Executive Director
James Rowe, Ph.D.

Hometown: Utah
Education: Ph.D. in Applied Eco-Psychology and Integrated Ecology
Email: jimrowe@crrobs.org

In 1992, after having traveled to over 25 countries searching for the ideal place to establish a nature-centered adventure program, Jim Rowe settled in Costa Rica. With one monolithic raft and some scuba diving equipment, Jim began what would become an International Adventure School employing over 30 staffers and delivering courses to over 400 students annually.

He holds a B.A. in Business Management with a Minor in Spanish from Brigham Young University in Hawaii, and a Ph.D. in Applied Eco-Psychology and Integrated Ecology. A leader in experiential cross-curricular learning, Jim has facilitated seminars and lectures in areas of sustainable development, ecotourism and adventure programming worldwide. He has guest lectured at the University of Utah, University of Calgary and University of Alberta, Edmonton, Calvin College and a plethora of High Schools and Jr. High Schools. In addition to lecturing Jim serves on the International Board of Advisors for Radio for Peace International and the Institute for Global Education.

Communications Director
Larry Shaw

Hometown: Murray Hill, New Jersey
Education: B.A. in Journalism- Indiana University, Bloomington
Email: Larry@crrobs.org

Larry left the United States in his early 20s with the aim of seeing as much of the planet as possible.

To date, he has lived in 13 countries, worked in over 25 and traveled through more than 50. He has served various organizations as a journalist, salesperson, project manager, sales/marketing director and as a director of international business development.

While he has traveled through parts of Central America, Costa Rica is the first country in the region Larry has lived in.

Student Enrollment Coordinator
Maggie Foote

Education: B.S. Communication Studies, English minor from Northwestern University
Hometown: Rowlett, TX (childhood) and Seattle, WA (adulthood)
Email: enrollment@crrobs.org

Maggie lived in three states and attended seven schools during her youth, but had never left the US until opting to study abroad in Australia during college. Since then, she has visited five of the seven continents and thinks of travel as an integral part of her lifelong learning process.

Prior to moving to Costa Rica to work with Outward Bound, Maggie spent five years working for a communications agency in Seattle on public relations, corporate social responsibility and community outreach programs. She also served in AmeriCorps with City Year helping middle school students overcome barriers to success in school. Maggie came to Costa Rica Outward Bound because she’s passionate about the environment, helping make a difference in the community and continuing to grow both personally and professionally. Outside of work, Maggie loves all water sports – especially swimming – reading, cooking, travel, hiking and crossword puzzles.

Marketing Coordinator
Debbie Mayer

Education: B.A. in Sociology from the George Washington University
Hometown: Framingham, MA
Email: marketing@crrobs.org

Before joining Costa Rica Outward Bound as the Marketing Coordinator, Debbie spent four months travelling and volunteering in Ecuador & Peru. The career move was perfect, as she wanted to stay in Latin America, and she’s loved the philosophy of Outward Bound, ever since participating in an Outward Bound course in Maryland when she was 16.

During college, Debbie spent a year volunteering with AmeriCorps NCCC. She worked throughout the country, and her projects included tarping roofs for disaster victims in California and being a wildland forest fighter in Arizona. After graduating from school, she spent the summer working at the Martha’s Vineyard airport and enjoying her flight benefits. Her next move was to New York City where she worked for the nonprofit Common Ground, organizing programs and events for low-income and formerly homeless tenants in supportive housing.

Custom Course Manager
Shawn Pendergrass

Education: B.A. in Public Relations and Spanish from Gardner-Webb University
Hometown: Morganton, North Carolina
Email: custom@crrobs.org

Shawn is a runner, cyclists and aspiring surfer. His other hobbies include reading, saving the world and climbing palm trees. After graduating from Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina in 2005 with a B.A. in Public Relations and Spanish he accepted a teaching position in Costa Rica, having already fallen in love with the majestic beauty of the country while here studying and fulfilling an internship the year prior. He later moved to Micronesia to serve as a US Peace Corps Volunteer, working with youth and community development initiatives. Upon completion of his Peace Corps service, he spent some time in LA working for an advertising agency, but Costa Rica called his name again in the voice of Costa Rica Outward Bound, taking him back to the country he’s come to call home, and giving him the opportunity to share that home with others like you.

Social Media Guru/ Marketing Coordinator
Kelly Patterson

Education: B.A. of Public Health from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Hometown: Washington, DC
Email: kellyp@crrobs.org

Kelly’s chief goal in life is to change the world while having a good time, and this sometimes makes planning her day difficult. Originally from the Washington, DC metro area, Kelly has spent over a decade living and working in developing countries in Africa, Asia, Central America, the Caribbean, and under-resourced regions of North America. Playing a diverse range of roles in multi-media communications to organizational development and management as well as teaching and training.

Kelly’s interests and hobbies reflect her passion for internal and external exploration: yoga; Tai Chi; volleyball; anything to do with boats and large bodies of water; skiing; dancing; the arts; languages and cultures; literature; films; quality conversations; painting; Scrabble; and good coffee. And for the record, she is definitely a “dog” person.

Accountant
Esther Garcia

Education: Universidad San Marcos
Hometown: Tres Ríos, Costa Rica
Email: esther@crrobs.org

Esther, our fashionable accountant, always has a new outfit and a new animal to take care of, whether Sylvester the cat or a hummingbird with a hurt leg. Esther loves to be around nature and when not working she is volunteering with different social groups. She has traveled throughout Europe and she speaks some Portuguese after working in Brazil with a rural community. Esther has a big job taking care of all the finances of the organization, you´ll often see her taking inventory and tracking down staff for their receipts.

Cook/Cleaning
Doña Carmen

Hometown: San Jose, Costa Rica

Doña Carmen has been working at the CRROBS base for over five years, and she can always be seen trailed by her three children, Steven, Jason and Saline who often accompany her while she works. You know she is around when you hear romantic music blaring, part of her ideal work environment. She makes a mean gallo pinto and eggs for breakfast, and so kindly surprises logistics and marketing office with this treat. She always has a friendly smile and a smart remark, and she is a major staple to keeping things running smoothly here at base.