FULL TIME STAFF
PHIL BERRY
Phil Berry serves as the full-time Executive Director of Ridgecrest Summer Camps. He is married to the beautiful Amy Berry and they have two daughters, Piper and Lily, and their dogs, Bear and Indy. Phil served as the Camp Ridgecrest Director from 2008 to 2021, but he began camping at Ridgecrest in 1989 as an Apache in cabin 3, returning as a camper in every tribe and eventually serving on staff in many different leadership capacities. Phil is a graduate of Furman University with degrees in Sociology and Education, and a member of both the American Camp Association and Christian Camping and Conference Association.
SAM PINEDA
Sam Pineda serves as the full-time Director for Camp Ridgecrest for Boys. He is married to Christine, or "Teeny". Sam worked at Camp during college summer breaks, beginning in 2008, serving in a variety of roles. He began serving full-time in 2013. Teeny also worked at Camp from 2009-13. Sam and Teeny both hail from the great city of Chattanooga, TN and love the small-town life of Black Mountain. His daughters, Harper and Weezy, are 8 and 5, respectively. A member of the American Camp Association, Sam is a graduate of Liberty University and is an avid fan of the Braves and the UT Vols!
MATT STAPP
Matt Stapp serves as the full-time Assistant Director of Camp Ridgecrest. Matt is from Georgia where he met his wonderful wife, Anna, while they were both working for Young Life. Together they have 3 kids (Jude, Boone, Margot, and Hank) who are 6, 4, 2, and under a year respectively. Matt worked at Ridgecrest for six summers throughout and after college and served in a wide variety of roles during his time here. Matt graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Film but was soon called to ministry quickly after college as he worked on Young Life staff for five years.
RON SPRINGS
Ron Springs is the Director Emeritus for Ridgecrest Summer Camps. Ron has served for over 48 years with the camps, 37 of those as Executive Director. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a Certified Camp Director with the American Camp Association and a member of Christian Camping and Conference Association. He has also been active on several regional and national committees and boards within the camping industry.
KARAH BROWN
Karah is the full-time Office Manager for Ridgecrest Summer Camps and is from Memphis, TN. Karah followed in her dad and brothers' footsteps, and started working at camp in summer 2013 as the Photographer. She joined our full-time team as the Office Manager after that summer. Karah married her husband, Andrew, on the Middle Green at Camp in the fall of 2017 and they love living here in the mountains with their two small children, Annie and Jack!
LEVI LISTER
Levi is the Camp Ridgecrest Property Manager at Ridgecrest Summer Camps and has been on our team since 2023. Known for never being afraid of a challenge, Levi works hard to keep our property safe and working smoothly. He has an eye for “making it better” and loves creating a special place for campers to enjoy God’s creation each summer. He coaches football and wrestling at a local middle school and is an active member of his church.
PAIGE EVANS
Paige is over Parent Communications at Ridgecrest Summer Camps and manages the camp clothing store. She is married to Daniel Evans and has three kids, Hannah, Eli, and David. Paige previously worked for Ridgecrest Foundation in Development before moving over to the camps in August 2023. She and her husband are originally from Raleigh, North Carolina but moved to Black Mountain in 2022 after church planting in London for three years.
