Field Team

Todd Merrill
Field Director
todd@elementswilderness.com
406-600-4213

Todd is originally from North Carolina where he attended Appalachian State University. There he completed studies in Outdoor Education as well as Psychology, learning from positive mentors. In the mountains of North Carolina, Todd developed an appreciation for the learning potential that exists in both a wilderness and adventure context. Since graduating ASU in 2000, Todd has gained valuable experience that has driven his passion to continually develop within this industry.
Some of what has shaped Todd's experiences can be attributed to working with some amazing people in a variety of settings.  He has been challenged to grow and develop in roles like: a therapeutic wilderness mentor, outdoor educator, ski patrolman, snowboard instructor, river rafting guide, WFR/WFA instructor, climbing guide, swift-water rescue instructor, as well as a student of the outdoors. His latest area of development is focused on creating thoughtful facilitation of adventure based wilderness experiences.
Todd is joining Elements with a diverse background in facilitating wilderness/adventure based therapeutic experiences for youth and young adults.  He has had the pleasure of working with many talented companies in amazing places across the U.S. some of those include:  Second Nature (UT, GA, OR), Dragonfly Transitions (OR), Landmark Learning (NC), Three Rivers Montana (MT), SOLO Wilderness Medicine (Southeast), and Aspiro Adventures (UT). Todd has enjoyed the learning process of working with passionate people in awe inspiring landscapes, and has enjoyed combining his experiences with a successful program like Elements!

Dagney Strossner
Parent Visit Coordinator

Dagney is originally from South Carolina. She attended college in the mountains of NC at Appalachian State University. There she completed a degree in Outdoor Education along with Sociology. After living in the Appalachians and working at a local camp as an Adventure Field Staff, Dagney realized the positive benefits of wilderness.

Dagney traveled to Utah in 2005 to challenge herself more in this particular environment. Since then, she has been working in wilderness therapy as a field staff and mentor, a house staff at a therapeutic boarding school, and now the Parent Visit Coordinator at Elements. Dagney continues to see the value of wilderness and the relationships that develop between people and creating opportunities that allows insight and introspection. She was also a raft guide in Alaska and continues to teach snowboarding at a local ski resort.

When Dagney is not working, she enjoys trail running with her dog Sadie, snowboarding, listening to live music, and dreaming of one day playing the banjo.

John Elliott
Shift Lead

John is originally from Rochester, NY where he spent much of his childhood and teenage years exploring the Finger Lakes Region, Adirondacks, and Thousand Island areas. John attended The State University of New York at Oneonta receiving a bachelors degree in Music Industry in August of 2008. He was also president of the mountain biking club at Oneonta and spent much of his time, riding, and advocating mountain biking through teaching, riding and community service. Being able to work outdoors was one of the most important aspects John sought after to pursue a career. John has been with Elements since September 2008. He feels wilderness really allows a person to see past many societal and personal barriers while learning to communicate effectively to meet their needs and the needs of others. John finds the transformation of students from the start of their stay to the end very remarkable. When families communicate assertively, he sees the relationship become stronger and both parent and student have a better understanding of one another. John would classify this the most rewarding part of his job.

On his time off you will find John in Moab, Utah mountain biking, rafting, exploring the backcountry, playing the guitar, relaxing, and living by his favorite quote: Do not go where the path may lead. Go Instead where there is no path and leave a trail - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lewis J Cox
Group Lead

L.J. was born in Wyoming where he learned stewardship and sound ethics, taught by his father. A passion for the outdoors was spawned at a young age. Through hunting and fishing adventures his father instilled a desire to retreat to the woods and gain insight about himself. L.J. was removed from the west and placed in the diversity of southern culture and charm. He continued his passion for the outdoors by pursuing mountain biking and rock climbing adventures. L.J. began his college education at Faulkner State. He started this path as an art major wanting to mesh photography with a life outside. He moved back to Wyoming where he began his Outdoor Education at Central Wyoming College. He moved onto Colorado to study at Colorado Mountain College. Through the years he dabbled in whitewater adventures and worked for a backcountry skiing outfit in Colorado. Through his Guiding experiences he realized he wanted something more meaningful in life and chose to pursue the path of wilderness therapy. Where he can pass on life lessons and help others see the potential that being in a wilderness setting can hold. He has been a part of the Elements team since the Fall of 2010.

In L.J.`s off time you can find him; backcountry skiing in the mountains surrounding Leadville, Colorado, floating down a river, climbing a crag, hunting big game, fly fishing, or mending fence on a cattle ranch. His dog, Mouton, is usually somewhere in the mix as well.

Alex Marganski
Group Lead

Alex originally from Guilford, Connecticut grew up on the coastal shoreline of the Long Island Sound.  As a kid he explored the southern foothills enjoyed fishing and getting lost in the salt marshes.  Growing up he attended Plymouth State University in Plymouth, NH. Alex learned more of his outdoor sense in the White Mountains, where he hiked, climbed and snowboarded.  He graduated with a Bachelors in Social Work, receiving honors for his work with homeless individuals and work at a family resource center.  He also worked as a Youth Counselor at a boarding school for adjudicated youth while attending college.  Alex came to Elements in May 2010 seeking work with youth in an outdoor setting.  He feels wilderness is a unique setting to promote personal insight, growth and a new level of seeing the world.  Alex takes pleasure when students begin to challenge their thoughts and beliefs and the veracity of life.  Getting lost is a great way to find yourself!

When not working Alex enjoys climbing in Moab, rock houndingaround the west(but never finds anything cool) and snowboarding in the Wasatch.

Patrick Fraser
Assistant Group Lead

Patrick grew up on the seacoast of New Hampshire where most of his youth was spent playing at the beach or in the woods with his brother and two sisters or playing basketball. He attended the University of New Hampshire where he received a Bachelor of Arts in the Classics. Throughout Patrick’s time in school, he continued to find ways to mentor youth. He was a Resident Assistant at the university, coached middle school basketball, and served two years with Americorps coordinating after school programs for middle school and high school kids. After graduation he worked as a paraprofessional in special education at a middle/elementary school in Hampton Falls, NH.

Patrick also spent time surfing in the North Atlantic and exploring the White Mountains during the fall, summer and spring and snowboarded during the icy New England winters. He guided day and overnight raft trips on the Kennebec, Penobscot, and Dead Rivers in Maine. Despite a boundless love for the ocean and rivers back East, Patrick knew an adventure lay on the horizon, which included coming to the Utah deserts and Elements Wilderness Program.

Patrick Gregory
Assistant Group Lead

Patrick grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana, and spent much of his time there learning jazz piano. Growing up in the south was a catalyst for his adventures. The music, food, and community propelled him to seek out new adventures outside of the city. Patrick moved to Tennessee during high school, which allowed some great exposure to outdoor adventures and new skills such as caving, climbing, and mountain biking. Patrick attended Brevard College in North Carolina majoring in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education. While at Brevard, Patrick served as the Outing Club president during his senior year. Brevard was an amazing environment for college where he found his passion for the outdoors and working as an instructor.

After graduating, Patrick moved to Bend, Oregon and began his work in wilderness therapy. Patrick has been with the Elements team since December of 2008 and has 4 years of field experience. Working in wilderness has allowed Patrick to gain extensive experience in teaching. Patrick fills his time playing piano, skiing, cooking, and taking pictures when he's not in the field.

Jon Winiasz
Group Lead

Jon has been working for Elements since December of 2009 and came to work for Elements because of his passion for education and the outdoors. Jon developed an appreciation for the outdoors during trips to Utah and New Mexico's wilderness areas as a child and those experiences gave him direction in life to make goals and find personal limits. Originally, he grew up in Ohio were he earned a degree in Social Studies Education from Bowling Green State University. While attending Bowling Green he worked for the university's outdoor program leading a variety of outdoor trips such as spelunking, backpacking, canoeing, climbing, etc. He also managed the climbing wall and played on the water polo team. Jon's passion for the outdoors and the mountains lead him to move west right after college. Jon is an outdoor enthusiast and passionate about rock climbing, skiing, canyoneering and the fine arts.

Lisa Marinucci
Instructor

Lisa grew up in Delaware with her parents and older sister. Her weekends were filled with trips up and down the east coast for soccer tournaments. This, she claims, gave her the "itch" to travel. She eventually ended up going to college in North Carolina at UNC Wilmington. She later worked as an Assistant Park Ranger for the state of North Carolina. Since graduating college, Lisa surfed in Costa Rica, backpacked through Europe, and had several cross country adventures in the states. She has been escaping into the wilderness ever since. She spent three winters working at Copper Mountain Ski Resort in the high country of Colorado. She also worked as a Trail Crew Leader in Oregon for Northwest Youth Corps during a recent summer.

Lisa believes that a person should truly love what they do for a living and feels that she has been fortunate to work in some of the country's most beautiful outdoor "offices". She feels that living in the outdoors helps you to slow down and appreciate all of natures beauty. Lisa believes that the wilderness is the perfect place for one to grow and learn about who they really are. Her life experiences have given her a strong desire to pass on her knowledge and way of living to those who want to learn. When Lisa is not at work, she is usually traveling, hiking, camping, snowboarding, refereeing a soccer match, or spending time with friends and family.