meet the owners and staff

Colin and Barbara Eagles After two decades in the restaurant and dog training businesses, Colin and Barbara Eagles dreamed up a venture focused on their greatest shared passion - the water. Colin is a licensed captain, and both he and Barb lived aboard a sailboat for many years. It was out of this dream to work on the water that Salt Marsh Kayak Company was born, and it is the passion for the water that drives all who work for the company. Stop by and meet Colin and Barb and find out why Colin's inexhaustible energy combined with Barb's gentle nature and warm personality make Salt Marsh Kayak Company a very special place.

Lydia McCormick Salt Marsh Kayak's general manager is an experienced local kayak guide and ACA-certified open water kayak instructor. She has over 15 years experience in the kayaking industry and is an accomplished competitive surf-kayaker. Lydia is a two-time National and World Champion. Come share Lydia's passionate enthusiasm as she and her staff help you find the right kayak and accessories or plan the perfect kayak trip.

 

The 2008 Crew

Robert Smith, Al LaChance, Trevor Rhodes, Tony Franklin, Brooke Hazelwood, Patrick Jones, Alli Dutton, Mike Snyder, Josh Bolick, Lisa Ogawa, Gordon Rock & Katherine Dodd.

 

Robert Robert Smith is an experienced birder, naturalist and ACA-certified kayak instructor who has been paddling in the Wilmington area for over 12 years. A former restaurant manager, Robert is now applying his many skills towards eco-tours, remote location programs, and advanced kayak lessons. Join Robert for a kayak trip & let him share his enthusiasm for this sport and the great outdoors.

Alva Al LaChance is USCG licensed captain who spends the winters delivering yachts up and down the eastern seaboard and islands all across the Caribbean! A live-a-board sailor himself, Captain Al LaChance's island hopping personality is sure to infect you with the sailing bug.

 

Trevor (aka Hollywood) Trevor Rhodes is a UNCW Parks & Recreation graduate with a talent for instructing in all sorts of extreme environments ranging from the mountains to the sea. Trevor gives sailing lessons and leads kayak tours for Salt Marsh Kayak Company when away from his full-time job managing Wilmington's downtown skatepark.

 

Tony Tony Franklin has been with Salt Marsh Kayak Company for 6 seasons. In that time Tony has become an experienced sailor and lives aboard his boat.  He is also one of our most requested kayak guides. Tony is an English major at Cape Fear Community College and enjoys training his dogs Walter Digby and Huckleberry in his free time. Come sailing or kayaking with Tony and experience the beach from a unique perspective.

 

Brooke Brooke Hazelwood is a recent graduate of UNCW's Master of Art in Teaching History program, an environmental educator, and an ACA-certified kayak instructor who has been enjoying the Carolina coast and surrounding outdoors since childhood.  Spend the day on the water with Brooke and take a relaxing paddle while learning about the natural and historic richness of the area.

 

Patrick When Patrick Jones isn't studying for his masters degree in Psychology, he can be found surfing (if the waves are good), climbing (either at the gym or in downtown Wilmington), skating at the downtown skatepark, or kayaking for Salt Marsh Kayak Company. Patrick's infectious enthusiam for the outdoors makes spending time with him on the water a true pleasure. He's also a pretty good boat schleper.

 

Alli Alli Dutton moved to Wilmington from Philadelphia, PA in 2007 to obtain a masters degree in marine policy at UNCW. Alli is an able bodied seaman who has sailed from Mexico to Tahiti, and she spent 9 months doing near-coastal charters within Long Island Sound prior to coming to Salt Marsh Kayak Company to work as a guide and sailing instructor. Come spend some time on the water with Alli and let her share a wealth of knowledge and experience.

 

Mike Mike Snyder has been working in the marine environment for over 40 years, including 8 years in the Coast Guard and 25 years as a licensed Chief Engineer in the Merchant Marine. Mike recently retired from NC Ferry Division and will be working with Salt Marsh Kayak Company as a part-time kayak guide and surfside instructor. Kayaking has been a passion of Mike's since 1976, and he has paddled extensively in the SE NC area since 1978. He is also a former national champion wave-ski surfer, and (obviously from the above) Mike is quickly becoming our expert in the issues of geriatric kayaking.

 

JoshJosh Bolick is an avid surfer and water lover pursuing degrees in History and Philosphy/Religion at UNCW.  He spent five years in the Navy aboard the submarine USS La Jolla (SSN 701) and has not left the coast since.  His travels and experiences in the Navy engendered a love of adventure and curiosity, and his wit and humor are a welcome addition to the staff.  Even Colin reports learning a thing or two from Josh. 

Lisa Lisa Ogawa moved to NC from Michican to pursue her masters in Marine Biology.  She's had a hard time getting used to the summer heat but loves the south.  She grew up racing sailboats and can teach you how to sail or take you on an eco-tour.

Gordon Gordon Rock is an A.C.A. certified instructor and our surf kayaking instructor.  Gordon is on the US East Coast Surf Kayaking team and not only competes nationally but qualified to compete at the international trials in Spain in 2007.  If you want more challenging kayaking, come take a lesson with Gordon.

 

Katherine You won't see Katherine Dodd down on the beach leading kayak tours, but you might catch a glimpse of her at our shop! Katherine is our bookkeeper, office manager and the person who keeps us all in line. We keep her trapped in the back office managing our finances most of the time, but you will occasionally find her out paddling with the family on warm summer weekends.

 

Interested in Joining the Salt Marsh Kayak Crew? We are always looking for enthusiastic individuals who have kayaking, sailing, environmental education experience, or simply a passion for the marine environment and working outdoors.

Resumes can be submitted at anytime. Hiring for the 2008 season will begin in March. Send an electronic copy of your resume to sales@saltmarshkayak.com