OUR TEAM
we've got big aspirations.
We're on a mission to grow AND Increase access to (snow) 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.
KEITH BECKER - BIGGEST LITTLE SKI HILL TECH & MECHANIC, 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 full-time Pre-med student at the University of Nevada, Reno. 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 Advance 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.. 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.
KENDALL BRICE - aSSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CAMPS & DEVELOPMENT
Born and raised in the state of bluebonnets and longhorns, that's right y'all, she's from Austin, Texas! Kendall has been playing sports for almost as long as she can remember, from recreational soccer to Division I track and field at Rice University. There is little that can get between her and athletics, Kendall joined the Rice track team after her second ACL reconstruction. She is motivated to continue her athletic pursuits out of a pure passion for movement but also to show others that an injury (or two) need not put an end to sport participation. She believes that many of the opportunities and experiences in her life have been either a direct or indirect consequence of her mobility, and Kendall hopes to get her Master's degree in Orthotics and Prosthetics and bring the joys and opportunities mobility holds to all people, regardless of physical condition. For now, you can find her in Reno, NV, but she will soon be on her way across the west in gap-year travels, running and biking her way through the mountains. Kendall joined the SIB team in the midst of the 2020 COVID pandemic and has become a huge asset, both running and planning our camps and programs.
SARAH EDLIN - ADAPTIVE (SKI) INSTRUCTOR & CAMP COUNSELOR
Growing up in the suburbs of New Jersey, Sarah did not have a lot of exposure to the wonders of an active lifestyle. She experienced tastes of it as a kid through summer camps and family trips. Incorporating sports and outdoor activities into her daily routine have only recently become a regular part of her life. Feeling empowered when progressing in a sport, learning perseverance when struggling through a particular skill, and feeling strong and confident within her own body are just a few of the reasons why she is so passionate about sharing these activities with others. Sarah has a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy and serves as an OT year round. She is also a certified ski instructor with PSIA and in the winter works for a local ski resort, as well as The Achieve Tahoe program for adaptive athletes. Her background in teaching kids how to swim, teaching English as a second language, plus her education and certifications related to people with (dis) abilities, make her a great fit for the Skiing is Believing team. Sarah’s goal is to help Skiing is Believing expand their current programming to be more inclusive of individuals with disabilities and unique abilities and needs.
MARK HELLECKSON - SKI & SNOWBOARD INSTRUCTOR & CAMP COUNSELOR
Mark was never the most athletically inclined kid growing up, but one sport that he loved was skiing. After getting his start at 5 years old, Mark spent the next 20 years of his life skiing as much as he could, never competitively, but simply for the love of the sport. At 18, Mark got his first ‘real’ job working as a children’s ski instructor here in Reno Tahoe and used that job to work his way through college. He currently holds a Level 2 ski certification and a Level 1 snowboard certification with The Professional Ski Instructors of America. After college, he continued living a life revolving around skiing. Mark works full time as a children's instructor in winter at a local Tahoe resort, and a facilitator for high intensity leadership training in the summer months at a local ropes course. Mark is now continuing his college education, with the goal of obtaining a masters degree in education. No matter his future, he knows that skiing is the one constant in his life that will stick with him wherever his life may take him. Mark was the first official member of the Skiing is Believing team during our founding year in 2018. He is a valuable asset to all Skiing is Believing programs whether on snow or off. SIB is very fortunate to have his energy, expertise and creativity with children as a part of our team.
MACLANE HOENIG - CAMP COUNSELOR
Maclane has enjoyed her life to the fullest with two primary staples, the outdoors and sports. As a kid, she grew up playing mostly soccer and volleyball but sprinkled in others as well including softball, surfing, and snowboarding. She also cultivated a deep love of professional sports over the years. At the young age of 13, Maclane became a volunteer camp counselor in her hometown to give back to the camp she grew up attending. Little did she know this would spark one of the longest standing passions in her life, to help get kids active and outdoors; Maclane climbed the ranks at her local camp and worked there every summer for 10 years, which to this day she will tell you, were some of the best, most memorable and most meaningful times of her life. She now spends her time working mostly within those same passions with Skiing is Believing. Maclane also has many years experience as a rock climbing instructor. In her off time, she gets outside in any way possible. You will always catch her with a smile on her face and if you're lucky, or unlucky ;), Maclane can also be caught singing, most often to her favorite soundtrack from Guardians of the Galaxy. Maclane was an instrumental part of the construction of The Biggest Little Ski Hill in 2018. She has a wonderful energy, great spirit and is full of fun ideas! Skiing is Believing is happy to have her as one of our experienced camp counselors.
KAYLA HUBBLE - SKI INSTRUCTOR & CAMP COUNSELOR
Kayla has had a passion for skiing her whole life. She started racing at a very young age and was competitive worldwide through her teens. Right before the age of 17, she had an injury that would lead her to become a coach. She has now coached over a decade in the ski racing industry, as well as helping in other youth actives in the years since. Kayla believes that getting involved in new outdoor actives pushes you to grow physically and mentally. Learning to plan ahead, change tactics quickly and interact with new people are a few examples she has experienced, and seen herself. She has worked with all ages sharing her passion of both the outdoors, and fitness. She feels you are never too young to take a new interest or too old to try again. Kayla believes that incorporating multiple outdoor actives into one's life, can help you develop in your core activity but also other areas of your life. Kayla is a certified U.S Ski & Snowboard coach who works full time in the winter at a local Tahoe resort. In the summer, she helps operate Skiing is Believing camps and spends a lot of time at home and in the outdoors with her husband and their house full of adorable pets. SIB is happy to have Kayla, her organizational skills, as well as her years of ski experience and time working with children to contribute to the SIB team!
DALLAS MELUM - SNOWBOARD INSTRUCTOR & CAMP COUNSELOR
Dallas grew up in The Sparks/Spanish Springs area. Sports & the outdoors were always a passion and a major part of his identity including motocross, BMX, skateboarding, wakeboarding, and snowboarding. However, due to his inclination towards baseball, everything else got put on the “back burner”. Baseball kept Dallas out of trouble in high school and in college he competed in 84+ innings. Unfortunately, the MLB did not call for a 6-foot-tall “crafty” lefty. Baseball eventually came to an end and it left a bit of a sour taste. Following this, Dallas quickly found his way into professional snowboard instruction. At first it was a means just to acquire a season pass, but it quickly evolved into a true passion. He began instructing in the 2016 season and is now PSIA-AASI Snowboard Level 2 Certified. In the 2018-2019 season, Dallas received Ski School Employee of the Year honors at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe. In the fall of 2018, Dallas graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with an emphasis in Marketing from the University of NV, Reno. For three years Dallas has also been umpiring baseball. He also works with local media company, Bliss Life Mag. Beyond his work as a snowboard instructor, an umpire, and of course his work with Skiing is Believing, Dallas is focused on his professional and personal growth without having to be forced into any kind of mold, thus creating his own! SIB is happy to have him on board as both a snowboard instructor on The Biggest Little Ski Hill & as a counselor for our youth programs and camps.
MEGHAN OCHS - OWNER, FOUNDER & OPERATOR OF SKIING IS BELIEVING
Meghan has been a very physical and active person her whole life. As a child, Meghan competed in many sports, her favorites being softball and competitive cheer. As an adult, Meghan realized that 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 youth camps were born. 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. 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 a trainer at her local resort where she coaches and instructs full time in the winter. She has her Level 3 skiing certification with PSIA-AASI. Meghan also spends a lot of time coaching athletes at a local functional fitness and weightlifting gym. 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.
SADIE WHITELEY - SKI INSTRUCTOR & CAMP COUNSELOR
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 and Pilates 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 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 Mount Rose Ski Team where she is a Level 1 certified Professional Ski Instructor. Sadie always looks 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.