdue, followed by an MBA from Texas Christian University. His community involvement includes serving on the Board of Directors for CBR Youth Connect (a 501 (c)(3) non-profit charity organization) for three years and, most recently, being elected as the Board Chair. Mike and his wife, Michaela, have six children and live in the Englewood area of South Denver. Enjoying hiking, they have climbed many of the 14’ers in Colorado and continue to do at least one each year.
James Farmer
HOP Secretary & Board Member
Jim Farmer is a founding board member of HOP and an attorney in Salt Lake City. During his time not practicing scales on the violin, viola, or mandolin, laboring on his Nautor Swan 57 sailboat, or studying various theories of quantum gravity, Jim is an attorney at Christiansen Law. He practices commercial litigation and intellectual property law. Jim held post-doctoral fellowships at Princeton University and Brigham Young University during the 1990s and enjoyed a sabbatical at NASA Ames Research Center in 2008-2009, analyzing thermal loads on the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle that splashed down on Dec. 11, 2022, as part of NASA’s Artemis I mission. Jim loves to bicycle and telemark ski the Wasatch Range and continues to provide legal counsel to both HOP and WWTrek.
Richard Schlesinger
Board Member
Richard was born in New York City and attended the Fieldston School before Lafayette College and Columbia Law School. In 1970, he founded his real estate company, RB Schlesinger and Company, specializing in commercial office leasing. He has been a guest speaker at Brooklyn Law School and has given presentations to real estate departments of several law firms. His charitable work includes a Visiting Writers Program at St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH, Yale University, and working with the Snowbird Ski Patrol Educational Scholarship Program.
Molly Keller
Board Member
Molly Keller serves on the HOP board and is currently the President of the Board of Directors of the Lake Geneva Fresh Air Association. She is a founding member of the Advisory Council for Phillips Academy’s (MS)2 program (Math and Science for Minority Students. She is also currently serving as the Head Fundraising Agent for her class at Phillips Academy. Molly previously worked at Ameritech Corporation in marketing and strategic development, at Puente Sur Ltd as an international business consultant in Santiago, Chile, and at Premiere Candy Company as a sales and marketing consultant. She received her BA from Northwestern University and graduated from Phillips Academy (Andover).
Phillip Levy M.D., M.P.H.
Board Member
Dr. Phillip Levy is our medical advisor and HOP Board Member. He is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Wayne State University and works clinically at Detroit Receiving Hospital. In addition to being a board-certified Emergency Physician, Dr. Levy has a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Michigan. He is also a co-founder of 3 non-profit organizations (International Society for Emergency Care, Soft Power Health, and EMEDEX International), which all work to provide reciprocating educational opportunities and develop self-sustaining medical infrastructure for emerging nations. Dr. Levy serves on the education committee for the Wilderness Medical Society and is a nationally recognized speaker on travel-related illnesses. When not working, he is often in a far-off location with his wife and their two little world travelers.
Raymond Massae
HOP Board Member and Operations Manager, Tanzania
Raymond is a professional educator and integral leader in our efforts in Africa. He has over 15 years of experience in the African tourism industry and helps organize all our logistics for group treks and safaris. He works diligently to organize our local endeavors, oversee operational details, and mentor the African staff. Raymond, a member of the governing board of HOP, plays a critical role in guiding HOP community service projects. Raymond holds a degree in education and uses his expertise to help the Tanzanian people.
Rodolfo Reyes
HOP Operations Manager, Peru
Rodolfo is a fully certified professional Mountain Trekking Guide. He studied at CEAM, (Center for High Mountain studies), a training institute for Mountain Guides in Peru. He has more than 15 years of experience in adventure tourism, trekking, and climbing. Each year Rodolfo renews his training with a mountain rescue course organized by the Peruvian Mountain Guide Association. Rodolfo was part of the film crew for the movie “Touching The Void”– filmed in the Huayhuash mountains of Peru. He leads guests in the Cordillera Blanca, Cordillera Huayhuash, and Cordillera Raura. Rodolfo has climbed numerous peaks in Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia.
Geljen Sherpa
HOP Operations Manager, Nepal
Geljen helps organize group treks, mountain climbs, and private tours for World Wide Trekking in Nepal and Asia. He helps organize everything from Khumbu treks and expeditions to the peaks at the top of the world. Geljen Sherpa is an Everest summiteer who understands the demands of hard work, perseverance, and community. Geljen has been instrumental in establishing contacts for the Human Outreach Project (HOP), including family members of children in remote Himalayan villages. He is a HOP board member.