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Meet Our River Leaders

	Cathy Kennedy Director of Rafting Operations A member of our founder's family, Cathy Kennedy grew up on the Nantahala, right in the Center of it all. In almost 45 years, she's paddled just about any craft that floats, on just about every river you can think of. She boasts the honor of being NOC's first female raft guide. Her two children, Andrew and Jennifer also grew up at NOC, so it's no surprise that Andrew is one of the world's top paddlers. It's in his blood. When she's not on the back of a raft, Cathy can be found road biking all over the world (her last trip was to Hawaii). Our Nantahala Head-Guide and former Olympian Angus Morrison sums it up best when he says, "Cathy has guided more Nantahala raft trips than anyone in the known universe!"

	James "Wally" Leoni Ocoee River Manager With almost 30 years of whitewater experience and a long list of safety certifications, Wally Leoni stands stoically at the helm of our Ocoee Outpost. Wally studied wilderness skills back in the 80s at Ohio University, with a specialization in whitewater outfitting. His river resume includes the Youghiogheny, the Castleman, Cheat, Ashtabula, Chattooga and Ocoee Rivers. Wally once paddled 1,650 miles in a canoe, starting on the Hocking River in Ohio and finishing in New Orleans, via the Mississippi River. He was instrumental in bringing the 1996 Olympic games to the Ocoee River, as well as the Forest Service/TVA negotiations to secure recreational releases on the Upper Ocoee. You can bet in his 18 years of managing river outposts, Wally has seen and done it all, and we love having him on the team.

	Eli Helbert French Broad River Manager This guy's resume is so extensive, we can hardly fit it all into this description. Our French Broad River Manager is the current US National Open Canoe Rodeo Champion and the Open Canoe X Boat National Slalom Champion. Eli was the first open boater to compete in the Green River Narrows Race; the only one until 2007. In addition to his competitive accomplishments, he's guided on the Chattooga, Cheat and Gauley Rivers, and on rivers in Germany, Austria, New Zealand and British Columbia. He's a Wilderness EMT-B, an Eagle Scout, a graduate of Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC and an all-around great guy.

	Dave Perrin Chattooga River Manager Just two years after NOC began leading raft trips in 1972, Dave Perrin began his career on the Chattooga River. He joined NOC's staff in 1979, and has managed our Chattooga Outpost since 1981. That first year, he worked with the Forest Service and other outfitters to create the operating plan by which the Chattooga is still managed. It regulates the number of rafters per company, per day, to protect the river from over-use. Perrin was also part of a grassroots environmental movement that prevented an observation deck from being constructed at Bull Sluice rapid in 1980. He also helped create the Chattooga River Rescue Taskforce in 1995, and was awarded the Higgins and Langley Rescue Award in 2001. He is most proud of raising three children to be paddlers and stewards of the Chattooga-last year, both his son and daughter began their first seasons as NOC Chattooga guides.

	Deb Homich Nantahala River Manager The management team of the Nantahala River guided trips department has an extensive and long-running resume which includes a total of more than 100 years of paddling experience. Included on the management team are past Olympians, kayak instructors, international whitewater guides, as well some of the best raft guides found in the country. Leading the team is Debbie Homich, whose seven years of paddling experience alongside her MBA gives her the right combination of skills to handle anything, on or off the river. She has been with NOC for six years and has been part of the management team for the past three. On her days off, Deb is usually be found spending time on the water in an open boat or exercising her other talents as a classically-trained ballet and modern dancer.

	Lee Leibfarth Cheoah River Manager, Vice President of Operations Heading up our Outpost at the Cheoah is Lee Leibfarth. Lee has been involved in the competitive paddling scene for almost 30 years, as a whitewater slalom paddler, coach and club director. He joined team NOC in 1991 as an instructor and Chattooga River guide, where he also worked as the assistant manager for five years. He currently sits on the board of various whitewater organizations including the Nantahala Racing Club and the American Canoe Association. He also personally ensures that every NOC guide meets the high level of training needed to raft guide the Cheoah.

	Chris Summerville Pigeon River Manager Like most people from Arkansas, our Pigeon River manager Chris Summerville can almost always be found with a smile on his face. Chris began paddling in the Southeast as a guide on the Nolichucky River. He joined NOC in 2004 on the Chattooga River for two years, before returning to the northern rivers as the Pigeon River manager. Chris is a hands-on kind of manager who relishes the chance to get out on the river every day. The short rafting season on the Pigeon allows Chris to spend spring and fall guiding NOC rafts on the Chattooga and Cheoah Rivers. In the winter, Chris can be found paddling in Panama, skiing in California or traveling through Chile.

	Steven Sherill Nolichucky River Manager Our newest addition to the river leader family is the Nolichucky's Steve Sherill. Steve began his guiding career with NOC back in 2002 and quickly accelerated his skills on the Pigeon, Noli and French Broad Rivers. He's also spent two seasons guiding rafts on the East's famous Gauley River, in addition to guiding the Chattooga, Ocoee and Cheoah for NOC. With a degree in finance from the University of GA, Steve brings a great business sense to our Nolichucky outpost, which complements his versatility as a river guide. Steve spends his time off the Nolichucky skiing on the West Coast and kayaking in Panama.

	Brian Jennings River Operations Manager, NARR Our partners at North American River Runners are glad to have Team Jackson paddler Brian Jennings as their river operations manager. Brian was raised in the whitewater rafting industry, learning to read water before he could read a book. Growing up in Fayetteville, WV afforded him the opportunity to be around some of the best whitewater in the US. At the ripe age of 18, Brian began guiding rafts on the New and Gauley Rivers—he took up kayaking at age 21 and began competing as a pro in 2003. One of the top freestyle kayakers in the nation, Brian still teaches advanced kayak clinics for NARR.