Staff

  • Jessica Adler

    Instructor
    Climbing School Instructor

    In 2015, Jessica Adler went bouldering at Stone Gardens in Seattle. Her first time climbing, she climbed till her hands were bleeding. She tells the story with sinister delight, as she recalls, she taped up her hands and returned to the gym the next day. Later that year, she would join a local women's climbing club and meet her climbing mentor, and eventually start alpine climbing.

    In 2017, Jess would start teaching basic mountaineering courses through Boealps (a local nonprofit climbing club based out of The Boeing Company's headquarters). And in 2018, she started instructing at Stone Gardens- Bellevue.

    She loves alpine climbing, although she claims to hate cardio and the cold. Her favorite climbs in Washington are: Davis-Holland to Lovin' Arms (Index), Lay of the Land (Exit 32), Moonstruck (Tieton) and The West Face (NEWS - WA Pass).

    She's also an avid traveler and has climbed in: Cuba, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, Spain, Morocco, Iceland, Russia, Vietnam, Israel, and across the U.S.

  • Trinity Collier

    Front Desk
    Front Desk Supervisor

    Trinity grew up in Issaquah, with both her parents who love the outdoors. Every year at the local fairs the only thing she wanted to do was the rock climbing walls. She finally went to an official climbing gym in high-school and was hooked. She has been climbing ever since.

    When not at the gym you can find her doing paddle board yoga at Rattlesnake Lake, playing with her dog, or going hiking.

  • Tyrell Dozier

    Instructor
    Instructor

    Tyrell has been climbing for eight years. He likes most forms of climbing but is particularly fond of the thrill of being on the sharp end of the rope. You might see him hanging out half way up the lead walls or cheering on the climbing team during hard workouts.

  • Ayrie Dutt

    Instructor
    Youth Instructor

    Ayrie loves climbing and drawing. Shes been climbing for 8 years, and has been competing on a team for 6 of them. She has a silly Australian labradoodle named Freddie. On the side, she also enjoys sketching some of her favorite artists and animals using graphite!

  • Jess Feeman

    Setter
    Assistant Head Route Setter

    USAC Route SetterJess discovered her passion for climbing through youth summer camps in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. This led her to compete on Planet Granite Climbing Team in the Bay Area throughout high school. After moving to Seattle to study neuroscience at University of Washington, she began exploring the Pacific Northwest. She joined Husky Winter Sports, a UW nonprofit, where she taught snowboard lessons every winter, stoking her interest in outdoor education. A love of teaching, climbing, and the outdoors ultimately led her to a job at Stone Gardens.

    Away from the gym, Jess can be found hitting the slopes in winter months, backpacking and climbing in summer months, and playing local shows with her band year round.

    Certifications:
    USAC Level 1 Route Setter
    USAC Level 1 Coach

  • Nick Fuentes

    Instructor
    Apprentice Rock Guide

    Wilderness Medicine InstituteAmerican Mountain Guide Association Born and raised in San Antonio, Nick worked as a professional chef for 15 years. After discovering rock climbing, he overhauled his life to pursue adventure--including spending years on a mystical journey across the desert southwest, exploring the climbing scenes in Nevada, Utah, southern California, and Arizona. His guiding work brought him to the Pacific Northwest, where he enjoys chasing the footsteps of Fred Beckey and exploring the beautiful destinations of Washington State.

    Nick’s love of climbing has changed his life in the most remarkable ways and given him a profound sense of self awareness. His passion for rock guiding and instructing compel him to share climbing with as many people as possible. When he’s not out guiding, you’ll find Nick teaching at Edgeworks Bellevue.

    Certifications / Qualifications:
    AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide
    AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
    Wilderness First Responder

  • Jacob Fugman

    Office Instructor
    Climbing School Manager

    Jacob was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. At the age of 3 his mom and grandpa decided to put him on a pair of skis to see what would happen and needless to say he's been in love with the mountains and adventure ever since.

    Usually while on an adventure, Jacob looks up and says, "let's climb that" or "lets ski that" not knowing exactly what mountain it is, but his thirst for adventure and desire to see remote parts of the United States is what leads to all his fun - type II fun that is! When not at work you will find Jacob skiing, climbing, mountaineering, kayaking or biking.

  • Gino Garcia

    Instructor Setter
    Route Setter, Instructor

    Gino walked through the doors of our Ballard location in 2012 and has been hooked on climbing ever since. 2 years later, Gino joined our route setting crew and has been developing his philosophy and technique towards his craft ever since.

    Gino also has a deep passion for teaching and gets a lot of fulfillment from developing lessons that aim to help everyone get the most out of climbing concepts and practice. He finds that his own understanding of climbing expands through teaching and route setting, which explains why he enjoys doing them so much!

  • Emma Lemert

    Front Desk
    Front Desk Supervisor

    Emma has been an avid seeker of the outdoors since she can remember. She started climbing 4 years ago on her collegiate climbing team, and instantly fell in love. She was president of the team for 2 years until graduating with a BS in Marketing.

    Outside of the gym, she can be found wrestling with mighty boulders in the PNW, and hopes to find her way to some of the fantastic climbing havens around the world. When she's not climbing, you can find Emma on a run, hike, kayak, or skis.

  • Jake Love

    Instructor
    Team Head Coach

    Jake is a passionate (read: obsessive) rock climber with nearly a decade of experience bouldering and sport climbing. Though he spends plenty of his time in the gym, Jake prefers the feel of real rock in his grip, and has spent much of his life climbing at the amazing outdoor locations across Washington State and the West Coast. A boulderer at heart, Jake's favorite place to climb is The Buttermilks, the land of highballs, in Bishop, California.

    Jake also runs the YouTube channel BadWater Bouldering with his twin brother. The channel releases free weekly bouldering videos for the climbing community to enjoy. To this day, his proudest video (and send) is Evilution direct on the Grandpa Peabody Boulder in the 'milks. Be sure to say hi if you see him out in the boulders!

  • Carl Marrs

    Guide Instructor
    Assistant Rock Guide

    Wilderness Medicine InstituteAmerican Mountain Guide Association

    Carl is a Washington native who began climbing when he was in high school. His passion for climbing has guided all of his most important decisions in life and he has worked as a climbing instructor in various forms for more than 10 years. He considers it a great privilege to share the joy and self-discovery climbing brings with those he has the opportunity to teach.

    He is a certified Single Pitch Instructor and Assistant Rock Guide, actively engaged in the process of becoming a Certified Rock Guide. As a well-rounded climber, Carl is equally comfortable on steep sport pitches, technical gear-protected cracks, massive alpine routes, water ice, and ski mountaineering missions. He loves experiencing different types of terrain and dialing in systems to excel in each discipline.

    Certifications / Qualifications:
    AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
    AMGA Assistant Rock Guide
    Wilderness First Responder

  • Evan McGarrah

    Guide Instructor Front Desk
    Climbing School Instructor, Shift Lead

    Wilderness Medicine InstituteAmerican Mountain Guide Association Evan grew up in Tacoma, hiking and backpacking the mountains of Washington with his family as a child. It wasn't until he was an adult that he was shown indoor rock climbing for the first time at Edgeworks! Since that point on, climbing has been a part of his life that has taken him to multiple climbing destinations across the United States and beyond. From the Shawangunks Mountains of New York to the Valley of Yosemite National Park. Of course, chasing alpine summits in the Cascades will always feel like home.

    Teaching new climbers and spreading the love of the outdoors is what fuels his spirits. He's stoked to be able to encourage climbers to learn new skills, be responsible outdoor stewards, and hopefully to cultivate a sense of appreciation for these mountains in which we all play.

    Certifications / Qualifications:
    AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
    Wilderness First Responder

  • Zach Neubauer

    Office
    Assistant Operations Manager

    Zach got into climbing in college where he ended up working at the climbing gym. Before moving to Seattle he was working in Germany at an outdoor recreation center. After moving to Seattle he found himself working retail and shortly after at Stone Gardens.

    While he primarily wrestles pebbles, he has been known to get on a rope. Outside of climbing Zach likes to drink coffee, cycle and cook

  • Zack Novak

    Guide
    IFMGA Guide

    Wilderness Medicine InstituteAmerican Mountain Guide AssociationInternational Federation of Mountain Guides AssociationZack grew up in the middle east and fell in love with the outdoors while exploring the harsh Judea Desert landscapes as a teenager. With well over a decade of Outdoor Education and Guiding, Zack is now proud to call North Bend, WA his home. Zack has a deep passion for education and helping people realize their full potential in the mountains and at the crags.
    When he's not out working in the mountains, he is usually out climbing, skiing or riding bikes for fun.

    Certifications / Qualifications:
    IFMGA / AMGA Licensed Mountain Guide
    AIARE Course Leader
    Wilderness First Responder

  • Kyle Rowe

    Setter
    Route Setter

    USAC Route SetterKyle has been route setting since 2010. He started as a volunteer setter in college where he received his B.S in Clinical Physiology, and transitioned into setting part time at a gym in Idaho where he worked for about 5 years until he moved back home to Washington and continued setting here in Bellevue.

    Bouldering is Kyle's personal passion/hobby. He's climbed internationally in France and Spain as well as all over the western United States. Kyle believes climbing on lots of different rock types and environments helps with his creativity as a route setter. His other hobbies include hiking, foraging, podcasts, traveling, cooking.

    Certifications / Qualifications:
    USAC Level 1 Route Setter

  • Joel Sheppard

    Setter
    Route Setter

    With over 14 years of experience and countless hours spent honing his craft, Joel is a seasoned professional in the world of route setting. As one of the most tenured members of our team, he draws his inspiration both from cutting edge comp climbs and from his favorite outdoor zones, such as Rocklands ZA, Squamish BC, Hueco Tanks TX, and Index, WA.

    When Joel is not busy putting up climbs in the gym, he can be found playing music, woodworking, metalworking, or developing new climbs on the perfect granite boulders west of the cascades.

    What really matters though are the climbs, and Joel’s routes slap! So next time you are climbing at Edgeworks Bellevue, treat yourself to some of the best climbs we have to offer.

  • Matthew Sherrard

    Forerunner
    Forerunner

    Matthew is very passionate about climbing and has a creative mind when considering the setting aspect of climbing. He started climbing in 2020 and considers himself to be a V10 climber. He loves climbing outdoors at Squamish, BC and Leavenworth, WA.

  • Charles "Charlie" Simental

    Setter
    Route Setter

    USAC Route SetterHey Everybody! You can call me Charlie if you like. Charlie came all the way from Houston Texas to come set routes because it's one of the best jobs in the world. He is mainly a boulder because with ropes he has no endurance whatsoever. You can ask him about anime, chess, or climbing (it's the best).

    Certifications / Qualifications:
    USAC Level 1 Route Setter

  • James Sommerfeld

    Setter
    Head Route Setter

    USAC Route SetterJames grew up in the Pacific Northwest. He discovered climbing at Edgeworks Bellevue over a decade ago (when it was Stone Gardens) and dove in head first. Since then, climbing has been at the center of his life. He can often be found packing pads around Index or Leavenworth in search of the next send.

    Certifications / Qualifications:
    USAC Level 1 Route Setter

  • Carley Stordahl

    Fitness
    Yoga Instructor

    Carley has been climbing off and on for over 10 years and practicing a variety of yoga for 15. She has a degree in clinical physiology and a minor in nutrition which brought her into the fitness field as a personal trainer, group fitness and yoga instructor. Climbing and yoga have been such a positive influence on her own health and well being, teaching yoga in a climbing gym feels natural and a great next step in her journey.

    With her passion for vinyasa yoga, Carley took her 200 RYT in Nosara, Costa Rica in January of 2020. Carley enjoys guiding students to find awareness and connection to the body no matter if you're an athlete or someone who needs a more therapeutic approach. Her classes often focus on alignment, muscle activation and transitions.

    She has a love for the outdoors equal to yoga. When she's not teaching yoga class you can find Carley rock climbing or out on a trail in the wild with her two dogs.

    Certifications / Qualifications:
    200 RYT

  • Brad Szlezak

    Office
    Operations Manager

    Brad does not climb to hunt grades but climbs for the friendships and exploring new areas. His top two favorite places he has climbed are Horse Pens 40 in Alabama and Jackson Falls, Illinois. Typically, you will find Brad on ropes but he does occasionally boulder as well. Outside of climbing, Brad likes to hunt, fish, surf, mountain bike, garden and most of all spend time with Family.

  • Zack Wentz

    Instructor
    Apprentice Alpine Guide

    Wilderness Medicine InstituteAmerican Mountain Guide Association

    Zack started his guiding career as a climbing instructor while completing his degree at the University of British Columbia. He studied Forest Sciences with a focus on Snow and Avalanche Forecasting where he researched the effects of vegetation on snowpack instability, which he presented at the 2018 International Snow Science Workshop. He has worked as a guide and avalanche instructor across the American West, Canada, Southeastern U.S., and Sierra, while his personal adventures have taken around the world, including the French and Austrian Alps, New Zealand, and all over North America.

    Zack is pursuing full IFMGA Mountain Guide certification and aims to balance guiding with research in avalanche forecasting. Zack enjoys connecting others to the beauty and lessons that the mountains have to offer, but seeks out big splitboarding lines on big peaks in the best conditions. He also works with the Northwest Avalanche Center to provide avalanche awareness classes, and is engaged in improving public safety messaging around avalanche risk management.

    Certifications / Qualifications:
    AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
    AMGA Assistant Rock Guide
    AMGA Apprentice Alpine Guide
    AMGA Assistant Splitboard Guide
    AIARE Avalanche Instructor
    CAA ITP Level 2
    Wilderness First Responder

  • Kelsey Wise

    Instructor Front Desk
    Front Desk Supervisor, Instructor

    Kelsey's first experience with climbing was on Bainbridge Island. Her friend bought her climbing shoes and a gym membership and ever since then, she's been hooked!

    Having a career as a teacher, Kelsey is passionate about education and getting students outside at an early age. No matter the season, you will always find Kelsey outside, whether that's skiing in the snow, running in the rain, climbing in the sun, or biking in the wind, fun will always be had!

  • Ghee Yang

    Setter
    Route Setter

    USAC Route SetterGhee found rock climbing after injuring her knee marathoning. Needless to say, she’s never looked back.

    Ghee worked and climbed at Stone Gardens for many years before starting route setting. Her favorite aspects of the job include the creativity, collaboration with others, positive vibes, and spontaneous dance breaks. She very much enjoys both sport climbing and bouldering, nearly always finding an excuse to couple climbing and traveling. Some of her favorite destinations have been in South Korea, India, Thailand, Utah and Oregon.

    Certifications / Qualifications:
    USAC Level 1 Route Setter