Meet Our Team

Executive Director, Chris Getoor

Chris began working at Strong Wings as Director of Programs in 2008. He took on his current role as Executive Director in 2017. Chris earned his B.S. in History with a secondary education minor from St. Joseph’s College in 2000. Prior to his Strong Wings, Chris taught Spanish and Ecology at the Nantucket New School.

An avid surfer, outdoorsman, and adventure enthusiast, he holds CPR, First Aid, Lifeguard, Advanced Skills and Standards for Challenge Course Professionals certifications and is a licensed CPR and AED instructor. He has a true passion for working with children and sharing his love for nature and adventure with people of all ages.

Director of Programs, Claire Winship

Claire started her Strong Wings journey as a bike camper in 1996. After graduating from Warren Wilson College with a B.A in Environmental Studies, she returned home to Nantucket and to Strong Wings in 2011 to work as a group leader. Claire accepted a year-round position in 2012 and has been in her current roll since 2014. A talented administrator and a gifted, caring educator; Claire is an invaluable member of our team and family.

Assistant Director of Programs / Aquatics Director, Andrew Trott-Kielawa

Andrew “TK”, a former camper and 10-year veteran of the staff grew up on Nantucket, MA. After graduating from UMass Amherst in 2017 he traveled in Central America and worked as an English teacher before returning to Strong Wings for a full time position. TK now serves as the Aquatics Director and Assistant Director of Programs.

T.J. Grant:

T.J. grew up on Nantucket and has been working for Strong Wings for three years. During the school year, he teaches physical education for the Nantucket New School as well as facilitating after school programming. He works with all age groups during the summer.

Liam Cuddy:

Liam Cuddy will be a senior at Umass Lowell as of August 2019. He grew up in the North Shore of Boston and a former camper of Strong Wings. This will be his 6th season working for the camp.

Cameron Gottlieb:

Cameron is about to start his first year at Elon University this August. He is a graduate of Nantucket High School and was born and raised on the island. Cameron is a former camper of both Strong Wings after school and Summer Bike camp. This will be his 4th season working for Strong Wings.

Kayla Hudzik:

Kayla will be a sophomore at Lynn University this upcoming fall. She was born and raised on the island and is a graduate from Landmark High School. Kayla is a former camper of Strong Wings bike camp and is starting her second year as a full time staff member.

Lucy Gund:

Lucy is from Weston, Massachusetts. This year, she graduated from Groton School and will be attending Northwestern University this fall. This will be her first summer working at Strong Wings.

Mac McCormick:

Mac is from New Hartford, Connecticut and is about to start his senior year at Trinity College this fall where he studies Urban Development and Spanish. This will be his fourth year on the staff and is in charge of social media for Strong Wings.

Grace Jensen:

This past Spring, Grace graduated from Queen's University in Ontario where she received her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education. While she grew up on Nantucket and went to the Nantucket New School, this will be her first summer working at Strong Wings.

Nicole Gottlieb:

Nicole will be a senior at Providence College this fall. She is a double major in Elementary Education and Special Education. Nicole grew up on the island is starting her second season on the staff.

Sage Geddes:

Sage will be a senior at Umass Amherst this fall and is double majoring in Special Education and Psychology. This will be her second summer working for Strong Wings.

Leigh Olson:

Leigh will be a senior at Salve Regina University this fall completing her Fine Art major and Psychology minor. She is from New Jersey and has been coming to Nantucket since she was young. This will be Leigh’s second summer on the Strong Wings staff.

Julianna Marsh:

Julianna is from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. She graduated Cape Henlopen High School in 2017 and is interested in working with children as a potential career path. This will be her first summer on the staff.

Gerry Holmes:

Gerry graduated from Sterling College in Vermont in 2016 with a major in Outdoor Education and has worked with struggling teenagers at wilderness therapy programs. He is well equipped with many primitive skills he shares with the campers and is starting his second summer as a counselor.

Ava Blankman:

Ava is from Omaha, Nebraska and will be a sophomore at Arizona State University where she studies Biology. This will be her first summer on the island working as a counselor.

Jamie Rowley:

Jamie is from Erie, Pennsylvania and will be starting his first year at Wake Forest University in the fall. He has grown up coming to Nantucket in the summers and looks forward to starting his first year as a Strong Wings counselor.

Luke Gumpert:

Luke is from Naples, Florida and graduated from Florida State University where he studied Spanish and furthered his education in law school. This will be his fifth summer working for Strong Wings.

Alexandria Tegan:

Alex is from Boston, Massachusetts and will be a sophomore at the University of Alabama this fall. She is majoring in Environmental Engineering and is a former camper of Strong Wings and now starting her first year on the staff.

Scott Tanch:

Scott is from Rowley, Massachusetts and a long time summer resident. He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and math with a focus on Aerospace from UVM. He is a former camper and this will be his 8th summer working for Strong Wings.

Cora Stevens:

Cora is currently a junior at Arizona State University studying Nonprofit Management and French. She spent the last semester abroad in Lyon, France and this will be her second summer on the staff.

Jakobe Stevens:

Jakobe is a recent 2019 High School graduate and has grown up visiting the island. He has worked for camps in many parts of the country and plans to enroll in acting school. This will be his first summer working for Strong Wings.

Rani Dai:

Rani is from New Hampshire and will be entering her second year of Medical School this fall in Vilnius, Lithuania. She has spent many summers on Nantucket as a camper of Strong wings and is starting her 4th summer as a counselor.

Westbee Casperson:

Westbee will be starting his second year at Harvard University this fall. He is from New York City and went to boarding school in Massachusetts. He used to be a camper of Strong Wings and is starting his third year as a counselor this summer.

John Dolan:

John is from Winnetka, Illinois and is a rising senior at Fairfield University. He is double majoring in Psychology and Communications and is a former camper of Strong Wings. This will be his fourth summer as a counselor.

Olivia Ventling:

Olivia is a 2016 graduate of Indiana University and is currently a kindergarten teacher in Bradenton, Florida. This will be her 3rd summer on the island and 3rd summer as a counselor on the staff.

Will Wraith:

Will is from Summit, New Jersey and is returning for his senior year at Northeastern University where he studies Sociology and Psychology. He is a longtime camper of Strong Wings and this will be his fourth season as a counselor.

Connor Ventling:

Connor graduated from Bates College in 2015 with a degree in Anthropology. He has been working for Strong Wings since 2011. During the year, he teaches middle school history in Sarasota, Florida. He is currently enrolled in the Pennsylvania State University’s Master of Professional Studies program in homeland security and is excited to start his 9th year on the staff.