our team

WE'VE GOT BIG ASPIRATIONS.
WE'RE ON A MISSION TO GROW AND INCREASE ACCESS TO (SNOW & BIKE) SPORTS.
WE HELP CHILDREN AND ADULTS DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS THROUGH SPORT.
​OUR LOFTY GOALS REQUIRE AN AMAZING TEAM. 
AFTERALL, TEAMWORK DOES MAKE THE DREAM WORK. 
​PLEASE MEET THEM BELOW.

RACHEL BAUER

PROGRAM COACH

Rachel grew up in Clovis, CA on an almond farm with her parents and younger brother. To pass the time she rode bikes and ski raced through high school. In 2004, she moved to Aspen, CO, and began a career racing downhill mountain bikes. Shortly after, she represented the USA Cycling Team in the Pan American Continental Mountain Biking Championships in La Parva, Chile. After two 3rd place finishes and  becoming Colorado’s 4-Cross State Champion, she moved back to California to Lake Tahoe to pursue a life with PSIA-AASI on snow where she is an examiner and on the Education Staff in the Western Division. In the winter months, she maintains various positions at local ski resorts as a Tech Team member, training manager and kids ski school manager. She currently resides in Olympic Valley and  teaches mountain biking at Northstar in the summer. She is excited to be a new member of the SIB team as a mountain bike program coach where she can share her love and knowledge of mountain biking with more kids and adults! 

Keith becker

SKI HILL MANAGER, CAMP COUNSELOR & SKI INSTRUCTOR

Keith grew up in Minden, Nevada at the base of the Sierras. Growing up, Keith was heavily involved in sports and the outdoor community with the sports of skiing, motocross racing, and backpacking. He also played various team sports like football, hockey and cross country. Keith is also an Eagle Scout. His Eagle Project created a interpretive garden for the Nature Conservancy. Keith graduated as a Paramedic from Truckee Meadows Community College and is a graduate of The University of Nevada, Reno. He is now preparing to attend medical school. He has thousands of hours serving in public safety including structure and wildland firefighting, emergency medical services and in public education. Keith holds many certifications in various fields such as Pediatric Advanced Life Support and International Trauma Life Support. Keith always serves with the safety of children in mind. During his free time, Keith spends a lot of time skiing and holds certifications as a Level 1 Professional Ski Instructor with PSIA. He has years of experience instructing children on snow, and now also on The Biggest Little Ski Hill. Keith proudly helped design and construct BLSH, which is Skiing is Believing's mobile ski deck. In addition to time on snow as a Childrens ski instructor, he is also a ski patroller at a local ski area. As a hearing impaired individual, Keith has created valuable partnerships with organizations in the community that serve the needs of adaptive and hearing impaired athletes. Keith is ready to help impose the Skiing is Believing mission and create lifelong memories for children on The Biggest Little Ski Hill as well as the sport and community service programs offered through SIB camps. SIB is thrilled to have Keith as our reliable handyman as well as someone who always brings smiles and laughs to our team and those we serve. ​

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JOSH BOUGHNER

JUNIOR COUNSELOR

Josh grew up in Reno, Nevada playing in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. Growing up, Josh was heavily involved in sports and was a part of the Falcons Ski Team at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe from the moment he was old enough to join. He also played a variety of team sports, soccer and baseball throughout high school, basketball through middle school, and football and tennis when he was younger. During his high school years, he focused intensely on his academics while also being a part of his school's yearbook. He also spent multiple summers as a volunteer for Skiing is Believing and other organizations working with kids. After COVID, and a year of college at TMCC, he took a gap year to get back on task, review his priorities and goals, and has now re focused on his ambitions of school, work and enjoying spending his breaks doing one of the things he enjoys, helping and hanging out with kids.Josh is excited to be an official member of the SIB staff!

ALEX CHAVEZ 

 LEAD CAMP COUNSELOR, PROGRAM COACH & ADMIN ASSISTANT

Alex was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada where he would spend much of his time outdoors. Growing up in an active family, he was always outside hiking, running, or biking with his two brothers. His parents were also extremely fit and always encouraged he and his siblings to stay active and healthy. He continued to realize the importance of an active lifestyle in high school when he began working out at a functional fitness gym in North Las Vegas. Since moving to Reno, Alex continues to both live and learn the benefits related to physical activity. Currently, he is majoring in Kinesiology at The University of Nevada, Reno and he plans to attend graduate school to become a physical therapist. Alex also works at a local gym coaching functional fitness and weightlifting as a CF-L2 trainer. Alex is always looking for new opportunities to become better educated as it relates to health and movement. As a coach, Alex loves teaching people how to move safely and motivating them to reach their goals. He hopes to encourage many more people to get outside and move on a daily basis. In his free time, he enjoys working out, playing piano, riding his mountain bike, and exploring the outdoors. Alex is excited to be a part of the Skiing is Believing team to help instill in others the love of fitness, health and sport, all while having fun!

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NOAH CHAVEZ 

CAMP COUNSELOR

Noah was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada to an active family. From a very young age, Noah was encouraged to participate in a variety of athletic activities. Because of this, Noah eventually picked up the sport of Ice Hockey and played for 5 years and throughout high school. During those 5 years, Noah played on multiple competitive teams while also working as an ice hockey referee and teaching kids how to play the sport he already loved. While playing hockey, Noah also started to workout at a nearby functional fitness gym. Since joining said gym, Noah has fully immersed himself in the world of functional fitness and is currently pursuing his CF-L1. Noah now lives in Reno where he is pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering at UNR while also working as a K-12 STEM mentor. As a mentor, Noah loves working with kids and seeing the excitement in their eyes when they learn something new. In his free time, Noah enjoys playing piano, guitar, skating, hiking and also climbing. Noah is excited to be a part of the Skiing is Believing team so he can spread his passion for fitness and athletics to others! 

AURORA DROBNIS

CAMP COUNSELOR & PROGRAM COACH

​Aurora grew up in Rhode Island and spent most of her childhood playing in the ocean and hiking the mountains in the Northeast. After starting college in Saratoga Springs, she fell in love with winter sports and rock climbing. After finishing her degree in Geology at Skidmore College, she moved west and got hooked on seasonal work building trails. This is where she first became interested in mountain biking! She has worked on the PCT, CDT, Yellowstone, Mount Rainier and Yosemite as a backcountry guide, trail builder and outdoor educator. After years of traveling, Aurora returned to college to get her Master of Education from the University of Montana. She currently resides in Reno with her two dogs and teaches High School Science. In her free time, Aurora enjoys mountain biking, gardening, and skiing in the Sierras. She also loves to bake bread and pastries! Challenging herself and moving with intention on her mountain bike has brought her so much joy and confidence. She is beyond excited to share the fun of mountain biking with others and work with SIB! Aurora is also a certified BICP Ride Leader. 

MICHAEL ESENARRO

CAMP COUNSELOR & PROGRAM COACH

CuMichael Esenarro was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. Growing up in Norther Nevada Michael has been incredibly fortunate to be fully immersed in athletics and healthy movement from a very young age and in every season. He grew up competing in gymnastics, skiing, and playing baseball. He later transitioned to running track and cross-country throughout high school while also being a part of the ski team. He then attended Florida State University where he was casted in FSU’s Flying High Circus. Whether it was soaring through the air on the flying trapeze, walking across a solid steel wire, or holding onto his partner while hanging from his knees twenty-five feet in the air on the double trapeze, the circus exacted his focus and inspired pure joy. Michael’s passion for coaching was fueled by his time as a circus camp counselor, which allowed him to share his passion for circus with younger generations. After moving back to Reno, he was hired as a ski team coach and worked with the developmental program at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe. Currently, Michael is pursuing his Doctorate of Medicine at UNR Medical School. Michael’s connection to nature and active lifestyle has been completely transformative in his development and believes that exposure to sports and physical activity establishes diversity and balance in other aspects of life. Michael is a certified BICP Ride Leader and is thrilled to be a part of the Skiing is Believing team.
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KARALINE GRIFFIN

PROGRAM COACH

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Karaline was born and raised in beautiful Northern Michigan but didn't discover mountains until moving West from Chicago in 2013. She first experienced REAL mountain biking while living in South Lake Tahoe and got involved with the Women's MTB Experience in Northern CA. Partaking in many group rides, skill building clinics, and even racing on the women's enduro team, Karaline worked on progressing her own skills before becoming a BICP Level 1 Certified Coach. With previous experience at Tahoe XC in Tahoe City, Karaline joined the Biking is Believing crew in Summer of '21. She has experience teaching beginner and intermediate fundamental skills with kids and adults alike. Skill building is a passion of hers since fun on a bike starts with safety and control. When you properly learn to ride a bike, anything is possible on the trail!  When not riding in Reno or Lake Tahoe you'll find Karaline camping by a river, trail running, gardening, or exploring the great outdoors of Northern CA and Nevada.

SUZY JOHNSON

CAMP COUNSELOR

​Suzy hails from Eugene, Oregon, where growing up she competed in track and field, volleyball and basketball. By high school, she began narrowing her focus by specializing in track and field, and in college competed in Division 1 PAC-10 for the University of Oregon in the high jump and 800 meters. It wasn’t until the year 2000 that she discovered snowboarding which became her main pursuit in all of the winters since. In 2021, she joined the Ski School at Mt Rose Ski Tahoe, gaining her Level One Snowboard Instructor Certification from the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI). Instructing snowboarders of all ages and all levels has become her passion, which she has now expanded to include all-season board sports including electric one wheels and longboards. She has acquired a small fleet of assorted powered boards, or as she calls them trucks, which she uses to teach a variety of side ride sports under the Skiing Is Believing umbrella. Applying and developing AASI techniques, she supports riders’ development of their flat terrain and alpine skills in multiple board sport applications. Suzy is thrilled to be a part of the SIB team!

       KAYLA KELLY

          PROGRAM COACH

Kayla Kelley comes to us from Phoenix, Arizona. After earning a bachelor's degree in Wildlife Management and Conservation, Kayla switched gears :P and began working as an adventure guide and mountain bike coach. This is where she found her true passion of helping people get from "Oh gosh I don't know if I can do this" to "WOAH I JUST DID THAT!". Outdoor sports are challenging, and when we choose to challenge ourselves in ways that are enjoyable, we fortify ourselves for the inevitable, and unenjoyable, challenges that life throws our way. This is why working on your mountain bike skills is working on life skills! Kayla is a BICP certified Level 1 coach and has 6 years of experience teaching adults fundamental mountain biking skills! When she's not helping others learn, Kayla is dedicated to her own progression on the bike through racing. Currently she is participating in the California Enduro Series and the Northstar Summer Downhill Series. In 2023' she is planning on completing her BICP Level 2 cert and is excited to coach more kids and adults skills on their bikes with Skiing / Biking is Believing! 

MADELINE KORVER

  CAMP COUNSELOR

Madeleine grew up in Reno, NV with a very active family. On the weekends, her family would go hiking, climbing, skiing, and or camping. The first sport she fell in love with was soccer. Then, she moved on to mountain bike racing for the Galena MTB team. Additionally, she ski raced for the Mt. Rose competitive team for many years. Currently, Madeleine attends Lehigh University as an IDEAS major and is involved in the fencing club and outing (outdoorsy) club. All of the sports that she has enjoyed have involved teamwork and helped her form long-lasting friendships with her peers. Madeleine hopes to help the campers find that same feeling of community and friendship with each other!

LUCAS MIERS

PROGRAM COACH

Lucas Miers was born and raised in Reno, Nevada and grew up playing all sorts of sports. As he got older, he narrowed down his long list of favorites, to just three, skiing, biking, and lacrosse. Lucas attended Galena High School and graduated in 2021 and is currently attending the University of Nevada, Reno as a biology major. Outside of school, he races mountain bikes professionally. He is a third -year pro and has competed in many national championships. Lucas loves to travel and experience new things. He helps coach the Galena NICA team and also the Reno Tahoe Junior Cycling club rides. Lucas is a certified BICP Ride Leader & Level 1 coach. For Skiing is Believing, Lucas coaches Summit Camp and the Downhill Devils programs.  His goal is to pass on some of his experience and skills to younger kids. Inspiring others is one of his biggest aspirations and doing it through cycling is even better!

MEGHAN OCHS

FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
SKI INSTRUCTOR, PROGRAM COACH & CAMP COUNSELOR

Meghan has been an extremely physical and active person her whole life. As a child, Meghan competed in many sports, her favorites being softball and competitive cheer. At the age of 18, she got her first paid job as a tumbling and gymnastics coach and has been involved in coaching various athletics since. Meghan grew up skiing, but not competitively. After college, she discovered competitive skiing and became an instructor and eventually, a coach. As an adult, Meghan realized if she had grown up without sport, she would be half of the woman that she is today. Soon after this life-changing revelation, Skiing is Believing camps and programs were born. Today she spends most of her time coaching children and instructing women on snow. She is a Level 200 U.S Ski & Snowboard Coach and Level 3 PSIA-AASI certified ski instructor and a trainer at her local resort where she coaches, instructs, trains and supervises an awesome team of snow pros full time in the winter. For PSIA-AASI she also serves on the Western Region Board of Directors. Additionally, she is an ambassador of the Rollerblade 'Skate to Ski' Program and a Level 1-Skate IA instructor. When she is not coaching on snow, or instructing in the transfer sport of inline skating, Meghan also spends a lot of time coaching athletes at a local functional fitness and weightlifting gym. She is a CF-L2 Trainer, a USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach and a Certified Adaptive & Inclusive Trainer (ATA). On bikes, she is also a certified BICP Ride Leader. Meghan fervently believes in the power of physical activity to not only promote health within the body but also develop crucial life and coping skills that can be used in nearly any environment at any age. This belief is the foundation of all Skiing is Believing camps, coaching programs and after school activities. It drives the entire mission of everything Skiing is Believing stands for and does. 
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Learn more about our founder Meghan and some of her work and travels here: 

https://www.girlsrugbyinc.com/2020/02/24/meet-the-winning-women-headed-to-brazil-for-the-women-win-international-exchange-program/?fbclid=IwAR2ZCAFjsxJQMdvUP0JuW0XlptFNSKkf2lb5JC-OhMs5BRwifw-N2KJv2pI 
www.meghanscharitybash.com
​https://renotahoeypn.com/twenty-40-awards/
​http://africanskiestravel.com/amplifyafrica/presenters/meghan-ochs/ 
​https://renopowerhousefitness.com/coaches/meghan-ochs/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-ochs-di-rocco-09519518/ ​

GARY PIZZUTO

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Gary has recently joined Skiing is Believing as an administrative professional. Growing up just south of Philadelphia, he developed a passion for wrestling, snowboarding, mountain biking, and other sports. After the COVID pandemic, he decided to move out west to pursue opportunities in the ski industry and immerse himself in his favorite outdoor activities.

Outside the office, Gary enjoys embracing the great outdoors in all ways, making him a perfect fit for a company dedicated to skiing and adventure. His enthusiasm for these activities aligns seamlessly with Skiing is Believing’s mission, enhancing his commitment to being a great team member and sharing his love of outdoor activity with others.

OLIVIA SCHREINERT 

CAMP COUNSELOR

Olivia grew up in Reno, NV with her sisters and many dogs. Growing up she was very active, always biking, running around, and participating in camps such as Skiing is Believing. She learned how to ski at a very young age and loved playing and participating in sports such as soccer, gymnastics, and club swimming. At ten years old, Olivia started playing volleyball and fell in love with the sport. Throughout high school she continued to play both for her school and competitively until her senior year when she coached multiple teams for her volleyball club. During her high school years, she also loved to swim for her school team and started to love yoga as well. Olivia is now a student at the University of San Diego where she loves to participate in the climbing club, yoga club, and volleyball club. She is so excited to be a part of the Skiing is Believing team so she can share the lifelong joy sports can provide.

TRISTA TOOKEY

PROGRAM COACH

Trista was born in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and has spent her childhood traveling the US. She learned to skate while learning to walk, and grew up following in her father's footsteps both playing and coaching hockey. She played competitive youth hockey up until pursuit of her Physics degree from University of Arizona. She currently coaches Reno Ice's 12U travel team, as well as Reno Ice's girls 10U/12U teams, women's league and ice breakers (intro to hockey) class. Additionally, she works as the Outreach Coordinator at Reno Ice, and owns her own hockey company, Tookey Hockey LLC, which runs seasonal hockey camps. She works full time as a Software Developer for an aerospace company, but continues to seeks ways to incorporate skating in her life. As a coach, Trista's top priority is providing an opportunity for everyone to develop their skills in a fun environment. Trista is thrilled to be a part of the Skiing is Believing team, and help others discover the love of skating, as well as other sports.

GIANNA VIGNA

LEAD CAMP COUNSELOR

Gianna grew up in an agriculture driven town outside of Sacramento, California. She spent most of her time trying new sports that her dad  introduced her to. It started with soccer and tennis at the age of 4. Then soccer become soccer and she also started playing volleyball, traveling all over the state for tournaments in both. In high school, she was team captain and played on varsity all four years of school. After HS graduation, she started school at the University of Nevada Reno where she studied elementary education with an emphasis in English for ESL learners. In college, she played ultimate frisbee, which combined the endurance of soccer with the patience of tennis. Shortly after her first semester in college, the outbreak of COVID guided her to spend more time outdoors rather than just on a field. Nowadays, you can find her on a trail, rock climbing, or playing ultimate and spike ball at the park. In the fall of 23', Gianna will start her teaching career at Coral Academy of Science teaching third grade.  Gianna is super stoked to be applying her love of sports and teaching through her camp counselor position with Skiing is Believing. ​

DAVE WHITE

 PROGRAM COACH & LEAD CAMP COUNSELOR

Dave is a local Nevadan who grew up in Reno. He spent much of his youth backpacking and hiking with his dad all over the Western US especially exploring the Sierra Nevada mountains. He taught himself to snowboard in his teens and has also picked up skiing during our recent epic winter. Dave graduated from The University of Nevada, Reno with dual degrees in International Affairs and Biology. He currently manages a core laboratory at The UNR medical school focused on Fluorescent Activated cell sorting and Flow Cytometry. As a child, Dave picked up mountain biking and has devoted much of his free time to the sport. He has spent hundreds of hours of his time riding trails all over the Sierra and around Reno. Odds are, if a local rider has a specific trail of interest, Dave has probably ridden it. He has competed in several local downhill and enduro races and is also proficient in repairing, building and maintaining mountain bikes. Additionally, he has been involved in local trail building efforts. Dave is passionate about getting more people into biking in all its forms for the health benefits and environmental impacts. Dave has two Labrador retrievers Layla and Belle who can often be found leading him down the trail toward some body of water. As a certified BICP Ride Leader and Level 1 Coach, Dave is excited to be a part of the SIB team and get more children active in the outdoors and on their bikes in the places he loves the most.

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SADIE WHITELEY

SKI INSTRUCTOR, CAMP COUNSELOR & PROGRAM COACH

​Sadie Whiteley is a born and raised Nevadan. She grew up on the Mount Rose Ski Team and got her first job as a coach for them after she stopped racing. Skiing has always given her confidence. This is one of the reasons the Skiing is Believing goal of helping kids learn self esteem through skiing, and other sports, resonates with Sadie. Yoga, Pilates and softball are also hobbies of Sadie's and they help keep her body in shape for ski season as well as clear her mind. Sadie also currently works for DL Freight Solutions in the accounting department. Prior to her current full time job at DL, she worked at Sierra Sage Academy with the young women in their Right of Passage program. She met Meghan, the owner and founder of Skiing is Believing, while working for the Mt. Rose Ski Team where she is a Level 1 certified Professional Ski Instructor with PSIA-AASI. Sadie is also a certified Ride Leader with BICP. She is always looking forward to participating in new sports with the children in the Skiing is Believing camps. Sadie is a natural creative and is often the creator of many of the Skiing is Believing graphics. She is a bright, competent, empathic and patient counselor. SIB is honored to have her as a part of our team. 

BRIANNA ZOLTIE

SKI INSTRUCTOR, LEAD CAMP COUNSELOR & PROGRAM COACH

From the moment her boots clicked into her bindings at the age of 1.5 years old, Bri has had a strong passion for skiing, and for sports in general. Growing up in San Jose, CA, and making her way to Reno, NV for college, Bri has used her passion for sports, especially skiing and softball, to make a home here in Reno. In an attempt to meet new people since she moved to Northern Nevada without knowing anyone, Bri decided to apply for a job at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe. Her job at the local ski area simultaneously allowed her to make new friends and get more time on the slopes. Bri has now worked at Mt. Rose for 5 seasons and has since achieved her Level 1 Alpine Cert. with the Professional Ski Instructors of America. She loves every minute she is on the mountain and even spends most of her days off there sliding on snow for fun! She recently was awarded employee of the year in the Children's Ski School. In the summer season, Bri coaches softball and has fun playing new sports and trying new things in SIB summer camps as a camp counselor. When she is not teaching skiing, working out, or playing softball, she can be found hanging out with her dog, Nugget. Brianna recently graduated with a degree in Business Marketing from the University of Nevada, Reno. She has found that sports are her true passion and wants to help share her love of sports to a younger generation through Skiing Is Believing. Bri is also a BICP Certified Ride Leader. 

 SKIING IS BELIEVING & THE BIGGEST LITTLE SKI HILL ARE PROUD MEMBERS SCHOOL OF THE PSIA-AASI WESTERN DIVISION