About Us

Co-Founder and Board Member

Tammy Leland is a passionate traveler who has spent more than 20 years exploring the world. An outdoor enthusiast who enjoys climbing at high altitudes, Tammy initially began traveling the world as she sought out enticing peaks, visiting remote areas and living with mountain people. Over the course of her adventures, she learned fluent Spanish and discovered the joys of world music and connecting with local communities.

Tammy holds a B.S. in geology from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in environmental education from Western Washington University. Her master’s thesis examined the environmental, cultural, and economic impacts of travel. Prior to co-founding Crooked Trails, Tammy worked in a variety of positions related to education and the environment. She developed an industry workshop on responsible travel and is an expert on the development and delivery of interactive education programs, international community development, environmentally and culturally sensitive travel, and corporate social responsibility.

Communications Director - Staff

With over 4,000 backpacking miles under her feet, thousands of river miles guided, and hundreds of international guests served by her skills as a naturalist guide, it's an understatement to say that Kris has always had a passion for traveling and the great outdoors.

As a volunteer with Crooked Trails for over fifteen years and having met and traveled with many of the organization's travel partners, Kris comes with unbridled enthusiasm as the Communications Director.

With an extensive background in instruction, guiding, public speaking, photography, writing, and storytelling combined with outdoor and business leadership degrees, Kris’ knowledge lends a unique perspective to developing written and physical experiences that transform, excite, and inspire.

Board President

Dan Moore is the CEO of the travel-industry consultancy, Pandion. Dan has over 15 years experience as an entrepreneur, professional adventure guide, and high-level facilitator. He has successfully launched and led two travel companies, filling numerous roles at each. Dan has participated in every Adventure Travel World Summit since 2008, learning best practices and industry trends from business leaders from around the globe. He is frequently asked to present at conferences and meetings and regularly delivers seminars and workshops.

He frequently utilizes his operations knowledge, including guide training, permitting, risk-management, staff management, and more, in his role at Crooked Trails. Dan sits on other non-profit boards: he represents the Adventure & Recreation segment on the board of the Washington Tourism Alliance and was a co-chair of the Alliance’s marketing committee; and is Board President for the youth focused Terra-Forma Education.

Board Member

From the theater stage and video game console to the backpack and compass, Tad Bradley has been exploring new worlds his entire professional life.

After a successful career directing marketing and advertising campaigns for theatrical companies on and off-Broadway, Tad then worked on a global advertising sales team at Microsoft developing interactive marketing programs on the Xbox platform for brands such as AT&T, Verizon, Ford, Unilever and Frito Lay.

After several years of virtual adventures, he gladly took the leap into the real-world adventures of the travel industry. He served as the marketing director at Wildland Adventures and now runs his own marketing and representation company, The Kusini Collection.

Board Member

Mariana is an International Relations professional with two decades of experience in the diplomatic and tourism sectors. She’s an expert in intercultural communication and developing lasting relationships to maximize results, and combines research and experience to develop and implement up-to-date practices in the tourism sector. Mariana works across all sectors, public and private, and with all enterprises, small and large, to create a more inclusive and safer environment for tourists, employees, and companies. She has been nominated repeatedly to represent Salta Province in National and International tourism events.

Mariana is currently the General Manager of Socompa S.R.L. an adventure travel company based in Salta, Argentina and is an IR MS advanced student of the Latin American Faculty of Social Studies (FLACSO). She is also an advocate for Gender Equality as part of the UN Women allies network under the Women Empowerment Principles.

Board Member

Vanessa K. Harper has lived and worked in Cuba as a researcher, tour guide, documentarian, and facilitator of collaborative agreements between the U.S. and Cuba since 2005. She currently owns and operates the tour compnay, Travel Cuba With Us, in partnership with her husband Alejandro Berroa.

Vanessa is founder of a 501(c)(3) charitable organization called Support the Cuban People, which serves individuals residing in Cuba through programming that spans humanitarian need, art and culture, and grant funds for established and emerging entrepreneurs. 

A proud native of North Carolina, she received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from the Univervisty of North Carolina, and a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Ecology. She recently earned a Master of Arts in Oral History from Columbia University’s OHMA program. 

Board Member and Treasurer

Julie grew up in Northern Minnesota, but answered the call of Washington’s mountains and waters in her early twenties and has never looked back. She holds a BS in Business Administration and has worked in multiple settings, using her skills to enable mission-driven organizations to find their strengths and manage their resources in the best possible ways to support their well-being and growth. Julie is a wandering spirit wrapped in the pragmatism that comes from being a numbers person and the single mother of two daughters who are now of the age where they are exploring their own life adventures. Julie is honored to be a part of an organization that will benefit from her pragmatic skills while enabling her wandering spirit to finally have equal time.

Board Member

Patty was born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and lived in Hamburg, Bologna, Washington D.C. and Madrid before moving to the Detroit area where she lives with her daughters and son.

Her travel entrepreneur journey started when she held her oldest daughter for the first time. She inspired her to leave a legal career behind and create a life with more purpose. She founded Our Whole Village to help families travel better, raising good global citizens while promoting family travel as a force for good.

Board Member

Claire is an anthropologist, storyteller, photographer, and passionate public health professional by day, and a Crooked Trails Board Member by night. With a deep-seated curiosity  for what it means to be human, Claire has multi-faceted experience in the tourism industry as a tourist, industry professional, educator, and academic.

Combined with her extensive public health training, Claire bears these different perspectives to help guide effective, strategic, and compassionate decision-making that centers the wellbeing of communities and the health of the environment.   

Claire is grateful for the opportunity to give back to Crooked Trails as a member of the Board, and to supporting our global community for the good. 

Board Member

Poonam is a consultant for CBT, adventure, responsible & regenerative tourism designing, development, and execution. She has a proven track record in product development, strategy planning, eco-accommodation, and transformational travel designing while positively impacting the communities and environment. She has a strong passion for adventure, people, nature, spirituality, culture, and permaculture. Poonam has a deep understanding of the power of travel and travel being a force for good.

Poonam is the founder of Fernweh Fair Travel - Uplifting Communities - - an award-winning women-led responsible rural travel project that offers authentic cultural plus eco-travel experiences along with mountain adventure sports in the majestic Indian Himalayas. They aim to provide guests with unforgettable and transformative experiences while positively impacting the community and environment.

Fernweh’ s mission is to empower women, youth and bring sustainable development to underprivileged communities through responsible tourism that preserves culture and protects the environment.