Betsy Carver
Executive Director
BETSY@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG
Betsy joined the River Discovery team in March 2017. She grew up in Wyoming, went to school at the University of Idaho and spent time in Missouri, Alaska, Oregon and California before settling down in Boise for good in 2014. Betsy loves building relationships with the River Discovery community, supporters and participants.
Ben Murry
PRESIDENT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BEN@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG
A native of New York, Ben has a Master’s degree in nursing from the University of North Carolina and has worked in and managed a variety of intensive care units for more than 30 years. He also served as the Director of Nursing at Saint Alphonsus for seven years. In his spare time, Ben particularly enjoys biking, hiking, camping and kayaking.
Mary Bower
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MARY@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG
Mary a founding board member and continues to serve. She lived in Salmon where she became friends with River Discovery founders, Joe and Fran. As a guide on the Salmon River for many years she knows and enjoys the magic of the river and the healing that survivors find on outdoor adventures.
Kathi Denton
SECRETARY, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
KATHI@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG
Kathi has been involved with River Discovery since 2014, participating and volunteering. She loves the laughter, healing, peacefulness, and friendship each adventure brings to the participants.
Liz Ryder
BOARD DIRECTOR
LIZ@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG
Originally from the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, Liz has come to love the high desert and mountain landscapes of Idaho. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) she serves as St. Luke’s Cancer Institute Chaplain. She greatly enjoys a wide range of outdoor activities but especially loves backpacking. Exploring the wilderness restores her soul, and she is looking forward to experiencing the spirit of the river.
Dan Hernandez
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DAN@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG
Dan was drawn to backcountry adventures from an early age. After finishing his PhD, the dream of having wild places at his family’s doorstep made relocating to Boise an easy decision . With 15 years of guiding experience and working as a medical physicist at St. Luke’s Cancer Institute, his personal and career passions are a natural fit.
Kim Mehlhaff
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
KIM@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG
Kim Mehlhaff is an Idaho native that graduated from the University of Idaho in Fish & Wildlife. Currently she is an RN and has worked in home health and regulation compliance. She is always excited to explore a new part of Idaho including hiking, kayaking, SUP, biking, camping, hot springs and meeting others who enjoy the outdoors. River Discovery is the perfect match with her joy of being outside and is looking forward to helping participants connect with nature on an outdoor adventure.
Alan Shaw
BOARD DIRECTOR
ALAN@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG
Alan joined the board in 2021. He grew up hiking, paddling, and backpacking in the tropical rainforests of Panama. He has rafted and backpacked all over the Western US, and regularly spends time out and about on the rivers and backcountry trails of Idaho, where he has lived since 2006. Professionally, he has many years’ experience as both a licensed counselor and as a licensed acupuncturist. He has been an acupuncturist on the Integrative Medicine team of St. Luke’s Cancer Institute since 2010. In addition to his outdoor pursuits, he is passionate about cooking and playing music.
Emily Edmiston
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EMILY@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG
Emily grew up in Colorado where she cut her river teeth on the Arkansas, Poudre, Eagle, and Colorado Rivers. SInce moving to Idaho in 2005, Emily and her husband have enjoyed exploring the great outdoors in the Gem State with their two sons. Emily is a sunshine junkie and cancer warrior. If she is not skiing, rafting or sitting in a hot springs on the river, Emily is probably teaching her 2nd graders or doing a crossword puzzle.
Tiffany Fulks
BOARD ADVISOR
TIFFANY@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG
Tiffany grew up in the water and on the snow here in Idaho and believes in nature’s healing and restorative powers. Water is a magical place to be and she hopes to help other forever fighters to also find their place in the bountiful beauty of the outdoors. Tiffany is busy keeping up with her two littles and is always grateful to find time for skiing, camping, hiking, paddle boarding, and baking!
Jacob Morse
BOARD DIRECTOR
JACOB@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG
Carly Knudsen
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CARLY@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG
Carly grew up in Salmon, Idaho playing in the rivers and mountains, and continues to spend all the time she can in those special places. A 2019 graduated with a BA in Psychology from the University of Montana. She currently guides for the Tonsmeire family company, Wilderness River Outfitters, and plans to pursue further education in wilderness and recreational therapy.
Becky Leach
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BECKY@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG
It took Becky until recently to learn that I truly love the water. My first real rafting experience was in 2019, and it is now her favorite thing to do! She has introduced her family to whitewater, and they think she’s a little nuts. They paddleboard together, float the Boise River, and just bought a kayak. She loves to perform; singing in the choir and on stage in Broadway musicals! Becky lives in Nampa with her family, on a hobby farm where they raise dairy goats, llamas, and chickens.
Amy Tonsmiere
BOARD ADVISOR
AMY@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG
Amy joined the board in 2014 after her incredible mother Frannie Tonsmiere passed away. The mission and impact of River Discovery really means the world to her as she sees the enormous impact these programs have on those dueling with cancer through her volunteer work as a river guide on summer adventures.