Meet the 2020 LeConte Lodge Team!
The Crew
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Robin Hobbs
Site Management A Sevier County native, and the granddaughter of former GSMNP rangers, Robin’s mountain roots run deep. A lover of the outdoors, Robin is an Appalachian Trail 2,000 miler, Leave No Trace trainer, and former AT Ridge Runner. When she’s not working on the mountain you might find her striving to hike all the trails in the Smokies, and spoiling her Basset hound, Lucy. This is her first year with the LeConte Lodge team! |
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Sydney Lenz
Assistant Site Management Sydney comes all the way from Kansas to join the LeConte Lodge crew. This is her first season working with the lodge and her first time in the state of Tennessee. In her free time both on and off the mountain, she enjoys shooting photography, writing letters, and getting into anything creative she can get her hands on. |
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Emily Buie
Head Cook Emily returns to the lodge as Head Cook for her third season. She does a great job keeping our guests and staff well fed during a solid day's work and after a good day on the trail. When she isn't working her magic in the lodge kitchen, she enjoys seeking out those peaceful places around the mountain to relax and appreciate nature. |
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Kemp Stonehouse
Assistant Cook & Crew Kemp is ecstatic to return to the lodge for his third season, putting his culinary prowess and skills to great use! He is no stranger to these mountains, as he spends most of his free time logging miles in the backcountry. His passions include long distance hiking, trail-running, and photography. He has extensive experience here in the Smokies, and will jump at any opportunity to chat about hiking trails! If you see a blur on Alum Cave, it could be Kemp trying to best his record 25+ minute time running downhill. |
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Henry Neel
Crew This is Henry’s 22nd different year joining the crew at LeConte Lodge. He has served the lodge in a variety of in-season and off-season roles through the years, and is a retired SFC of the Tennessee National Guard. He is happy to call Jefferson City, TN home. These days Henry enjoys spending time with his six grandchildren, aging from 1-21 years old, any and every opportunity he gets. |
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Mo Steele
Crew Although this is Mo’s third season working atop Mount LeConte, she is no stranger to the Great Smoky Mountains having grown up in East Tennessee. She enjoys traveling, backpacking, and hanging out in Knoxville on her days off. Make sure to stop and say "hi" if you see her working around the lodge! |
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Don Florence
Crew Returning to LeConte Lodge and the Great Smoky Mountains for a third season, Don plans to continue his focus on mountain happenings, history, and hospitality. He is no stranger to working in the wilderness, having served at numerous backcountry locations around the country. He hopes to join you in high spirits, be it atop Mt LeConte or elsewhere in the Smokies! |
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Erin Keenan
Crew This is Erin’s second year as a LeConte Lodge crew member. She comes all the way from southern Indiana and frequently visited the Great Smoky Mountains on family vacations as a kid. After her second visit as a lodge guest, and a year and a half working in the film industry, she decided to apply for a crew position (and she’s very glad she did!). In her free time she enjoys soaking up the sun at Myrtle Point, hiking near by trails with her crewmates, and finding out what kind of bird sang to her that morning! |
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Jordan Helmer
Crew Jordan hails from Troy, OH and rejoins the LeConte Lodge crew for his second consecutive season. On his days off, you might find him basking in the sun at Myrtle Point, or making day runs down and up the trail to Gatlinburg. Be sure and talk sports with Jordan if you catch him on a day you visit the lodge, as he enjoys cheering on his home teams. |
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Casey Bright
Crew An East Tennessee native and returning crew member from the 2017 season, Casey is excited to be back on the mountain. He is a hard working and fast moving person, so if you don't see him zipping around the lodge completing various tasks, odds are you might pass him running up and down the trail on visits to town. |
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Scott Hengehold
Crew Scott is back with the lodge for a third season, helping out on a part time basis. He is a skilled handy-man by trade, helping out at both the lodge and llama farm whenever he can. He enjoys spending time on the mountain with the crew, and of course, getting to see his fiancée who happens to be our Head Cook. |
Our Team Members
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John and Bonnie Northrup
General Management and Assistant Llama Wrangling The Northrup's are going on 11 years with the lodge, having served in a variety of positions on and off the mountain. |
Before assuming the role of GM in 2017, John previously served the lodge as crew, llama farm hand, and Site Management. He also managed the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Gatlinburg during that period. He is a 2-time member of the Smokies 900 Miler Club, completed the South Beyond 6000 (SB6K) challenge, and holds various Mt. LeConte speed and endurance records.
Bonnie has extensive experience working for the lodge as well, from crew to llama farm hand, to Assistant Llama Wrangler in recent years. She was one of the first females to ever complete the Tour de LeConte Challenge (TLC). They value the opportunity to lead the lodge into the future while holding to the experiences that make this destination so special to our guests.
Bonnie has extensive experience working for the lodge as well, from crew to llama farm hand, to Assistant Llama Wrangler in recent years. She was one of the first females to ever complete the Tour de LeConte Challenge (TLC). They value the opportunity to lead the lodge into the future while holding to the experiences that make this destination so special to our guests.
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Christi Ponder
LeConte Lodge Reservations Christi's illustrious career with LeConte Lodge is going on 36 years! Stayed with us before? Odds are you've interacted with Christi more than any other lodge representative. We appreciate her knowledge and experience in getting visitors prepared for coming to the lodge! |
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Mark Corum
LeConte Lodge Assistant Reservations Mark wears many hats for Stokely Hospitality Enterprises, several of which include assisting with LeConte Lodge reservations and keeping tabs over our online store. He is going on his 11th year with the company. He is passionate about serving our guests, and enjoys the occasional trek up to the lodge each year. He's also big into cheering on his beloved Tennessee Vols! |
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Alan and Chrissy Householder
Llama Farm Management and Wrangling Alan has been with LeConte Lodge since 2002, and Chrissy since 2011. That's a combined 29 years of experience wrangling Llamas, with brief stints as crew as well! |
When they aren't working hard for our llamas, they enjoy traveling across the southeast and around the globe. There are few people in the world who have logged as many hiking miles in a lifetime as Alan. Chrissy also dedicates a great deal of her time as a medical professional providing outstanding care as a nurse.
We are grateful for the hard work and dedication of the Householders, and especially our four-legged Llama friends transporting supplies multiple times every week during the season. That handsome guy in the middle is recently retired Clifford Cliff Tops, a wrangler favorite!
We are grateful for the hard work and dedication of the Householders, and especially our four-legged Llama friends transporting supplies multiple times every week during the season. That handsome guy in the middle is recently retired Clifford Cliff Tops, a wrangler favorite!
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Tiffany Alexander
Llama Farm Hand Tiffany, a native to the mountains of East TN, joined the lodge operation in 2019. Serving as Farm Hand is a behind-the-scenes role that is uniquely important to keeping the lodge going. She continues to provide great care and attention to our beloved supply packers, and keeping the place our lovable llamas call home clean, safe, and running like a well-oiled machine. That cuddly creature pictured left is Hershey, one of our sweet veteran packers. |
