Leslie Johnson
CO-FOUNDER · PRESIDENT · TREK GUIDE
Board of Directors for multiple non-profit organizations
Grant advisor to family charitable trust administered by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Certified Parent Coach
Special Education Teacher
B.S. Child Development, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
M.A. Special Education, San Francisco State University
Leslie resides in California with her husband and numerous animals and has four grown children.
Her vision for Trek Epic originated through insights and fond memories experienced while hiking along Northern California trails with family and friends.
She recognized that many young adults seeking their path in life would benefit greatly from a reflective experience that integrates movement and nature as a vehicle for personal exploration and transformation.
Andrew Bryan
CO-FOUNDER · EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · TREK GUIDE
Educational Consultant
Educational Consultant and Guide, Poet
Former Board of Directors, Independent Education Consultants Association
Baker 5J School District Board, Baker City, Oregon
B.U.S. Poetics, University of New Mexico
Andrew Bryan is a guide, educator, and facilitator who supports individuals in seasons of transition, reflection, and purpose-discovery. With a background in educational consulting and a lifelong commitment to helping others navigate what’s next, Andrew works with people seeking clarity about who they are and how they are called to contribute.
His approach centers around the Core Gift Discovery™ process—a framework that helps individuals uncover their intrinsic strengths, values, and life-giving purpose. Through intentional dialogue and experiential learning, Andrew supports clients in identifying their inner genius and aligning their personal and professional paths with what matters most.
Whether working with educators, students, practitioners, or leaders, Andrew brings a gift for creating space where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to step forward with confidence, authenticity, and direction.
Bruce Anderson
Facilitation Consultant, Core Gift Institute
Co-founder, Community Activators
Mayor
High School Teacher
Adjunct College Professor
Director, Social Services Agency
Commercial Fisherman
B.A. Teaching and Rehabilitation Administration
Bruce joined the Trek Epic team in 2012 with passion for bringing his 25 years of experience in community leadership, training, coaching and organizational development to the TrekEpic format.
Bruce is renowned for bringing important timeless traditions from international cultures along with personal stories, humor and honed interpersonal skills to his role providing insights and guidance to others.
Josie Bryan
Trek Guide, Core Gift Master Facilitator
Writer and Poet
Prelicensed Mental Health Counselor
M.S. Counseling Graduate Student, Prescott College
B.S. Design and Innovation Management, Oregon State University
Master Core Gift Discovery Facilitator
Josie is a guide, facilitator, and prelicensed mental health counselor currently completing a Master of Science in Counseling at Prescott College. With a background in academic coaching and program facilitation, her work is grounded in a person-centered, strengths-based approach to help individuals feel more embodied, confident, and connected. As a trek guide, Josie is passionate about combining the healing power of walking in nature with creative, reflective facilitation, which she believes is what makes the Trek Epic experience unique.
Drawing from her therapeutic work and lived experiences, Josie is dedicated to fostering supportive group dynamics and cultivating safe spaces where participants can engage in self-reflective discussion, be in community, and uncover deeper meaning in their lives, both on and off the trail.
Ruth Cortner
TREKEPIC ADVISORY GROUP
B.A. Medical Sociology, University of Pennsylvania
M.P.H. Socio-Medical Sciences, Columbia University
Ruth serves on the Trek Epic Board of Directors and plays a vital role in supporting donor relations and advocacy for the organization’s mission. She is passionate about expanding access to transformative experiences that help individuals reconnect with purpose and walk more fully into who they are.
Based in the Seattle area, Ruth loves her personal time at her retreat in Mazama, located in Washington’s Okanagan region. A lifelong traveler and walker, Ruth grew up in a hiking family and has explored trails throughout the British Isles and Peru—experiences that continue to fuel her belief in the power of movement, reflection, and connection.
Donald Chance, Ph.D.
TREKEPIC ADVISORY GROUP
B.S., Forestry Management
Masters, Urban and Regional Planning
Ph.D., Environmental Design and Planning
Don was the first to introduce the founders of Trek Epic to the concept of long-distance trekking abroad as a highly effective educational and soft counseling format for young adults. Trek Epic founders adopted and adapted Don's Study Abroad model to serve the vision of the foundation today.
Kathy Wells
CFO and TREKEPIC ADVISORY GROUP
Kathy's profession and expertise are in finance. In addition to providing fiscal oversight to TrekEpic in it's early years, it was Kathy who first coined the tagline "Get on Trek." She currently serves as the Finance Manager for the Information Technology Department of the County of Monterey. Her group is responsible for all communications for the County, including ensuring full accountability and reconciliation of finances and budget.
TrekEpic Officers
Chief Financial Officer
Kathy Wells