Ceanna first came to Merrowvista is 1999 and fell in love! After completing her camper journey, she joined the summer camp staff and then the internship cohort for community and school programs. She loves that the AYF inspires all campers to strive to be their own best selves and creates a space for participants to explore the world around them. …
Matt Loper
Matt Loper is a dedicated leader in youth development, outdoor education, and nonprofit management with a deep-rooted connection to the American Youth Foundation spanning over 15 years. His journey with AYF has taken him from community and school program leadership to operations management and program innovation, serving in a variety of roles at both Merrowvista and Miniwanca. Now, as Transition …
Jamie Sweetser
Seven years ago, Jamie Sweetser’s family friend Kim Novotny convinced her to try something new. She joined the seasonal kitchen team at Merrowvista and, under Novotny’s guidance as Food Program Manager, Jamie dove headfirst into her first professional cooking job. Today, she’s part of the full-time team as Assistant Food Service Manager, working closely with Novotny to provide campers and Community …
Kim Novotny
Kim Novotny was first introduced to the American Youth Foundation when her husband became the Facilities Manager at Merrowvista in early 2000s . She worked in the kitchen on and off for more than a decade before taking on her current role as Food Service Manager in 2016. Kim works with local farms to source ingredients for delicious healthy meals. …
Patrick O’Hagin
Patrick found his way to Merrowvista through his better half, Jamie, who showed him how positive and integral AYF programming can be in the life of a young person. He grew up working in the family business of carpentry, when not in school, where he fostered a love of learning how things go together and come apart. After joining the …
Tim Rouse
Tim Rouse (he/him) joined the AYF team in May 2024. He was a helicopter mechanic in the U.S. Marine Corps and is a combat veteran who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars from 2001 through 2006. He then worked as an electrician for 10 years, running his own electrical business, before he decided to transition into Facilities Management at …
Julie Stengele
Julie discovered the AYF in 2010 and joined as Merrowvista’s Office Coordinator; six months later she became the Assistant to the President and works with leadership and Board of Directors. Having grown up and worked overseas for much of her professional life at an international school, working and engaging in a community focused on children at an organization with a …
Jamie O’Hagin
Jamie came to Merrowvista in 1996 as a camper and was instantly hooked on the transformative power of the AYF community. During the next 25 years, she went from camper to staff and tried her hand at a wide variety of seasonal positions. She loved learning about all that makes AYF programs possible and was inspired by the enkindled spirits …
Aubrie Boyd
Aubrie is originally from Fort Worth, Texas, but spent most of her life in Columbus, Ohio. She graduated Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in human development and family sciences. She grew up spending every summer as a camper, which turned into four summers on seasonal camp staff, serving in various program roles. She took a break from camp …