2024-2025 SARNAK Officers
Jeff Berry, Coordinator: Jeff (center left) moved to the Adirondacks from Rochester in 2020. He got his start in Search and rescue after joining a SAR team in Rochester in 2018, served on the Board as Secretary and is a DEC certified Crew Boss. Before Search and Rescue, Jeff was a L1/L2 Sea Kayak instructor, Wilderness First Responder, and NYS Licensed Guide. Jeff was elected to SARNAK’s Coordinator position in 2022. When not doing SAR related work, you can find Jeff hiking with his Australian Shepherd, Auggie, kayaking, canoeing, fly fishing and photographing in this amazing landscape we call home.
Elena Lumby, Training Officer: Elena (right) has been coming to the Adirondacks annually since she was eight years old. She joined SARNAK in 2022 when she moved to Paul Smiths from the Washington DC area, and served on the Board as Secretary from 2022-2023 and then Training Coordinator from 2023 to present. Elena is a NYS Licensed Guide and certified Wilderness First Responder. She brings her ten years of experience teaching Masters in Public Health students to her role as Training Officer, where she designs activities that brings together technical skills, challenging field settings, and team building while keeping it fun. She enjoys that SAR integrates her public health expertise, desire to help others, love of the outdoors, and the opportunity to work with great folks. Outside of SARNAK Elena is fiddling, canoeing lesser known routes, and attempting to relax with her pure bred mystery dog Lyra.
John Gagnon, Treasurer (left):
Julie Loving, Secretary: (center right) Julie is an Emergency Medicine PA with a special interest in Wilderness Medicine. She is currently serving as the Chief PA for Adirondack Health’s Emergency Department. Her wilderness medicine journey started in 2014 when she took a job in Yellowstone National Park. She spent three seasons there working as a PA in the medical clinics. Since then, she has gone on to complete a Fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM). She holds a certificate in Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS) and has completed an Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership course as well as an Avalanche (AIARE) Level 1 course. She is currently working towards a Diploma in Mountain Medicine (DiMM) through the Wilderness Medical Society. In her free time, she loves to take advantage of our beautiful Adirondack mountains and hike, ski, and kayak. Julie also loves to travel and spend time with her family. Julie joined SARNAK in October Of 2022 and is excited to be a part of such an amazing and talented team!
2023-2024: Jeff Berry, Elena Lumby John Gagnon, Lexi Richter, Julie Loving
2022-2023 Board: Jeff Berry, Jim Burdick, Elena Lumby, John Gagnon
2021-2022 Board: Jim Burdick, John Gagnon
The officers of SARNAK put in countless hours managing the team and ensuring that it is ready to be called no matter what time or what weather. All officers are voted for annually at the March business meeting.
The Coordinator is the team leader, and is responsible for overall performance of the team. The Training Officer puts together monthly training exercises to ensure that team members are proficient in the necessary skills to be effective searchers. Secretary keeps meeting minutes, as well as managing team paperwork. Treasurer collects annual dues and oversees the team’s finances.