Board and Staff Bios
Meet the board
As a nonprofit, we rely on a team of community members to steward Cascadia Quest. We’ve been blessed with an array of talented members presently and throughout the years.
Read about the current ones below!
Secretary - Carrie Lipps
Carrie is a middle sister, a loving listener, and a vivid dreamer. She fancies herself a friend to all beings and takes delight in receiving messages from the more-than-human world, being barefoot, and baking delicious treats for everyone. Carrie weaves her deep love, respect, and curiosity for the natural world with her work as a community connector, youth mentor, animal activist, and visual artist. Currently, she works to support our food system as Community Supported Agriculture Coordinator for Full Farm. After her wilderness rite of passage in 2018, Carrie knew she needed to stay connected to the work. She joined the CQ community and has served on the Advisory Council, assisted fasts, attended Welcome Home ceremonies, and done graphic design. She has participated in the Four Seasons of Leadership, Council Facilitation Training, Grief Ceremony, and numerous community councils. Carrie holds a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Michigan, a studio certificate in Graphic Design + Illustration from Pacific Northwest College of Art, and a Professional Dog Training Certificate from Whole Dog Academy. She wonders what the world will teach her next.
Treasurer - John Botti
John is an electric bass player, word wizard, and generous friend to many. He loves reptiles, amphibians, and birds, and enjoys observing them in their natural habitats. He works as the Senior Produce Review Coordinator at the nonprofit, the Organic Materials Review Institute. He first fasted with founder Rob Miller as his guide in 2013 prior to Cascadia Quest being established. In 2016, when Rob made a call for assistance in building the organization, John worked as an administrator for the organization. He feels excited and honored to have joined the board in 2021. John enjoys disc golf, gardening, and spending time with his wife Kristie and their dog Dala.
MEET THE STAFF
Founded in 2016, our nonprofit has maintained a small cohort of dedicated office staff. Been wondering who has been sending you all the emails? Wonder no more!
Executive Director - Rob Miller
Rob is a devoted father who incorporates Nature and Spirit into his daily life. A believer in “being the change you wish to see in the world”, he founded Cascadia Quest in 2015— several years after his first vision quest experience. Since then, he has directed the organization, created various programs, and been a lead guide in the field. Besides his roles in Cascadia Quest, Rob is a wildcrafter of local medicinal herbs, and had an earlier life as a professional saxophone and flute player, and composer in New York and Miami. He enjoys using wilderness and survival skills at home, greeting strangers on the trail, making acorn meals for his friends, and exploring new landscapes.
Marketing and administrative Coordinator - ashley Wright
Ashley has a passion for organization, sustainability, community, and operational excellence that she is excited to bring to Cascadia Quest. She has served in many care industries including teaching, elder care, boarding school parent, and doula care for new families. Having lived in St Louis for twenty years, she returned home to Oregon in 2022 with her husband, dog, and two beloved children, ages 5 and 8. A lover of rain and moss and evergreens, being back in the northwest brings her wonder and life every day.
Program Coordinator - Savanna Sardi
Savanna joined the Cascadia Quest team in March of 2024 as our Staff and Program Coordinator. In 2022 she completed her first vision fast with Cascadia Quest, then returned a year later to assist on the Adult Vision Fast. Now, she gets to help weave together the teams of staff and assistants that make our programs possible. Savanna considers herself a student of rites of passage work, on the path of re-membering what it means to be a human in right relation with the earth and her kin. When Savanna isn’t in the office or out in the field, she can be found offering restorative bodywork, bouldering, dancing, or dreaming up her next big adventure.