Leadership Team

The leadership at Open Sky is a combination of vision and practical application.  Collective experience totaling more than 100 years in wilderness therapy industry and representing every capacity from the ground up, Open Sky has the most comprehensive and experienced leadership team in the industry.

Aaron Fernandes, BA

CEO

Aaron holds a BA in psychology from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Aaron has vast leadership experience in the fields of outdoor education and wilderness therapy. In 1999, Aaron joined Aspen Achievement Academy, where he served as a Senior Field Instructor and then Field Director from 2002 to 2003. As Field Director, Aaron supervised the day-to-day field operations, organized trainings for employees, served as risk management director, and implemented programmatic innovations in personnel management and quality assurance. In 2004, he accepted a position of Executive Director of Explorations Wilderness Programs in Trout Creek, Montana. Aaron was then hired to provided strategic business consultation for a variety of Aspen Education Group (AEG) wilderness therapy programs.

Emily Demong, LCSW

Clinical & Executive Director

Emily has worked with adolescents and families in wilderness settings since 1996 as a therapist, field instructor, trainer, logistics coordinator, emergency responder, and field director. Emily earned a BA from Bates College and a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Utah. Emily’s diverse training includes yoga, psychodynamic theory, and adolescent development.

Paul Case, PsyD

Assistant Clinical Director, Clinical Psychologist, Adult Therapist

Paul Case, Psy.D. is a clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience working with children, adolescents, young adults and their families. Paul earned his doctorate from Wheaton College in 2000. He completed his doctoral residency at Butler University, where he provided individual, group and family therapy and comprehensive psychological evaluations for young adults.

Joanna Bettmann Schaefer, PhD, LCSW

Research Director

Dr. Bettmann Schaefer has worked in the wilderness therapy field since 1994 as a director, researcher, therapist, and field instructor. She earned a BA from Dartmouth College and a PhD from Smith College School for Social Work. Her dissertation research focused on attachment relationships of adolescents in a leading wilderness therapy program. As Open Sky’s Research Director, Dr. Bettmann Schaefer oversees student outcome studies and provides on-going feedback on evidence-based clinical treatments.

Patrick Kearney, MD

Medical Director

Dr. Patrick Kearney joined Open Sky in 2011 as its Medical Director. He studied at the University of Michigan, where he received his undergraduate, Medical School and residency training. Dr. Kearney has been in Durango since 1986 where he was initially in solo practice, is a founding partner of Durango Family Medicine, and is a member and Past President of the medical staff at Mercy Regional Medical Center.

Lauren Lollini, MA, LPC

Admissions Director

Lauren received her MA in Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education from the University of Colorado, Denver, and her BA from the University of Wisconsin. She brings extensive experience to Open Sky as a wilderness therapist, sales and marketing professional, working with adjudicated youth and most recently becoming a mother. Lauren is known for her ability to listen intently and provide comfort during a time of need. She is caring and encourages a collaborative approach when working with families during the admissions process.

Danny Frazer, BBA

Business Development & Marketing Director

Danny received his Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Texas A&M University. He is a co-founder of Open Sky and has been involved in wilderness therapy since 1996. After accumulating over 700 field days as a field guide, he ascended into leadership and served five years as field director, including three at Open Sky. He now works primarily in business development and marketing and assists the admissions team as needed. With an easy-going nature and extensive wilderness experience, Danny provides students and families with a calming presence during a normally stressful time.

Bob Beardsley, BSBA

Finance Director

Bob joined Open Sky as a financial consultant in 2008 and then began full-time work in 2009 adding human resources to his responsibilities. Bob has over 30 years experience in professional accounting and has also served in leadership posts for small business enterprises in Durango since 1999. With a vast and varied background in the corporate world, Bob brings considerable experience, knowledge and objectivity to the Open Sky leadership team.

Erin Pinkham, BS

Human Resources Manager

Erin joined Open Sky in 2009 and has served in various office positions throughout the company prior to becoming the Human Resources Manager. She has a degree in marketing and has a wide range of work experience from the municipal setting to owning a restaurant.

Ellen Shinkle, BA

Field Director

Ellen has been with Open Sky since our first student in 2006. She has served as a senior field guide, trainer, hiring coordinator, field manager, and assistant field director. Prior to joining Open Sky, she worked extensively in wilderness therapy and attained over 500 field days as a field guide and trainer. Ellen brings years of experience, unmatched enthusiasm, and provides skillful personnel management for the largest team of employees at Open Sky. Ellen is certified as a Wilderness First Responder, trained in de-escalation and crisis intervention and has extensive experience teaching how to effectively work with our students and safely manage risk. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Spanish from University of North Carolina at Asheville. In 2007, Ellen became a licensed massage therapist.

David Boyle, MA

Assistant Field Director

David has been with Open Sky since October 2008. Prior to joining Open Sky, David worked for the Jicarilla Apache Behavioral Health Department, Field Director of Lone Star Expeditions, and as a Field Guide for several wilderness therapy programs and therapeutic boarding schools.