Meet the Team
Viristar Leadership Team
Elizabeth Lunderman
Outreach & Operations Manager
Damien Santer
Chief Learning & Technology Officer
Jeff Baierlein
Director
Nancy Odom
Bookkeeper
Deborah Hayes
Instructor
Rick D'Atre
Instructor
Elizabeth Lunderman
Outreach & Operations Manager
Elizabeth Lunderman (pronouns: she/her) is Viristar's Outreach & Operations Manager. Liz founded a nonprofit called Women in Wilderness, bridging the gap between young girls and outdoor experiences, helping girls understand the breadth and depth of their capabilities. She taught Secondary Biology in Peace Corps Tanzania, and organized an expedition up Kilimanjaro. Liz served as Outdoor Adventure Specialist and Program Strategy & Engagement Manager with Girl Scouts Heart of Central California, providing leadership for the Girl Experience and Outdoor Training programs. Liz also worked in Vietnam with Education for Nature-Vietnam (ENV), and conducted coral reef fish research in Australia. She has her AIARE 1 avalanche hazard and Wilderness First Aid certifications. Liz has a BS in Biology and Environmental Studies from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
Damien Santer
Chief Learning & Technology Officer
Damien Santer (pronouns: he/him) is Viristar's Chief Learning & Technology Officer. Damien has in excess of 20 years of board-level professional experience in broad-ranging areas including technology, management consulting, medical education and eLearning. Damien teaches wilderness medicine, pre-hospital emergency care and outdoor safety classes, and is an event and volunteer medic in Malaysia. He was a member and trainer of a multidisciplinary rescue unit in regional Australia, providing vertical, road crash and flood rescue; storm damage support; first aid; general rescue, and search and rescue. Damien is a group scout leader and a training advisor for the Rest of World district of British Scouting Overseas. Damien works with Viristar on a contract basis from his base in Kuala Lumpur.
Jeff Baierlein
Director
Jeff A. Baierlein (pronouns: he/him) founded Viristar to provide the very best in consulting and training services to help outdoor and informal education organizations ignite their full potential. Jeff has over 30 years of experience with outdoor education, environmental education, adventure education and experiential education organizations in the US and around the world. He led remote wilderness expeditions, worked as a naturalist-educator, served as an Emergency Medical Technician with ambulance services, led search and rescue missions, and was appointed to the Washington State Governor’s Council on Environmental Education. He served as Executive Director of both the Boojum Institute for Experiential Education and the Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound Center. His writing and lectures have been translated into Russian, Vietnamese, and Chinese.
Nancy Odom
Bookkeeper
Nancy Odom (pronouns: she/her) is Viristar’s full-charge bookkeeper, overseeing finance and accounting for the organization, including payroll, HR benefits management, banking, and accounts payable and receivable. Nancy has over 30 years’ experience in bookkeeping and accounting, including with non-profit and for-profit organizations in the outdoor, wilderness, adventure, education and experiential fields. Nancy is an expert in SME accounting, with an extensive background in multi-state bookkeeping, financial audit preparation, and complex reporting and forecasting procedures. Born in the Philippines and having attended high school in Colombia, Nancy came to the USA for college. She enjoys hiking, baking and gardening. Nancy lives with her family in Anza, California.
Deborah Hayes
Instructor
Deborah Hayes (pronouns: she/her) is an instructor with Viristar, teaching wilderness medicine courses for individuals working in remote, offshore, low-resource and backcountry contexts. Deborah has been leading emergency medicine and wilderness rescue trainings since 2013 around the world. She has worked as an instructor at the United States Maritime Resource Center, teaching Fatigue Management, Basic Safety, First Aid and CPR to mariners. She has extensive experience as a Program Director, faculty member, medical officer, U.S. Coast Guard Medical Person In Charge (MPIC), and Captain with maritime education programs, and worked as a risk management consultant in the sail training/tall ship field. Deborah is a US Coast Guard licensed Master, 1600 tons Oceans Auxiliary Sail and has sailed as a professional mariner since 1986. She is an Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) and is active in providing patient care as an EMT. Deborah received her B.A. in Zoology from Connecticut College.
Rick D'Atre
Instructor
Rick D’Atre (pronouns: he/him) is an instructor with Viristar, providing emergency medicine and wilderness rescue training to outdoor professionals. Rick has 24 years’ experience as the Risk Manager, Wilderness Guide/Trainer and Program Manager for YD Adventures, overseeing an extensive program of backpacking, rock climbing, challenge course and winter ski/camping trips up to 20 days in length. He is also a long-time snowmobile guide trainer, and led backcountry and canoe expeditions in the American Northeast in the 1990’s. Rick is a Wilderness EMT and Eagle Scout, and has training from the National Ski Patrol in Mountain Travel & Rescue, from the AMGA as Top Rope Site Manager, from SW VA Mountain Rescue Group in Search and Rescue, and from the Northwest Avalanche Institute in avalanche hazard management. Rick has an electrical engineering degree, five children, and volunteers for his local ambulance service. Rick lives outside of Leavenworth, Washington.
