The Sweetwater Team
The guides, managers, and operations staff behind Sweetwater's lodges, guide school, and international fishing destinations.Sweetwater has more than fifty fishing guides and close to forty staff members working within the destination portfolio. The company also works with some of the most experienced lodge managers in the industry. Almost all of the staff continue working with Sweetwater throughout their careers in the fishing business, right to the finish.
The people who work with Sweetwater are what make the destinations work. They are not only the people who make the business tick; they are the people around the campfire and some of the company's closest friends. In addition to the lodge teams, several individuals are especially important to Sweetwater Travel Company.
Founding Team
Ron grew up on a crab boat, in a lumber store, in Chile, and in South Bend, Washington. He has a remarkable ability to entertain Mongolians, pack containers, fix anything, run guide schools, tie great flies, and keep the Vermillion brothers from fighting. Ron's claim to fame, aside from his wife Vicky and his two daughters, is that he once guided over 10 months straight in destinations from Tierra del Fuego to the Ponoi River in Russia, albeit with serious impacts to his short-term sanity.
Ron Meek
Ron retired from Sweetwater in 2020 after 25 years. He started working at Sweetwater Travel Company in 1995 after guiding with Dan, Jeff, and Pat on the Ponoi River in Russia. Ron's talent and kindness were quickly apparent, and it is fair to say there is no one in the business Sweetwater has learned more from.Ron grew up on a crab boat, in a lumber store, in Chile, and in South Bend, Washington. He has a remarkable ability to entertain Mongolians, pack containers, fix anything, run guide schools, tie great flies, and keep the Vermillion brothers from fighting. Ron's claim to fame, aside from his wife Vicky and his two daughters, is that he once guided over 10 months straight in destinations from Tierra del Fuego to the Ponoi River in Russia, albeit with serious impacts to his short-term sanity.
Alaska Programs
Scott has worked in the industry for more than 20 years and has guided or managed camps in Montana, Wisconsin, Alaska, Russia, Brazil, and Mongolia. He spends summers between Copper River Lodge and Royal Coachman Lodge in Alaska. Without Scott, Sweetwater's Alaska programs would not exist.
scott@sweetwatertravel.com
Scott Schumacher
Scott joined Sweetwater Travel in 2002 after meeting Dan and Jeff while guiding in Alaska in the late 1980s. Originally from Minnesota, Scott has a passion for hunting, fishing, flying, football, his wife Alison, son Oliver, and Labrador Teddy.Scott has worked in the industry for more than 20 years and has guided or managed camps in Montana, Wisconsin, Alaska, Russia, Brazil, and Mongolia. He spends summers between Copper River Lodge and Royal Coachman Lodge in Alaska. Without Scott, Sweetwater's Alaska programs would not exist.
scott@sweetwatertravel.com
Operations
Christi and her husband Dan have two kids, Betsy and Louis, who are frequently seen running around the office with giant ear-to-ear smiles, so present in their well-humored parents. Without Christi, the company would have fallen apart years ago.
christina@sweetwatertravel.com
Christina Grabowski
Christina joined Sweetwater Travel in 2005. More than anyone else, Christi is the talent behind Sweetwater's operational systems. That includes Christmas cards, QuickBooks, invoicing, mediating brother disputes, answering phones, client correspondence, and about everything else that makes the business tick.Christi and her husband Dan have two kids, Betsy and Louis, who are frequently seen running around the office with giant ear-to-ear smiles, so present in their well-humored parents. Without Christi, the company would have fallen apart years ago.
christina@sweetwatertravel.com
British Columbia
B and her husband Chris live in Nanaimo, British Columbia. She excels at meeting and exceeding client expectations at Sweetwater's northern steelhead operations, always with a smile. B and Chris have worked around the world, and Sweetwater could not be more pleased they settled in with the team.
bmiller@sweetwatertravel.com
Belinda Miller
Belinda, better known as B, is the brains of Sweetwater's British Columbia operations. In addition to being the chef at Steelhead Valhalla Lodge, B handles invoicing, pre-trip guest correspondence, and licensing.B and her husband Chris live in Nanaimo, British Columbia. She excels at meeting and exceeding client expectations at Sweetwater's northern steelhead operations, always with a smile. B and Chris have worked around the world, and Sweetwater could not be more pleased they settled in with the team.
bmiller@sweetwatertravel.com
Guide School
Sweetwater is excited to have Corey directing the Guide School. His attention to detail, passion for guiding, and ability to instruct make him a true asset to the organization.
corey@sweetwatertravel.com
Corey Koff
Corey Koff is the Guide School director at Sweetwater Travel Company. Before becoming the Guide School director, Corey guided at Royal Coachman Lodge in Alaska for more than a decade.Sweetwater is excited to have Corey directing the Guide School. His attention to detail, passion for guiding, and ability to instruct make him a true asset to the organization.
corey@sweetwatertravel.com
Talk with the Sweetwater team. For destination travel, lodge questions, or guide school information, call 406-222-0624 or email fish@sweetwatertravel.com.