Meet the Team
Rob Mohrweis Executive Director
Cascades encompasses two of my biggest passions in life: ministry and nature. I grew up in Seattle surrounded by a loving family and a faithful church community, with the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains right outside my window. My faith and outlook on ministry today have been shaped by these experiences and many wonderful, memory-filled summers spent at Covenant Beach, Circle “C” Ranch, and Cascades. Some of my favorite moments at Cascades include watching eager campers roll through the gates during check-in, and listening in during the end-of-the-week campfire as they share the wonderful things that God has done in their lives. I am blessed to make new memories now watching my own family grow up at camp, while I enjoy hiking, golfing, movies, and all things technology in my spare time.
Mark Carlson Associate Director
The outdoors has called to me throughout my life. God has most poignantly met me through the awe of creation, and it is in the wilderness where God has consistently called me and shaped my faith. Camping is a big part of this for me – from my earliest years of camping with my family to attending and then working at a number of Covenant camps. After seminary, I settled in the Pacific Northwest where I found quick access to mountains and the ocean. For 15 years, I served as a Covenant pastor at a church in this region, which provided me the privilege of participating in retreats and camps as well as connecting others with the beauty and refreshment of Cascades. Serving here is a convergence of my love for creation, for ministry, for community, and for discipleship. Cascades is also a great backdrop for my other interests in gardening and landscape, building projects, walking in the woods, and other outdoor activities with my wife and two kids.
Katie Keck Guest Services Manager
I grew up in Mt. Vernon, WA, and graduated from Seattle Pacific University. I first started working at Cascades in 2017 when a long-time friend convinced me to try it out, and have been volunteering and working summers on staff ever since. I love my job because I get the opportunity to spend time outdoors, live and work with a variety of people in a close-knit community, and learn unique new skills – where else can you learn to drive a tractor, operate a zip line, and also help groups of guests all at once? In my free time, I enjoy spending time outside, hiking, and coaching 2nd grade soccer.
Dan Clifford Special Construction Projects Manager
I found my way to Cascades after many years spent as a logger, a self-taught mechanic, building homes, and working in facilities maintenance with the Air Force. My favorite part about camp is that I get to do all of these things in one place! God has blessed my family and I here and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to build new things for campers and guest to enjoy. When I’m not working on projects for camp, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, leading worship at my church, and working on my own special projects.
Christopher Dean Food Services Manager
Cascades has had a huge impact on my life over the years. God has used this place to influence pretty much every major decision in my adult life, including drawing me to the Pacific Northwest from Texas to work on summer staff and as an intern, and meeting and proposing to my wife – and now He’s landed me here once again, in a position I never could have anticipated. This truly is a place where you can get away from the distractions of life and let God work on your story. Just be prepared for Him to shake things up! My favorite part about my role here is using food as a means to serve God. I love how food, especially the act of breaking bread together, can be a form of worship in itself. In my spare time I enjoy barbecuing, watching movies, hiking, reading, hanging out with friends, and bird watching.
Alex Farag Program Administrator | Registrar
I’ve found myself continually drawn to Cascades throughout my life. God has used this place to shape who I am, and I feel blessed to be a part of this team that gets to serve God and others through ministry in the woods. I love how the registrar aspect of my job lets me facilitate the process of people getting to this place that has meant so much to me and my story. I also love the programmatic side of what I do, which allows me to be creative, relational, and forward-thinking. My favorite part of my job is watching people experience Cascades for the very first time – seeing people fall in love with this place and witnessing how God speaks to them in the seclusion of the wilderness. Outside of camp I enjoy cooking, traveling, watching movies, and spending time with friends.
Kali Hespe Food Services Assistant | Retail Manager
Originally from Marysville, WA, I grew up coming to Cascades for Independence Day Family Camp, Sunrise Ranch, and the S.A.L.T. program. After six summers on staff, I finally made it official and made Cascades my permanent home! I love that my job brings so many surprises; a “day in the office” can look like baking cinnamon rolls for campers, cooking for 500 guests, or planning the future of our retail spaces, all while working in fellowship with people who love Jesus and serving others. I love waking up to a view of Mt. Rainier, pouring into summer staff, seeing the excited faces of campers, and watching guests build relationships over a hot meal and, presumably, many cups of coffee. It’s a dream come true! Outside of work, I enjoy reading, baking, crafting, and traveling.
Caytlyn McAdam Administrative Assistant
If you’ve ever been to Cascades, you know that this place has the effect of continually drawing you back through its gates; I have found this to be true throughout my life. My first time here was for a high school retreat followed by a few summers throughout college as a staff member. I went to North Park University and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in biology with no intention of working in ministry, but God has led me back here yet again. Although it was unexpected, working here has become one of the biggest blessings in my life. One of my favorite aspects of working at Cascades is that we have the amazing opportunity to create, facilitate, and host a space where people can encounter Jesus for the first time as well as in new ways through their experiences during their time here. It is amazing to live and work in a community with people who are Christ-centered and love to serve others. In my free time, you can find me playing or coaching soccer, sharing a meal with friends, watching movies, and traveling.
