Meet Our Team

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A great experience across all water activities

 

Our scuba instructors are SSI certified and hold the highest level of recreational dive training. With tens of thousands of hours of diving experience and more than 50,000 logged dives at locations all around the world, they have the experience and knowledge to educate you to be a safe and confident diver.

Our retail staff and service team members are certified scuba divers with extensive knowledge about scuba and diving equipment.

Our swim teachers are certified Swim Schools International teachers. They use the latest swim curriculum and teaching techniques. More importantly, they LOVE kids! With a 4:1 student-to-teacher ratio, your child will get to know his or her teacher and become comfortable learning new skills in water.

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Meet the management team

 

Dean Hollis

Founder
Advanced Open Water Diver Instructor

Dean has been diving since he was 16 and still loves it as much as when he started. Dean is a level 10 diver and teaches several specialties, including spearfishing and scuba rangers. He leads a few trips each year, usually in the Caribbean, because they are close and easy to get to and he prefers the more authentic islands. Dean founded Diventures to help as many people as possible enjoy spending time in and around the water.

Phone: 402.933.6251
Email: [email protected]

DeAnn Olsen

Chief Financial and Administrative Officer
Open Water Diver

DeAnn has over 35 years of experience in accounting and finance. She enjoys helping others and any activities that involve being outside. DeAnn completed her scuba certification in 2023 and had the opportunity to dive in St. Lucia.

Phone: 531.999.3843
Email: [email protected]

Jessica Jarosh

Chief Marketing Officer
Divemaster

Jessica started diving with her family when she was 13 and loves being in the water. She is a former swimmer, lifeguard, and swim coach. She brings extensive marketing experience to the team, including brand development and strategy, communications planning, campaign management, team building, and business leadership to Diventures. Jessica champions our marketing efforts to reach new swimmers and divers across the country.

Phone: 531.600.8841
Email: [email protected]

Will Munroe

General Manager
Independent Assistant Instructor

With a deep passion for both the outdoors and customer service, Will brings nearly two decades of business leadership experience to the Diventures team. Will has grown up in and on the water and is energized by sharing his love of the outdoors with others. Believing firmly in the transformational power of the outside world to positively impact lives, Will leads our team in delivering and expanding our unparalleled customer experience and commitment to safety and fun in the water.

Phone: 531.999.8425
Email: [email protected]

Kim Infield

Senior Director of Store Support
Independent Master Instructor 

Kim has been a scuba diver for 19 years and a dive professional for 13. She brings extensive experience in recreational, technical, and adaptive instruction as well as expertise in dive center logistics. She strives to create safe, comfortable, and confident divers through guiding the world-class scuba instruction and service offered at Diventures. In her opinion, there’s no feeling above the surface that quite matches a perfect dive.

Phone: 515.599.6610
Email: [email protected]

Pat Dunn

Director of Scuba Programs
Independent Instructor Certifier

Pat Dunn’s scuba experience dates well before he opened Thunder Island Divers in 1979, a Multi-store chain he successfully ran until 1992. Having tried scuba at the age of 10 in a pond in a city park he was hooked. After certifying in 1977, he moved to Hawaii to become a Scuba Instructor. Through his years of diving and instruction, Pat has been a PADI Instructor, Course Director. Since joining SSI in 1997, he has achieved the levels of SSI Platinum Pro 5000 Instructor, Instructor Certifier, and most recently, SSI International Training Director.

Email: [email protected]

Sara Holley

Director of Swim & Aquatics Programs
Open Water Diver

Swimming has been Sara’s passion since her first lesson at age 4. She was a competitive swimmer for over 10 years, traveling all over the United States and Canada for competitions. She comes from a family of avid water skiers and enjoys spending time at the lake.

Phone: 608.630.9800
Email: [email protected]

megan oswald

Megan Oswald

Director of Travel Programs
Independent Open Water Instructor

Megan fell in love with the underwater world the first time she went diving and she loves helping people discover its beauty. As a level 5 diver, she appreciates her career focused on her passion for diving and the water. And she is always excited to talk about diving and traveling.

Phone: 531.600.3946
Email: [email protected]

David Hollis

Director of Training
Independent Assistant Instructor

David’s passion for scuba started before he was ten years old when doing Try Scubas with his dad. His passion for the ocean and all outdoor activities has only grown since. A progressing Dive Professional, David’s favorite place to dive (so far) is Grand Turk but he continues to explore all dive destinations.

Phone: 415.746.9448
Email: [email protected]

Emily Burgess

Director of Merchandising

 

Emily leads with a hands-on, roll-up-the-sleeves work ethic, and has a passion for adventure, learning and growing. Emily’s priority focus is to build Diventures product assortment and make a positive programmatic impact at each store. When Emily is not merchandising, she loves ascending mountains and descending underwater to different parts of our beautiful planet.

Phone: 402.979.2963
Email: [email protected]

Nolan Hardison

Nolan Hardison

Director of Customer Experience 
Independent Instructor Trainer 

Nolan has been diving since 1985 and an instructor since 1989. He has taught all levels of diving, wide range of specialties and been certified as an Instructor Trainer and Certifier. Nolan was recognized for his dedication to the highest standards of teaching by being awarded the NASDS Instructor of the Year in 1998.

Phone: 417.849.9455
Email: [email protected]

Erin White

Integration Director
Independent Open Water Instructor

Erin was a competitive swimmer growing up and has always had a love for the water. Her background in retail and her experience as a level 5 diver makes her a valuable resource for our customers. Erin’s favorite thing to do is to help others become passionate about the underwater world.

Phone: 417.883.5151
Email: [email protected]

Dustin Doroh

Director of IT
Independent Assistant Instructor & Divemaster

With a passion for scuba diving and technology, Dustin brings years of technological experience to the Diventures team. He believes that technology holds the key to enhancing the way in which we conduct business. It is his passion to utilize technology to create positive change. When Dustin is not behind the keyboard you can find him diving the Great Lakes and discovering the history that each shipwreck has left behind. He enjoys sharing this underwater world with others and helping new divers experience wreck diving for the first time. Dustin is always excited to talk about the latest in dive technology.

Phone: 531.600.8083
Email: [email protected]

John Campisi

John Campisi

Marketing Manager
Open Water Diver

With an extensive track record spanning over two decades in the fields of digital marketing, website design, and analytics, John excels in meticulous attention to detail, pinpointing opportunities for business sales and revenue. His lifelong love for water activities, demonstrated through his participation in competitive swimming, springboard diving, and water polo, reflects his genuine commitment to achieving excellence in both his professional and personal pursuits.

Phone: 531.999.3844
Email: [email protected]

Autumn Wood

Content Producer and Social Media Specialist
Swim Teacher & Open Water Diver

Whether it’s working on land or in the water, Autumn is always having fun! She started at Diventures as a swim teacher and shortly after joined our Marketing Team! As a former Omaha Zoo Academy student, Autumn values education about ocean conservation, especially for children. She is a former collegiate athlete with a passion for coaching and leadership, which she applies to all her swim lessons!

In 2023, she earned her Open Water Diver Certification and is excited to expand her photography skills to the underwater world. Autumn is enthusiastic about using the power of social media to have a positive impact. From celebrating scuba and swim accomplishments to providing education about ocean conservation, Autumn has a passion for it all!

Email: [email protected]

Nicholas Wees

Travel Coordinator
Divemaster

Nick loves talking with customers about their travel and diving experiences. As our previous Scuba Experience Manager in Omaha, he has extensive knowledge of all things diving and travel. Customers will appreciate the attention to detail and caring attitude Nick brings to the table.

Email: [email protected]

Matt Creighton

Travel Analyst
Master Diver

Matt is a level 4 diver and started diving in 2013.  After years of Midwest dives, he was able to experience Caribbean diving in 2020. Matt is currently an SSI master diver and working towards furthering his certifications. Being a safe and educated diver makes the sport more enjoyable for everyone. The camaraderie he found in the scuba community is phenomenal, and he is looking forward to bringing people together to beautiful destinations around the world.

 

Phone: 402.933.6251
Email: [email protected]

Ryan Oestreich

Area Director
Independent Assistant Instructor Trainer

Ryan’s love for diving and boating has kept him around water all his life. Here in the Midwest, Diventures makes it possible to experience everything the water has to offer. Ryan has been an integral part of our team for nearly a decade. As Area Director of our stores in Missouri and Iowa, Ryan enjoys building passionate teams, inspiring new dive professionals, and constantly making lifelong friends through our team and, most of all, our customers!

Phone: 417.883.5151
Email: [email protected]

Joey Lankford

Store Director: Springfield, MO
Independent Open Water Instructor & Swim Teacher

Joey is an outdoorsman, ocean addict and adrenaline junkie, but most importantly, he is an ambassador for those who like to have a good time! He is a Level 5 diver and an Open Water Instructor. His passion for the water began as a small child, and his career at Diventures allows him to share that passion with others every day.

 

Phone: 417.883.5151
Email: [email protected]

 

Beth VanPelt

Store Director: Lexington, KY
Independent Open Water Instructor

Beth knew she wanted to be a scuba diver when she was just four years old after seeing the diver down flags at her local lake growing up. As she got older, she didn’t know if it would ever be a possibility, but her life absolutely changed in 2017 when she met the owners of New Horizons Diving.  she took her first breath underwater at the pool she managed and she was absolutely hooked. Since then, she’s completed almost 300 dives, become an Open Water Instructor, and has made life-long bonds with her dive buddies. her favorite type of diving is anything involving sharks, wrecks, or caverns!

Phone: 859.277.1234
Email: [email protected]

Patrick Sharp

Store Director: Omaha, NE
Divemaster & Lifeguard Instructor

Patrick started his Diventures journey as a customer and after getting a taste for diving, Patrick and his wife quickly got certified in Cozumel and discovered a NEW PASSION for scuba and ocean conservation. Patrick loves to share what he has learned with others and is excited about the opportunity to help new and existing customers.

“As a customer of Diventures, I saw that the people here are honest, genuine, and really love what they do. I had to be a part of that. I jumped at the opportunity to be involved with a company whose mission is to improve the world and enrich people’s lives through knowledge and skillset.”

Phone: 402.933.6251
Email: [email protected]

Chelsea Foster

Store Director: Alpharetta, GA
Divemaster Instructor

Although Chelsea has been diving since 2007, she has been involved in the scuba industry her entire life with her parents owning and operating SeaVentures for 31 years. After receiving her Business degree while playing collegiate volleyball, she found herself back at the family business pursuing her dive professional certifications and eventually worked her way through most of the swim, scuba, and marketing roles then into management.

Since becoming a dive pro and running the Alpharetta location, she has traveled the world sharing her passion and excitement for the underwater world and visited amazing places like Bonaire where she even attended kids camp growing up each summer to Galapagos with the most advanced and incredible diving yet. She loves to teach and grow open water students into great divers and loves the opportunity to travel to new places making memories and sharing experiences with you!

Phone: 770.992.3772
Email: [email protected]

Dan Stalder

Store Director: Lincoln, NE

Born and raised in Nebraska with no thoughts, dreams or bucket lists including scuba diving or the underwater world, Dan became a certified Open Water Scuba Diver in August 2006. His only regret is that he did not start much earlier in life!!  Dan instantly had a new passion in life, and now consideres himself blessed to have the privilege of introducing others to the incredible world of scuba diving. He has been a Scuba Store manager since February of 2012 and is currently an SSI Instructor Trainer with the Platinum Pro 1000 recognition.

Phone: 402.420.6338
Email: [email protected]

Willie Wellington

Store Director: Sterling & Vienna, VA

Willie began his journey as a scuba student at Iowa State University in 2000. He is currently a PADI MSDT working on a crossover to SSI Advanced Open Water Instructor. Prior to joining Diventures, he managed a PADI Five Star IDC store in St Petersburg, FL, and owned a dive center in Ames, IA. Willie has experienced diving in Iowa, Florida, Australia, Hawaii, and many islands in the Caribbean. One of his favorite classes was teaching scuba as part of the Spaceflight Operations course at Iowa State University for six years. Willie takes great pride in customer service and satisfaction. He chose to work at Diventures because it aligns with his core values, which include being friendly and providing high customer service and satisfaction.

Phone: 703.263.0427
Email: [email protected]

Bob O'Hare Battle Creek, MI

Bob O'Hare

Store Director: Battle Creek, MI

Bob is a retired US Navy Deep Sea Diver, Instructor and Dive Medical Technician. He served globally in Special Warfare, Diver Training, Salvage, Ship Maintenance, and Experimental diving commands. Bob is a strong advocate for environmental responsibility and preservation. After 25 years in corporate operations and much soul-searching, Bob decided to pursue his passion for diving and working with divers by joining Diventures. He feels blessed to have the honor of working in a dynamic team where our vision is to use our passion and the power of water to impact lives, change the world, and have fun doing it!

Phone: 269.968.8551
Email: [email protected]

Connor Hendricks

Connor Hendricks

Scuba Experience Manager: Columbia, MO

Connor started his career in the water where he earned his degree in Marine Biology. His passion for teaching scuba emerged while volunteering at his Aunt and Uncle’s dive shop. Diving since 2012, Connor has dove throughout the Midwest and Caribbean and is an Open Watter Diver Instructor. He enjoys helping new divers discover their own passion for the water.

Phone: 573.442.3483
Email: [email protected]

Katy Brevik

Katy Brevik

Store Director: North Liberty, IA

Katy grew up in Okoboji, IA where she developed a deep love for water activities. From boating and fishing to diving, paddleboarding, and swimming, her passion for water began at a young age. She began scuba diving when she was 15 years old. As a proud University of Iowa alumni, Katy is excited to continue her journey in the North Liberty/Iowa City area where she can share her passion for water with a community she knows and loves.

Email: [email protected]

Andrew Smith, Store Director, Colorado Springs

Andrew Smith

Store Director: Colorado Springs, CO

Andrew’s journey into the underwater world began at 16, when he earned his scuba certification at our location in Springfield, Missouri. He’s a former competitive swimmer and lifeguard, and he worked as a swim teacher and deck manager for Diventures in Springfield from 2013-2018.

Andrew’s experience spans far and wide, from guiding divers off the coast of Florida to managing learn-to-swim programs and running a PADI Five Star IDC in Kauai, Hawaii. Now, as a Master Instructor and Store Director, Andrew brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our team.

Phone: 719.599.3483
Email: [email protected]

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