Hi there! I’m Megan! The Collier one. 😉 My official position is Director of Guest Services, which pretty much encompasses being office manager, in charge of reservations, building our seasons out, taking care of some of the charters, keeping an eye on how reservations are going, managing the office employees (Kaelin, Sharon & Starla), as well as the orientation staff. I’m also always thinking about the best customer service for our guests, and trying to make sure they’re as prepared for their Grand Canyon adventure as possible. We provide them with so much information to make sure they’re ready; if you’re ever curious what that information is, I’m ALWAYS happy to share it with any of you. And if you ever have feedback for me, my door is always open for recommendations.  

I also serve as one of the Managers on Duty each season, so you’ll see me at some of your rigs and de-rigs. If you ever have any questions, or need any assistance with anything, just come on in and ask, as I’m not out in the warehouse a lot during your load-out or return. Obviously, I’ll take your emergency calls when you’re on the river from time to time as well. I’m available for any general support you need from us managers, too, if you ever need anything!  

In my personal life, I have two kiddos—my son is currently 6, and my daughter is 3. My husband and I like to get them out hiking when we can, and they do surprisingly great! We enjoy being outside when we can, and love going to the bike park here in Flag when it’s warm enough. We live out in Doney Park, have an acre of land, with a dog and 10 chickens. We got a travel trailer last spring, and have enjoyed very much camping in it as often as we can, and exploring our beautiful state of AZ! I look forward to seeing you all each season, and getting to know you better!  You can reach me at megan@azraft.com.  

Hi, my name is Trisha Myers and I am AzRA’s bookkeeper.  I have been working at AzRA for 29 years.  My job includes most financial duties such as payables, receivables, financial reporting along with many more exciting things. But most importantly, I write your paychecks!!! If you have any questions about your paycheck or would like to sign up for direct deposit, please let me know. Feel free to stop by my office if you have any questions or if you just want to say hello!!!

Hi, my name is Starla. I started working with AzRA way back in December 1999. In 2011, I moved away and then returned to Flagstaff and to AzRA in 2017. I’ve had multiple roles here in the office – San Juan River coordinator back when we ran the San Juan to Red River Sports coordinator and now Grand Canyon program coordinator. Along with answering phones and taking reservations, I’m in charge of gathering all the guest information and creating the trip rosters, collecting the assistant paperwork and overseeing the beverage orders for our lower canyon guests.  I look forward to meeting those of you I haven’t met yet! 

Hi there! I have worked full time from my home office since Covid, so you are unlikely to see me in the office. My 2 dogs and 3 cats love that I work at home. However, the drawback of working from home is I miss meeting other river runner folks and learning about you all. So, feel free to share your story with me, more on that farther down! 

Below is a bit of my personal story and what I do at AzRA these days. I have worked for AzRA as office staff personnel in various capacities/roles since 2011. However, I started guiding at AzRA, back when we rowed snouts, in 1982! I rowed, paddled and did kayak safety boater back in the day. More recently I have swamped some. I went to part-time guiding (2-3 trips a year) in 2000 after becoming a full-time radiographer (CT/MRI) at Flagstaff Medical Center. I am now officially retired from that career. My last trip as a guide was in 2018, but who knows, if I become less fat and sassy, I may be back one day? 

One of my current roles at AzRA is managing all our social media accounts. My goal with our SM is to make posts fun, engaging and informative for our guests and guides alike. I encourage you to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts. Tell your friends and families about the fun and valuable information there and the chance to win small prizes, too! Parents in particular love learning about the amazing things their kids are doing on the job at the bottom of the Grand Canyon!  

Better yet, AzRA would love to post a photo(s) and/or a bio about you on our Social Media platforms! Our guests thoroughly enjoy learning more about you and what you love regarding the canyon and guiding. I would like it very much if you were to send me a photo of yourself (a head shot, a photo of yourself in the canyon, or rafting somewhere), and information about you to share on our social media.  

 Wait, there’s more! We have a private Facebook group page  AzRA Guides and Staff . We encourage you to join your current and past AzRA guides/employees already there and post information about yourself and the canyon there any time! Articles or books you have read on the canyon/river related stuff, cool sightings or photos from your last trip would all be great posts there. The information AzRA and other guides post there   

Lastly, if you post things about the canyon on your own social media, we would like you to tag us (just make sure posts are following park regs).  

My other main duties are pre- and post-trip interface with most of our charter trip organizers. As you know from being on the river, some charter organizers are completely on top of it, and some need extra handholding. But one thing in common is they all rave about their guides after their trips. I make general reservations bookings as well, where my favorite thing is selling our trips by drawing a picture of life on the river and telling them about our marvelous guides. 

During the rafting season I work a percentage of our pre trip orientations and meeting the bus upon returns in Flagstaff. It is nice to be able to share a little about their guides with our guests at those orientations. So go on and find some time to tell AzRA about yourself!  Sharon@azraft.com 

My name is Kaelin Zielinski and I am an Arizona and Grand Canyon native. Both parents were NPS rangers, and my brother and I grew up running along the rim. I now live in Flagstaff full time with
three dogs, two cats, and one husband. I love living up here in the mountains and really enjoy being outside, fiber arts, and bright colors.
I have been with AzRA since the fall of 2019 and have the role of running the retail store, Red River Sports. The main purpose of the retail store is to set our participants up for success, we sell equipment at economic rates that they will need on the trip. We also carry some fun souvenirs and apparel. As a paid AzRA employee, you will receive one free logo’d item per-year and get a 45% employee discount. If you are bringing an assistant, your assistant gets the employee discount before
the trip and while they are physically here, not after.
I look forward to meeting you and hearing your adventures! If you have any ideas or suggestions, please send them my way!
Cheers, Kaelin