Board of Directors

President | Head of Marketing Committee

Josh Chang
Originally from the Boston area, Josh started skiing from a young age in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, and began touring and venturing into the backcountry in 2018. As the son of Taiwanese immigrants, Josh is passionate about increasing representation of Asian and other minority athletes in outdoor sports and skiing.

Over the years, Josh has found joy in sharing his love of ski touring and the backcountry with friends and newcomers. Drawn to IST's mission of developing an inclusive uphill community and making backcountry skiing more accessible, he joined IST as a volunteer in 2024, served as the Mountain Coordinator for IST programs at Cranmore during the 2024-2025 season, and joined the IST board in the summer of 2025. He sees uphill skiing as the ideal blend of physical challenge, technical skill, and time in nature with community.

Outside of skiing, Josh is the Director of Marketing Strategy & Operations at HubSpot, a Cambridge-based software company. He lives north of Boston with his partner and dog and
in the warmer months, you'll find him out on the golf course, trail-running, or training for his next marathon.
Director | Director of Women's Programs

Meg Pierce
Meg grew up casually alpine and nordic skiing with her family. She started touring on telemark skis in 2021, but decided to leave dropping knees to the resort setting and got her first alpine touring setup in 2022.

Her social, enthusiastic, and fun-loving nature has always led her to encourage others to join her for outdoor adventures. After leading tours for Inclusive Ski Touring’s Women’s Program starting in January 2022, she realized how passionate she was about formalizing her efforts to help break down barriers for women in the outdoors. Meg joined the board of IST where she has worked to expand the Women's Program including organizing the Women's Uphill Bash in the spring.

Meg lives in the Greater Boston area with her partner, daughter, and dog. She works as an Engineer and spends her free time passionately pursuing her endless outdoor hobbies.
Director | Head of Media Relations

Sam Trombley
Sam Trombley is a marketing and public relations professional focused on the outdoor recreation industry and community development. For years she led marketing efforts for Granite Outdoor Alliance and the Mt. Washington Backcountry Ski Festival, and she now works for HEB Engineers. Sam is passionate about making outdoor recreation more accessible while helping communities sustainably leverage the outdoors for economic vitality.
Sam grew up skiing casually but fell in love with uphill touring in 2020 when her best friend Kelsey introduced her to the backcountry. After four years in Boston, she moved to New Hampshire in 2022 to be closer to the mountains and started volunteering with Inclusive Ski Touring during the 22/23 season. Now based in Gorham, NH with her partner Stuart and their pup Scarlett, Sam spends her free time hosting “SalmonStew Trivia” across Mt. Washington Valley and Coös County, serving on the Gorham Destination Management Committee, and volunteering with Summits in Solidarity to support racial justice and equity in outdoor spaces.
Treasurer | Head of Finance Committee

Abby Cough
Abby grew up in Portland, Maine and found a love of touring in 2019 - exploring the terrains of Carrabassett Valley and the White Mountains. Humbled by all the folks who helped to foster her backcountry skiing knowledge, she wanted to give back and found out about Inclusive Ski Touring in 2023. Abby volunteered that season - inspired by the mission and excited to drive inclusion and community in the Northeast. She aspires to help grow the organization and bring ski touring to as many communities as possible.
To support her hobbies, Abby is a consultant at BRG where she focuses on turnaround and restructuring.
Outside of skiing, Abby enjoys running and racing sailboats with her husband Pat.
Secretary | Head of Grants & Fundraising Committee

Bill Cobb
Bill is the Vice President of Consulting Services at Offprem Technology, a Salesforce implementation partner. He previously led the Protect Our Winters (POW) New England Local Alliance, a group of volunteers across New England working to enact local campaigns and events to support POW's mission. Bill has a background in adaptive sports, serving as a volunteer skiing and climbing instructor and a member of the Communications & Marketing Committee for Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country.
When it's not ski season, Bill can be found training for his next ultramarathon or spending time on the lake. He lives in New Hampshire with his partner Kelsey and their two dogs.
Director | Director of Volunteers

Sam Andrews
Sam’s love for skiing began early, thanks to her mom’s resourcefulness. From trading a class presentation for lift tickets to earning ski days through Maine Adaptive volunteer hours, they found creative ways to access the mountains together.
Today, Sam supports Inclusive Ski Touring (IST) to help grow community and access in the backcountry. She has the privilege of working alongside IST’s 75+ incredible volunteers. What motivates her most about this work? Well, she believes time outdoors is essential for our mental and physical well-being-- and touring is just another fun way to get outside!
Sam works for Colby College as the Assistant Director of Outdoor Programs. When she’s not on skis, she’s finding other ways to spend time in nature with the people she loves most!

Founder & Executive Director

Zachary McCarthy

Born and raised in Saco, Maine, Zach is a dynamic individual on a mission to create more inclusive and accessible outdoor recreation opportunities. With a degree in Economics from the University of Southern Maine, Zach is the Founder and Executive Director of Inclusive Ski Touring and the former Marketing Director at Mt. Abram Family Resort. He is also one of the founding board members of the non-profit organization Uphill New England. His approach to partnership development and programming has made outdoor adventures more financially accessible, while boosting public relations and business revenues.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Zach embodies the spirit of adventure, finding fulfillment, inspiration, and drive through backcountry skiing, trail running, biking, and photography.

Zach's future aspirations include expanding Inclusive Ski Touring and developing alternative nationwide outdoor accessibility initiatives.

Backcountry Program Guides

Mack Connor

She, Her, Hers
Guiding and Instructing since 2019, Mack Connor is originally from Cape Cod, MA, and did not have access to mountains growing up. Her passion for outdoor education began in the early stages of her undergraduate career at the University of Maine where she studied Environmental Science and Outdoor Leadership while also instructing rock climbing, paddling, and mountaineering trips with the outdoor education program on campus, Maine Bound Adventure Center. It was there that she gained an understanding of the benefits and implications of experiential education and her passion for wanting to share these activities with others developed. After graduating with her B.S. Mack made the easy decision of pursuing a Master's in Teaching and staying in the realm of outdoor education as an Instructor for Acadia Mountain Guides, while also breaking into the ski guiding world. As a female voice, it is her goal to provide outdoor and nature-based educational opportunities to the underserved while fostering an inclusive, safe, and fun environment where growth, mental health, and lifelong learning are a priority. In between guiding and outdoor pursuits, Mack can be found teaching science in Bethel, ME., baking, working in her garden, and crafting earrings out of beans!
Stuart Hickey

He, Him, His
Coming to us from the mountains of Southwest Virginia, Stu began guiding in 2011 as a whitewater guide on the Ocoee River in Tennessee, where he first discovered his passion for making the outdoors more accessible. That passion eventually led him to New England, where he could stay rooted in the Appalachian Mountains, explore all of his outdoor pursuits, and ski daily through the winter months.
Over the years, Stu’s guiding style has become increasingly education-focused. He has taught fly casting and archery for L.L.Bean, trained whitewater paddlers in Swiftwater Rescue, and guided for the Backcountry Skiing Program at Carrabassett Valley Academy, pursuing outdoor education from many angles. A longtime volunteer with Inclusive Ski Touring’s On-Resort Programs, Stu is incredibly excited to step into a backcountry role where his commitment to accessibility in the outdoors aligns so closely with our mission. Whether it is backcountry skiing, paddling whitewater, rock climbing, or anything in between, Stu is always eager to share his knowledge with anyone who asks.

Mountain Volunteer Coordinators

Bromley Mountain Coordinator

Parker Solberg
They, Them, Theirs
Parker first discovered ski touring at an IST program at Mt. Abram in 2021 and quickly fell in love with both the sport and the mission. They volunteered in 2022 and have served as a Lead Volunteer every season since. In 2026, Parker also stepped into the role of Volunteer Coordinator for Bromley Mountain. They especially enjoy supporting the Queer Programs because they’re passionate about creating safe and affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ folks in the outdoors. When Parker isn’t on the skin track, you’ll find them exploring new hiking trails, traveling to new adventures, or geeking out over board games. Parker loves seeing people connect with nature and each other in ways that feel welcoming and empowering.
Mt. Abram Mountain Cooridnator

Audrey Farber
She, Her, Hers
Audrey has been volunteering with and leading tours for IST for the last several years, and is excited to additionally take on the role of Mountain Coordinator for Mt. Abram. She has been (tele) skiing, including touring and backcountry skiing, for almost 15 years (but who's counting), and is always excited to help bring other people into the sport. She especially loves watching new friendships develop during IST tours, because skiing is better with friends. During the sad part of the year when it's not ski season, you can find her in Maine's woods trail running, scoping new ski lines, and sometimes even riding bikes.
Dartmouth Skiway Mountain Coordinator

Hannah Sheffler
She, Her, Hers
Hannah has been volunteering for IST for 2 years now after discovering it when looking to make new friends with the same passion. She immediately fell in love with the Open to All and Women’s programs and loves to watch participants feel empowered, enjoy the outdoors and create connections with others.
She grew up skiing locally in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Outside of skiing she is an ER nurse, and you may find her relaxing by a lake, hiking, climbing, paddle boarding, or camping.
Cranmore Mountain Coordinator

Alex Madden

Lead Volunteers

Haley Cushing (she, her, hers)

Haley has been skiing since she could walk and ski touring for over a decade! This is her 3rd season volunteering with IST and she loves to share her ski knowledge as well as her passion for going slowly and eating pizza. She has worked as a ski patroller, outdoor educator and currently is a nurse in the ER. She lives in Albany Township, Maine and spends her time in the ceramic studio or outside with her partner, Jordan, and dog, Bucket.
Tim Pearson (he, him, his)

Tim has been on skis since childhood, with the last decade dedicated to exploring the backcountry. A regular at Mt. Abram and in the White Mountains, he’s been a fan of the IST mission since meeting Zach in the early days. Tim’s favorite part of volunteering is heading out with new groups—especially folks who are just discovering the sport and might not have had easy access to the sport before.
Tim lives in Belgrade, Maine with his partner, Ashley, and their two dogs, Boots and Olive.
Meg Leo-Cote (she, her, hers)

Born and raised in South Portland, Maine, Meg's appreciation for winter and all things mountain came post-college. Thanks to a friend introducing her to IST in early 2022, a love for ski touring took off. In previous lives, Meg has been an educator, as well as a college lacrosse coach and loves supporting folks who want to try new things, like walking uphill on skis! Now calling the Upper Valley home, she supports her mountain habit by wrangling inventory and logistics at Elan Sports. When she isn't in the mountains, you can find her running, hiking, and traveling with her husband, Ben, and their dog, Denali.
Ren Layne (she, her, hers)

Outdoorsy from childhood, Ren added downhill skiing to her skillset as an adult, learning alongside her now teenage daughters. She soon added touring and began volunteering with IST in its second season. As an adult learner, she appreciates the vulnerability of taking on new skills and loves helping others expand their outdoor horizons. She has worked as a clinical researcher, small business owner, and non-profit board member; and plays several brass instruments in her spare time. She lives with her family and dogs on the south shore of MA, but spends as much time as possible in the woods of Maine.
Audrey Farber (she, her, hers)

Audrey has been volunteering with and leading tours for IST for the last several years, and is excited to additionally take on the role of Mountain Coordinator for Mt. Abram. She has been (tele) skiing, including touring and backcountry skiing, for almost 15 years (but who's counting), and is always excited to help bring other people into the sport. She especially loves watching new friendships develop during IST tours, because skiing is better with friends. During the sad part of the year when it's not ski season, you can find her in Maine's woods trail running, scoping new ski lines, and sometimes even riding bikes.
Parker Solberg (they, them, theirs)

Parker first discovered ski touring at an IST program at Mt. Abram in 2021 and quickly fell in love with both the sport and the mission. They volunteered in 2022 and have served as a Lead Volunteer every season since. In 2026, Parker also stepped into the role of Volunteer Coordinator for Bromley Mountain. They especially enjoy supporting the Queer Programs because they’re passionate about creating safe and affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ folks in the outdoors. When Parker isn’t on the skin track, you’ll find them exploring new hiking trails, traveling to new adventures, or geeking out over board games. Parker loves seeing people connect with nature and each other in ways that feel welcoming and empowering.
Hannah Sheffler (she, her, hers)

Hannah has been volunteering for IST for 2 years now after discovering it when looking to make new friends with the same passion. She immediately fell in love with the Open to All and Women’s programs and loves to watch participants feel empowered, enjoy the outdoors and create connections with others.
She grew up skiing locally in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Outside of skiing she is an ER nurse, and you may find her relaxing by a lake, hiking, climbing, paddle boarding, or camping.