Alex Goodfellow

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Alex Goodfellow brings more than a decade of nonprofit leadership experience to the role. She previously served as Executive Director of Share Our Spare, a fast-growing Chicago nonprofit providing essentials to children for a strong start to life.

She has also held leadership roles at The Little Bit Foundation in St. Louis, where she directed programming and strategic partnerships and at One Million Degrees, supporting scholars in post-secondary programs.

Alex’s career spans youth advocacy and domestic violence services, always rooted in her mission-driven commitment to creating equitable opportunities for young people.

Alex loves to be outdoors at any opportunity and is grateful to be a position affording that experience to youth in Chicago.

Alex holds a Master’s in Social Work from Washington University’s George Warren Brown School and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Saint Louis University.

Jesy Cordle

director of programs - PhD(c), LRT, CTRS, CCAT

Jesy Cordle has worked extensively in the fields of adventure-based programming, adventure therapy, and recreational therapy for the last fifteen years. She has a bachelor's degree in Outdoor Leadership and Education, a master's degree in PRTM concentrating in Recreational Therapy, and is currently a doctoral candidate at Clemson University. In addition to her work, research, and teaching in the field, Jesy is on the Leadership Council for the Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group as the Professional Development Coordinator and sits on the Association for Experiential Education's Certification Council.

Ryan McHale

Program Leader

Growing up in the Chain O’Lakes, Ryan was exposed early on to the growth that the outdoors can provide. Inspired by his work as an English teacher and Eco-Tourism strategist with the Peace Corps in rural Romania, Ryan has a strong desire to expand opportunities and perspectives in overlooked communities. He’s excited to return to Chicago Voyagers (Program Leader 2014-15), and can often be found biking and watching birds in Humboldt Park on his off days. 

Nic Bellegarde

PROGRAM LEADER

Nic Bellegarde, MS, has worked in community mental health for the past eight years. He has worked with a variety of populations across the lifespan in psychiatric, college counseling, substance abuse recovery, private practice, juvenile detention, and community mental health clinics. A fluent Spanish speaker, Nic is passionate about the transformative effects of mindfulness and experiential education. He is a current doctoral candidate in counselor education and supervision at the University of Arkansas.

Robin Berryman

Business office manager

Robin Berryman has worked with various small businesses and organizations streamlining and systematizing administrative and operational tasks for over a decade. She studied African American Studies at Northwestern University and has also spent time as a flight attendant, gardener, and dancer. She loves bringing tools and perspectives from seemingly disparate areas together to serve Chicago Voyagers' greater mission.

Jim Tibensky

Volunteer Program Leader

Jim has been leading kayak and canoe trips as a volunteer with youth organizations since 1998. Some of his earliest memories are of tent camping with his family and he still loves to be outdoors as much as possible. His philosophy of leading trips is simply to ‘share the joy.’.

Emmanuel Cole

Equipment

Emmanuel works with our equipment, helping keep things clean and in order for our youth programming. He previously taught math and science in Africa and is in school for HVAC at Harper College. Emmanuel has a passion for helping those in need and has worked with people with disabilities. He finds meaning in supporting Chicago Voyagers youth through his behind-the-scenes work.