Meet the Crew

John Page

I came north in 1983. A chance opportunity to test skis for Powder Magazine in the Ruth Glacier was the bait. Ended up falling in love. Cancelled my plane flight three times so I could get better acquainted with Alaska.  I’ve been working in Alaska for 26 years and I’m still in love.
 
Alaska’s been a great playground for me to pursue my passions and challenge my abilities. I learned photography while working on a book about Wrangell St Elias. I gained organizational and people skills while serving as Executive Director of several non-profit companies. I tested my skiing abilities while covering the first four years of the world extreme skiing competition in Valdez.

In 1996 I started Sunny Cove. It grew out of the desire to experience living on Fox Island. I had guided kayaking for other companies in Prince Williams Sound and Kenai Fjords. I found I enjoyed sharing the place I loved with others. I also felt like it was an opportunity to educate others about our amazing natural environment. From a two-person start up we’ve grown into a company with 20 staff members. Each year we introduce thousands of people to kayaking and the wonders of Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords. Each year I have the opportunity to work with a great group of people. I look forward to working with everyone this summer.

Kat Chandler

Transplanted from the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of Florida to the beautiful chilly waters of Resurrection Bay, Alaska – I have embarked on the journey of becoming a true sourdough.
This will be my fourth season working with Sunny Cove as the office manager and living in Seward year round.   I have been enjoying the never-ending opportunities for hiking, paddling, camping and skiing in the surrounding areas.   As an active paddler since 1997 it was always on my “to do” list to visit Alaska, and as luck and circumstances would have it … I was able to do a kayak/camping trip to the Northwestern Fjords with Sunny Cove in 2004 with my Florida friends.   And as they say ….. the rest is history.  

Stephanie Millane

I was born and raised in Dousman, Wisconsin and much of my family still resides in the Dairy State. The road of my life has been winding...and continues to take me into new and unknown places. I've lived all over the US from Connecticut to Alaska with many stops in between. Eleven summers ago I landed in Skagway, Alaska and spent six summers working first as a bike guide/assistant manager and then as a rafting guide/sales manager. My winters found me in Alta, Utah working as an operations manager for the oldest ski shop in Utah overseeing three locations. Following my six summers in Skagway I found myself in Southwest Wisconsin for a summer working as a canoe guide on the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers and spending time with my family. One hot, humid summer was enough an I began to hunt for employment in Alaska once again.

I spent just a few days searching for another guiding job when I came across an ad for Sunny Cove. After several long conversations with John I found myself employed as the day trips coordinator and as a kayak guide. Following my first summer with Sunny Cove I was promoted to operations manager. I am working my way through my tenth winter in Alta and am looking forward to my fourth summer in Seward.

I have a lot of loves in my life....my dog, my family, travel, the smell of the ocean, the sound of waves at night, waist deep powder, meeting new people, photography, music and unexpected experiences. I am definitely a ‘full plate’ kind of person and rumor has it I have a big personality and a sarcastic sense of humor.  Up to you to decide…..

NIck Allen

Born and raised in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, Nick’s “Passion for Splashin” all started with childhood fishing trips and has now developed into a full-blown chronic disorder as he continues to search for new places to paddle.
With degrees in Outdoor Studies and Wilderness Recreation, Nick has shared his backcountry skills and enthusiasm for nature while leading canoe trips throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Canada; and while teaching sea kayaking courses in Southeast Alaska, Prince William Sound and the Florida Everglades.
In a kayak, canoe, or packraft; if Nick is not paddling for work, you’ll find him paddling for pleasure. From exploring the rivers of the Yukon and northern B.C. to casting nets in the Sea of Cortez, floating caves by candlelight in Guatemala, or banging across the storm-blown atolls of Belize there is no escaping the wonder and powerful draw of water.
After guiding kayak trips and exploring the fiords and rainforests of the Southeast Alaska for the last three seasons, this summer will be Nick’s first year working with Sunny Cove. Captured by the magnificence and grandeur of Resurrection Bay he looks forward to working with a great crew, in the beautiful town of Seward.

Audrey Gill

HeYo!  Im Audrey or Audj or  Dodge if you prefer. I was born and raised in a tiny town in the western mountains of Colorado.  Attended The Colorado College and graduated with an English, Film Major and Sociology Minor (emphasis on Cinematography). I have great passion for the outdoors, traveling, people, photography and skiing.  I love to ski.  I have spent five summers in Alaska. The first two were in Talkeetna and the other three in Seward.  This will be my second season with Sunny Cove.  I am in love with Alaska and it seems the more time I spend away from it the more I understand just how special and amazing it actually is.  I expect to be part of this place for a long time.  In the winters I have taken up traveling to Thailand, Cambodia, Ecuador, the Caribbean and Mexico- soaking up every site, smell, sound, and taste that I possibly can. Learning tons and expanding my appreciation and humility.   I am so excited about getting back on the water and experiencing Alaska on such an intimate level again.  Look forward to seeing some of you again and meeting the rest! Until then- Cheers and enjoy the Spring!

Gunnar Cantwell

Hey all. If you don't already know me, my name is Gunnar. I'm an recent Alaska Pacific University grad with plans to enjoy the 'out-of-doors' for as long as possible. Currently I'm living in South Anchorage and am working (sometimes) as a substitute teacher for the school district. However, I actually have my own practice... backcountry skiing. I like to think Im a skier with a teaching hobby. I also love the ocean, thus the sea kayaking guide status. This summer will be my 3rd with (Rainy Cloudy Windy) Sunny Cove, with one summer in Whittier before that. I'm looking forward to seeing all of yalls smiling faces again! mmm Alaskan summers. Cheers.

Joellyne mackinnon

Born in Wasilla, raised on moose meat and salmon, Jo's nothing like Sarah Palin. An artist at heart she enjoys creating, exploring
new places and cultures, and making the most of life's moments. For the last four years Jo has divided her life between Alaska and Guatemala. Her passion for good coffee has made Sunny Cup the place to drink. A Sunny Cove employee for nearly 10 years - mostly as a guide, she now serves as chief barista and manager of Sunny Cup.

Michele lacsamana

Michele, originally from Texas, received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art History from the University of Texas in Austin. She worked for various art museums for 10 years before beginning to work seasonally in national parks and ski areas in Washington state.

Her passion for travel has taken her to Patagonia, Egypt, Italy, Indonesia and many places in between. She enjoys yoga, hiking and camping, and is learning how to rock climb, ski and kayak. This is her first summer in Alaska and working for Sunny Cove.

Brian Studiale

I was born and raised in the small city of Lakeland, FL. I’ve been paddling on the Gulf of Mexico for as long as I can remember and am ready to embark on an adventure that promises a great change in scenery. I love the water and no matter where I am, I feel at home on the water.

I am a very recent college graduate and I spent my summers between semesters as a rafting guide on the beautiful Ocoee River of Eastern Tennessee. It was in Tennessee where I heard of Sunny Cove. A fellow guide and a good friend of mine had spent the previous summer working for Sunny Cove and he couldn’t stop talking about the beauty of Alaska. I am as excited as one could be for a great summer of work, fun, and adventure.

Mike McGrath was born and in Boston, Massachusetts and raised by a couple hippies on a lake outside the city. After learning how to swim about the same time he learned how to walk, he began a life that was spent either in or floating on top of water in its many forms. He grew up with a sailboat, many canoes, sit on top kayaks, rafts, surfboards, water skis, and motor boats. At the age of 19, he decided it was time to grow up, but after only two years at the prestigious Boston College, he had a real job, a real girlfriend, and a real apartment in Downtown Boston. That did not work for him at all. So he moved to Honolulu to finish up at the University of Hawaii, a school that understands that class is optional if the waves are head high. But his obsession did not end with days of surfing, body boarding, and kayaking, he needed to be gainfully employed during his summers. So he got on a plane, once again, not knowing a single person and headed to Colorado for the first of nine seasons as a White Water Raft Guide. A job that allowed him to spend at least three months working in each: Costa Rica, Argentina, and Iceland. But alas, it was time for a new challenge in the most amazing place on earth. After visiting last summer, he knew he found his new home with Sunny Cove in Seward, Alaska.

Tom Kain

Frank Coyle

My name is Frank Coyle. I am currently trying to finish off a degree in Outdoor Education with focuses on Environmental Education/ Adventure programming and Wilderness Leadership. I started guiding outdoor sports professionally in 2003. I have been lucky enough to have had opportunities to guide several outdoor sports in a variety of states. I have guided flatwater river trips and snow machining trips in Vermont, Whitewater rafting trips in Tennessee and Wyoming, and this will be my third season guiding trips through Sunny Cove sea kayaking. I have CPR, AED, and Wilderness First Responder training through Wilderness Medical Associates(WMA). I hold the Brittish Canoe Union(BCU) canoe safety award and am certified as a Brittish Canoe Union 3 Star paddler. Whether frozen or liquid, Watersports have always been a big part of my life. Beginning of summer is about the time I drop my ski poles and pick up some sort of paddle. I have spent the last 2 summers guiding trips away from the ocean. I have been missing it ever since. No matter how incredible the rivers throughout the United States are, The experiences we gather here in the Kenai Fjords National Park area will always be the ones I talk about most.

Kayti Rowen

Hey everyone, I’m Kayti and I’m pretty excited to join your team! I was born and raised in a small farm town in South Dakota. I moved up to Alaska in 2007 and instantly fell in love. I am a current Alaska Pacific University student majoring in Outdoor Studies. I have a deep passion for the outdoors, music, reading, family, traveling, and water. Growing up my family was big on canoeing and rowing in SD. This past spring I took a Sea Kayaking course and knew I was hooked for life. This will be my first season with Sunny Cove and I can’t even explain how excited I am. Looking forward to meeting everyone! Cheers.