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

Executive Director (co-founder, owner)

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 Director & Therapist (co-founder, owner)

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.

Joanna Bettmann, PhD, LCSW

Research Director (co-founder, owner)

Dr. Bettmann 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 oversees student outcome studies and provides on-going feedback on evidence-based clinical treatments.

Lauren Lollini, MA, LPC

Admissions Director (owner)

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 (co-founder, owner)

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 worked in the wilderness therapy industry since 2000 and has been with Open Sky since 2008.