Tiffany Staman
Executive Director
I was born and raised in Northern Illinois, where Christian camp experiences were a formative part of my faith development. At sixteen, I felt God calling me to use my life to serve the Kingdom of God. I earned a bachelor’s degree in Youth Ministry from Judson University and spent the next sixteen years in pastoral ministry. Always in the back of my mind was a dream to someday be involved in Christian camping.
Born from my passion to help people grow spiritually, I founded Breathing Space in 2006 with the mission to provide the space and tools for people to listen and respond to God through spiritual retreats. In 2008, I received a master’s degree in Global Leadership from Fuller Seminary, after which, I began working in the nonprofit sector where I learned fund development and non-profit leadership. In 2018, I received a national certification as a Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) and was humbled to be named as one of Rockford, Illinois’ “Twenty People You Should Know.”
In January 2019, I moved across the country to become the Executive Director at Calvin Crest. Little did I know how this role would shape my character and spiritual formation as we navigated COVID, the Creek Fire, loss of insurance, a Mono wind storm, and historic snow storms. These years have provided a beautiful opportunity to trust in God’s goodness and provision and grow in resilience. It is a gift to be part of the Calvin Crest family.
In 2024, I completed my Doctorate in Ministry from Azusa Pacific University with a focus on Spiritual Formation, and I am currently studying to become a spiritual director. I serve on the sectional board for the Christian Camp and Conference Association and the Advisory Board of Wheaton College’s Honeyrock Camp. I’ve been married to Cam for 33 years and have three adult children, Taylor, Payton, and Graham, and two dogs, Aspen and Wrigley. In my spare time, I love to sit at the coast with Cam, read, bake sourdough bread, water color paint, watch the Chicago Cubs and Bears, and drink good coffee with friends.
Cam Staman
Operations Director
Cam began working at Calvin Crest in March of 2019. Before he and Tiffany moved to California, Cam spent twenty years in management in the telecommunications industry and also owned his own fine woodworking business (www.atgprojects.com). He loves to create beautiful spaces for people to connect with God and others and to mentor the younger staff on his team. He is honored to be a witness to the great legacy of Calvin Crest and its emerging future. Cam loves to camp and hike in the national parks, go boating and wakeboarding, and create inspiring woodworking projects. He loves to go to the coast with Tiffany and enjoy the beauty and art there.
Rev. Joshua Kerr
Program Director
Growing up in a church with close ties to Calvin Crest, Joshua saw both in his own life and the lives of those around him how much of an impact it made in the support of the local church. As a camper, experiences of God’s grace in Sherwood, Jr High Sno-Go, and AIM were key turning points in his growing faith. As a young adult, serving on staff for six years was life-changing. Calvin Crest is where his faith became his own, where he formed his closest friendships, where he met and married my wife, and where he set out on the road that led to ordained ministry. It is an honor to serve now as Program Director, and he is excited to see what God has in store in the years to come!
Christina Melahn
Outdoor School Director
Christina has been here for thirteen years in various capacities. She first came to Calvin Crest seeking a place where her theology and ministry philosophy closely matched. In her time at camp, her faith has grown through interactions with guests and experiencing God’s providence through times of adversity. She felt called to camp ministry when she was in high school and is grateful for the opportunity to live out that calling through Outdoor School and summer programs. She is a Wilderness First Responder and loves introducing students and campers to the great outdoors! She spends her free time hiking, traveling, and playing board games with friend
Liz Gadbaugh
Food Services Director
Liz grew up in the Midwest and fell in love with camping at an early age. Before coming to Calvin Crest, she served at camps in Wisconsin, California (including Mount Hermon’s Kidder Creek, where she met her husband, Joe!), Oregon, and New Hampshire. She has filled various positions, including wilderness lead, camp director, food service director, and communications. She has a heart for Jesus and leading the next generation closer to him. She is glad to be at Calvin Crest with Joe and their three huskies!
Michelle Hagen
Business Manager
Michelle grew up in the mountain area but did not come up to Calvin Crest until she met her husband, Eric. Prior to working at Calvin Crest, she was a classroom teacher and then homeschooled both of her daughters while also working as a bookkeeper for the past 20 years. Calvin Crest has become a special place to Michelle as she has seen her daughters’ faith grow through years of this camping ministry. Michelle is excited to be part of the Calvin Crest community and to be a part of how God uses camp in the lives of those who come to these grounds. She enjoys camping, hiking, wakeboarding, playing games, and spending time with her family.
Haley Woods
Guest Services Manager
Haley first moved to Oakhurst in the fall of 2013 after graduating from Azusa Pacific University. She immediately developed a deep love and connection with the Yosemite area, guiding backpacking trips throughout the Sierra Nevada and serving as the Operations Director for SYMG, a local guiding company, for six years. She began working at Calvin Crest in March of 2022 and feels incredibly blessed to be a part of this community, helping serve guest groups and supporting the programming offered throughout the year. In her free time, she enjoys adventuring in the Sierra with her husband Matt and daughters, Nora and Lucy, and spending quality time with friends and family!
Taylor Staman
Guest Group & Outdoor Rec Manager
Taylor first worked on maintenance during summer of 2020, and she quickly fell in love with the beauty of the Sierras. After graduating with her Masters in Business, she served on the events team in Summer 2021, and stayed to work on Outdoor Ed. In 2022, she moved into Outdoor Recreation and Retail Management until 2024, when she began managing Guest Groups. Taylor is an avid backpacker, mountain climber, rock climber, cyclist, wakeboarder, and kayaker. She is a wilderness first responder and loves leading backpacking trips into the high country. She is happiest when hanging with people she loves, eating local fresh food, and drinking LaCroix or Kombucha.
Gabby Lazarcheff
Office Administrator
Gabby is an Oakhurst local who first encountered Calvin Crest as a junior high camper. She is thrilled to be returning years later as the Office Administrator and member of the Calvin Crest team. Gabby graduated from CSU Monterey Bay in 2024 with a B.S. in Communication Design, and prior to starting at camp, she worked as a graphic designer in Fresno, CA. In her free time, she enjoys movies, reading, drawing and other creative pursuits. She is very excited to be back in the Oakhurst area and for the opportunity to grow closer to her local community.”
Eden Brock
Outdoor School Assistant Director
Eden was born and raised in Hanford, California. She has worked at several different schools as a math teacher, an instructional aide, and a business office assistant. She is excited to be spending time up at Calvin Crest serving students and learning about nature from her wonderful outdoor school colleagues. She loves exploring, finding animals outside in the forest, and spending time with her cat comfortably indoors.
Katie Palmer
Outdoor School Specialist
Katie’s first interaction with Calvin Crest was when she joined other homeschoolers to pick apples and blackberries as a child. After she was a volunteer cabin leader for Week in the Forest, she wanted to serve on Summer Staff. She has now been on staff for more than 16 years, and she believes she is called to love others the way Christ has shown His love to her. She loves Sherwood Forest where there is plenty of laughter, the Craft Condo and all of its supplies, and how she can retreat to a quiet place and enjoy nature. She loves to read, craft, draw, crochet, learn about bugs, and cook! Every fall, Katie can be spotted at Renaissance Fairs all over the western coast!
Carson Sloas
Outdoor School Specialist
Carson was raised in the mountain community where he grew up at Calvin Crest. Most of his family have served on staff here, and he feels most at home in the mountains. After some time away, he re-joined staff in 2025 to serve on the Outdoor School team. Carson loves kids and being outdoors, so it is a great fit. In his spare time, he loves to ride his motorcycle and spend time with family and friends.
Breanna Maciel
Outdoor School Specialist
Bio coming soon!
Matt Mellon
Facilities Manager
Matt was raised in Oakhurst and loves living in the mountain community. After working on his MDiv at Fresno Pacific University, he worked at Sierra Vista Presbyterian Church and Camp Oakhurst. Matt joined the team here in January of 2021 and leads the maintenance team. He also jumps in on leading events, co-leading Outdoor Adventure backpacking trips, and speaking from time to time. He has been married to Mary for twenty years and they have three amazing boys, Noah, Micah, and Levi. In his spare time, Matt loves to hike, fish, camp, wakeboard, and hang out with family and friends.
David Imhoff
Special Projects
After being a seasonal firefighter and flight instructor, David moved to Oakhurst in 2001. He worked in the field of fine art photography and as a project manager/designer of an industrial crane company before joining the Calvin Crest family in June of 2022. To be a part of this community is a great honor and privilege. The warm smiles, laughter, and love for Christ, Calvin Crest gives him the opportunity to grow and spread the gospel. When not at camp, you can find him with his wife, Pamela, at the coast, surfing with his five kids, or shaping his next surfboard.
Patrick Smith
Maintenance/Special Projects
Bio Coming Soon!
Tanner Benz
Maintenance
Tanner is from a small Central Valley town, Atwater. He enjoys everything outdoors, such as going on hikes, runs, or rock-climbing. He heard about Calvin Crest through being an Outdoor Ed cabin leader for schools in his area. He really enjoyed the atmosphere at camp and decided he wanted to apply for a summer position. Summer was a blast, so he opted to stay on year-round staff with his friends and make more lasting memories. Before moving to Maintenance, Tanner served on Events, Food Service, and Outdoor Ed.
Nick Laih
Maintenance
Nick has called Coarsegold home for the past ten years, and it’s been an amazing ride. He has developed a passion for playing guitar and working at camps around California. Now he’s based at Calvin Crest where he works with the maintenance team. He is all about embracing the outdoors and finding ways to lend a hand – there’s nothing quite like it!
OPEN POSITION
Accommodations Manager
Could this be you?
Jamie Lockwood
Accommodations Associate
Bio Coming Soon!
OPEN POSITION
Accommodations
Could this be you?
Rebekah Cunningham
Head Chef
Bio Coming Soon!
Kadyn Sutherlin
Food Service Associate
Kadyn was born and raised in Modesto, CA, and found her camp community at Calvin Crest as a teen when she came with her youth group. Inspired by a women’s retreat, she became part of the food service team in the summer of 2024. She loves baking sweet treats and delivering them to other staff members. In her downtime, she alternates between social outings and relaxing, creative, evenings at home.
Joe Gadbaugh
Guest Host & Food Service Associate
Joe works in the kitchen, bringing the spice of life to each meal and person he interacts with. He loves the mountains, teaching God’s word, and watching people being transformed into men and women of God. He and his wife have three dogs that keep them very occupied.
Makaylee Cutts
Food Service Associate
Bio Coming Soon!
Kaid Kelley
Food Service Associate
Bio Coming Soon!
Zachary Russell
Food Service Associate
Bio Coming Soon!
Joshua "Sweetness" Nichols
Food Service Associate
Following in his mom’s footsteps, Joshua joined summer staff in 2023 on the maintenance team and then transitioned to food service. He loves to worship and to write his own music and can often be seen performing original songs at Calvin Crest talent shows. He loves the community and the beauty at Calvin Crest, and he is known by the staff as “Sweetness.” He is pursuing his college degree and can be found working at Calvin Crest on the weekends.
