MEET THE TEAM

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.

Kathi Denton

BOARD CHAIR
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.

Becky Leach

BOARD VICE CHAIR
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.

Tiffany Fulks

BOARD SECRETARY
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 TREASURER
JACOB@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG
Jacob grew up in Buhl, Idaho where he came to love the sagebrush deserts and box canyons. A graduate of Notre Dame and Gonzaga (Masters of Accountancy). In June 2021 he married his college sweetheart in Stanley, ID. A stage IV Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivor, he will be five years cancer free in March 2022. He loves spending time with his wife, Shannon, and his black lab mutt, Stoney, as well as traveling, watching the Irish and Zags, and enjoying a new video game.

​Amy Tonsmeire

BOARD ADVISOR
AMY@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG

Amy joined the board in 2014 after her incredible mother Frannie Tonsmeire 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.

Brett Brown

BOARD DIRECTOR
BRETT@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG
Born and raised in Wisconsin, Brett is a member of the Menominee Indian Tribe.
In her twenties, Brett moved to Alaska. She was a state champ in martial arts, and taught kids both Tae-Kwon-Do and Ju-Jitsu. Brett maximized her outdoor experiences by mountain biking, triathlons, ocean and lake kayaking, camping, snow boarding, cross country skiing and hiking.
Brett has a degree in Human Services with an emphasis in Disabilities. In 2012 Brett welcomed her twins. In 2014, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. In 2019, Brett and her twins moved to Boise, Idaho for their next adventure.
Brett has always been connected to nature and aware of the many healing properties nature brings to the body and soul.

Emily Edmiston

BOARD DIRECTOR
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.

Carly Knudsen

BOARD DIRECTOR
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.

Ashley Orme Nichols

BOARD DIRECTOR
ASHLEY@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG

Ashley grew up in Idaho and has always loved the water and making new friends.  River Discovery connects those two ideas into an amazing healing experience for fellow cancer survivors and families. Ashley keeps busy teaching in the Conflict Management program at BSU and going on adventures with her friends and family. 

Savvy Blake

BOARD DIRECTOR
SAVVY@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG
Savvy started with River Discovery as a white-water guide for day trip adventures. She grew up in Boise and started rafting at the age of 7. Her passion is to educate and share the rafting world with everyone, which is how she found this organization. Her most precious memories are sharing those experiences with the incredible people from River Discovery. She wishes to continue working in the nonprofit world, working on fundraising and marketing skills to further her career.

Cody Sohn

BOARD DIRECTOR
CODY@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG
Cody joined the River Discovery community in August 2021, taking part in the 6-day raft trip down the Salmon River. River Discovery challenged and connected her to others who had experienced cancer and she is excited to help others have similar experiences.  Cody holds a master’s degree in sport and performance psychology, and is pursuing a combined degree in clinical mental health counseling and sport and performance psychology. She loves running, hiking and moments in the inflatable kayaks.

Carmen French

BOARD DIRECTOR
CARMEN@RIVERDISCOVERY.ORG
Carmen was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the breast (stage 3) in October of 2017, just as she began her third year of graduate school at ISU. A Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, she loves working with those dealing with trauma, grief, and life adjustments. Carmen’s ‘happy place’ is anywhere near or on the water and fell in love with the Salmon River through her experiences with RD. She says she will always remember the river guide’s encouragement, “Let’s go forward ladies…aaand take a break” as mantras to recall when life feels unpredictable and chaotic.  Carmen’s cancer journey took an unexpected turn after her treatment was completed with a diagnosis of ‘microscopic metastatic disease’, thus changing from ‘stage III’ to ‘stage IV’. However, she is thriving! Carmen is blessed with a ‘No Evidence of Disease’ status and plans to do so for a VERY long time so she can watch her grandloves grow.
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