Our Team

Challenge Yourself – You Can Do More Than You Think

Our team accommodates people with a wide range of disabilities on our adventure programs. Whether you are on the autism spectrum, deaf or blind, have Down Syndrome, an Intellectual Disability, Cerebral Palsy, Spinal Cord Injury or other disability ranging from moderate to severe, we will work with you to ensure you feel supported as you challenge yourself, learn and grow.

Every person we encounter is given the authority to show us who they are as a full person. Our team has extensive experience working with people with intellectual, physical, and social-emotional disabilities ranging from moderate to severe. We’re dedicated to continually learning ways to address trauma, anxiety disorders, chronic illnesses, schizophrenia, OCD, and more. Waypoint believes that all people, regardless of ability, will have opportunities for adventure, and through them realize their purpose, value, strengths, and abilities.

Our team is made up of professionals in the fields of:

  • Disability
  • Special education
  • Adventure education
  • Adventure trip leading
  • Wilderness medicine
A large group of over 30 people, including individuals of diverse ages, gathered in a forested area. They are all smiling, waving, and showing enthusiastic gestures. Two participants are using manual off-road wheelchairs—the GRIT Freedom Chair and Freedom Chair Junior. Everyone appears to be enjoying their time outdoors on a sunny day. The backdrop features lush green trees and foliage, emphasizing the natural setting of Greenwood Park.

Staff

A man with short gray hair and a neatly trimmed beard is smiling warmly in front of a backdrop of green trees. He is wearing a dark blue polo shirt.

Dan Minnich

Executive Director
& Co-Founder

dminnich@waypointadventure.org

Raeann Whalen

Deputy Director (MA/NC)

rwhalen@waypointadventure.org

A woman with long, dark hair is smiling warmly at the camera. She is wearing a dark grey, and the background is a blurred, leafy green outdoor setting.

Eileen Turpin, M.Ed.

Director of Programs and Education

eturpin@waypointadventure.org

Mike Degen

Development Manager

mdegen@waypointadventure.org

A man with short brown hair and blue eyes is standing outdoors in front of a lush, green, leafy background. He is wearing a dark blue shirt with the Waypoint Adventure logo on the left side of his chest. The man has a calm and friendly expression on his face.

Tim Burton, J.D. (admitted Massachusetts)

Grants Manager & Trip Leader

tburton@waypointadventure.org

A young woman with reddish-brown hair is smiling brightly at the camera. She is wearing tortoiseshell round glasses, a blue shirt, and wooden blue/orange drop earrings. The background is a blurred outdoor setting with green leaves.

Nikki Laird

A woman with brown hair just past year shoulders is standing outdoors in front of a background of green leaves and branches. She is wearing a navy blue blazer and has a bright, cheerful smile on her face. The woman has a warm and friendly expression, with her hair parted slightly to the side.

Katherine Ibrahim, M.A., SHRM-CP

People & Operations Manager

kibrahim@waypointadventure.org

A smiling, young woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a blue Waypoint Adventure sun shirt and a round pendant necklace with a small engraving. She is standing in front of green foliage in natural lighting.

Catie Silvestri, OTD, OTR/L

A man with a warm smile and a thick, well-groomed beard is standing in front of a large tree. He is wearing a green Waypoint Adventure t-shirt and a necklace with a metal ring strung on it and a circular Star of David pendant. The background features greenery.

Rob Dunn, M.Ed.

Sr. Program & Equipment Coordinator

rdunn@waypointadventure.org

A man with short brown hair, blue eyes, and a neatly trimmed beard smiling brightly in front of a background of green trees. He is wearing a light blue shirt.

Oscar Stout

Program Coordinator

ostout@waypointadventure.org

A smiling man with short dirty, blond hair, blue eyes, and a light beard. He is wearing a denim shirt layered over a dark t-shirt. The background is softly blurred, with green foliage in the background.

Harrison Shulman, MSW, LCSW

An older man with short gray hair and glasses is smiling at the camera. He is wearing a bright blue Columbia shirt with the Waypoint Adventure logo on it. The background is a blurred outdoor setting with greenery.

Jim Bradley

Michelle Hoffmeister

Program Registrar & Trip Leader

mhoffmeister@waypointadventure.org

We have advanced training in outdoor leadership, wilderness medicine, Special Education, recreation management, social work, and adaptive techniques. We build daily on our experience and are dedicated to our craft of designing transformative adventure programs for all.

Board of Directors

Kevin Clark (Chair)
Sales Executive
LinkedIn

Jean Whitney (Vice Chair)
Philanthropic Advising
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Rachel Musto (Treasurer)
Non-profit Finance Professional
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Peter Quinn (Clerk)
Consultant
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Curt Stevenson
Investor / Advisor
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Chris Smith
Associate Director of Information Security, Foundation Medicine
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Chris Keyes
Head of PCH Boston, PCH Digital
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Dr. Claudia Gutierrez
Former Principal, Boston Public Schools
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Lexi Carbunari
Vice President, Fidelity Investments
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Janine Savage
OT Dept. Supervisor, Boston Ability Center
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Eric Arnold
Senior Advisor, Hale Education
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Board of Advisors

Cherise Bransfield
Mom & Advocate
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Deborah ‘Dubs’ Dickey
Health Professional

Joe Hardy
Co-Founder, Central Rock Climbing Gym
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Chip Hart
Sales Executive
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Ellen Cohn, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Clinical Professor Emeritus, Boston University
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Tom Rollins, CFA
Institutional Portfolio Manager, Fidelity Investments
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Get Involved

Everyone is essential here. Be part of extraordinary experiences and customized adventure programs for school groups, social service organizations, families, and individuals

Participate

Meet friends and discover your potential.

Volunteer

Build community and make a difference.

Donate

Make adventure & learning accessible for all!