About Us

About Us

Based in Seattle and founded in 1998, Crooked Trails spent over two decades establishing the principles of community-based, responsible tourism under the leadership of its founders Christine Mackay and Tammy Leland. As an educational non-profit organization and tour operator, we helped broaden travelers’ understanding of the impact of travel on cultures and ecosystems through educational outreach, community development projects, and custom-designed travel programs. Our goal was to inspire travelers to get involved in the places they visit through true cultural exchange, and to empower locals to take charge of tourism in their communities.

In 2020 we made the decision to transition away from sustainable travel programs and focus solely on community-based project development. We do so in partnership with communities and other tour operators that share the same principles we do. We collaborate only with communities that have personally invited us and support projects that community members choose to develop locally.

Join us as we continue to ensure that tourism acts as a positive force in the world. We are the conduit for communities, operators, and travelers to support community development projects in the places they live, work, and visi

History

Our Mission

We support tourism-focused economic development projects in local communities around the world. All projects are implemented with a focus on environmental, economic, and social sustainability.

Staff and Board of Directors

  • Dan Moore

    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.

  • Tammy Leland

    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.

  • Kris Parfitt Travers

    Communications Manager - 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 new Communications Manager.

    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.

  • Julie Jetland

    Board 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.

  • Tad Bradley

    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.

  • Patty Monahan

    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.

  • Mariana Caliuolo

    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.

  • Poonam Rawat-Hahne

    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.