Meet the Leadership Team
Fayssoux & John "JG" Moss
Executive Directors
Bio
Camp Pinnacle has been part of Fayssoux’s story for as long as she can remember. A third-generation camper who grew up exploring Wolfe Lake and singing in the dining hall, she learned early on the power of camp to build confidence, friendship, and belonging. After years of working at a premier summer camp in Maine, she returned to Camp Pinnacle in 2014 to help carry forward the traditions that shaped her own childhood.
John’s camp journey began just down the road at Camp Highlander, where he served as a director and discovered his own passion for helping kids grow through outdoor adventure. The two met through the North Carolina camping community, married at Camp Pinnacle in 2016, and later joined forces to lead the Pinnacle director team.
Today, Fayssoux and John feel privileged to create a place where campers feel at home — a community where every child can shine, connect deeply, and grow through fun and adventure. Their belief is simple: all kids deserve the chance to discover their best selves.
They live just across the street from camp with their two sons, Hobbs and George, and their loyal dog, Holly. Whether it’s summer or the off-season, the Moss family can usually be found outdoors — hiking camp trails, camping in Pisgah, or biking the new Ecusta Trail.
Deeply rooted in the North Carolina camp community, Fayssoux serves as Vice President of the North Carolina Youth Camp Association, and John acts as a liaison between area camps and Pisgah and Dupont Forests — continuing their shared mission to protect and strengthen outdoor experiences for all children.
Walker Hendry
Director
Bio
Walker is responsible for assembling and managing our amazing team of counselors and activity instructors, focusing on our staff’s personal and professional growth, and assisting in day-to-day operations. Walker has a degree in Outdoor Education from Georgia College and has an extensive background in wilderness medicine and safety management, maintaining his Wilderness First Responder certification since 2010. Walker’s family includes his wonderful wife, Sara Jane, and his springer spaniel, Wyatt, who you will certainly see running around camp this summer. You’re sure to catch Walker on the disc golf course, casting his fly rod on Wolfe Lake, or running and biking the trails of western North Carolina.
Gretchen Roeder
Administrative Director
Bio
Joining the Camp Pinnacle family in 2018, Gretchen has had many roles including being a cabin counselor, target sports instructor and Program Coordinator. Gretchen grew up in an Army family with homes in Maryland, New York, Hawaii, Georgia and Germany. She attended the University of Kentucky where she completed her B.S. in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education. She has additional experience as an Outdoor Educator at programs in South Carolina and Texas. When not in the office you can find her baking treats for the office or practicing target sports. Gretchen is thrilled to continue her Camp Pinnacle journey as Administrative Director.
Kaylie Evans
Family Engagement Coordinator
Bio
Kaylie discovered her love for the camp community in 2013 at a neighboring camp, where she spent five years growing from seasonal staff to Assistant Director. Those years showed her what makes camp truly special: kids finding courage to try new things, building friendships that last, and discovering a place where it’s safe to take risks and grow.
After her time in camping, Kaylie applied her people-first approach in new territories—first at Biltmore Estate and later as a People Leader at REI in Asheville. There, she built teams and served guests with the same hands-on leadership style she developed at camp.
As Family Engagement Coordinator at Camp Pinnacle, Kaylie loves connecting with families, helping parents feel confident about their investment in camp, and watching campers discover passions, build friendships, and grow through outdoor adventure.
A Miami University of Ohio graduate with a degree in Strategic Communications, Kaylie brings both her professional expertise and personal passion to her work at Pinnacle. She splits her time between the mountains of North Carolina and family in Ohio, and can often be found hiking and biking the trails of Western North Carolina with Harris, her beloved golden retriever.
Rylie Young
Program Director
Bio
Growing up in Minnesota, Rylie attended summer camp for three summers and began her love for camp at an early age. She found Camp Pinnacle in 2020 and the rest is history! Over her first five summers, Rylie held a number of seasonal roles at camp; including Wolfe Pack Counselor, Head of Evening Programs, and Head of Older Girls — “Let’s go Otters!”. Before becoming a member of the Director Team, Rylie worked for two years in the Outdoor Education field full time, starting at The Outdoor School in Marble Falls, Texas and then moving to the Pali Institute, located in southern California. At Pali she worked as the Assistant Ropes Director and gained a wealth of knowledge surrounding programming and risk management. We are so glad to have her on our team and she can’t wait to see you all this summer.
Parker Allen
Director of Conservation & Adventure Programs
Bio
Hailing from Texas, Parker is joins Pinnacle’s year round team as head of all adventure programming and of conservation of Pinnacle’s 128 acre property. Parker began his summer camp career in Texas in 2009, where he spent 10 great summers at Camp Champions, working his way from camper to counselor. After making his way to Camp Pinnacle in 2019, he spent the next few summers working as a Trip Leader and Adventure Program Coordinator. Parker has a Bachelors and a Masters degrees in conservation and environmental education from Colorado State University. He has worked around the world leading youth into unique wild places and conducting conservation research. When not working, you can find him hunting with his brother, traveling with his family and enjoying a good book and view.
Michelle Zimmer
Events Coordinator
Bio
Michelle fell in love with the mountains spending her childhood summers in North Carolina. Originally from Michigan, she earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Central Michigan University. With her passion for continuing education, Michelle is currently pursuing her master’s degree in mathematics education through East Carolina University, and she just received her TEFL certification while studying and teaching in Thailand. In her free time, Michelle enjoys planning her next travel adventure, practicing yoga, and cooking for her friends and family.
Tom McCartney
Facilities Manager
Bio
Tom is a master craftsman and carpenter and oversees the Camp Pinnacle facilities. From treehouses to lily pads to the Lognasium, much of the magic of Camp Pinnacle’s facilities is a result of Tom’s understanding of how our children’s experiences can be affected through the camp’s beautiful grounds. Tom is a native of Western North Carolina and has an associate’s degree in forestry. He’s worked with the United States Forest Service and as the head of the Environmental and Conservation Organization in Henderson County.
Steve & Susie Baskin
Owners
Bio
Susie and Steve Baskin live in Texas with their four children: Wiley, Liam, Terrill, and Virginia. Though they reside in Texas, Steve and Susie play a valuable and supportive behind-the-scenes role at Camp Pinnacle. After graduating from Davidson College, Steve worked on Wall Street before attending Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar. Steve has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and American Way publications, serves on the board of the American Camping Association, and is a featured blogger for Psychology Today.
Prior to dedicating herself to summer camp, Susie was a family and adolescent counselor at a hospital in Wellesley, MA, and later became a manager at a Boston hospital. She attended the University of Michigan and got her MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business.
On two separate occasions, they took their children out of school for a year to backpack as a family. They remain surprisingly sane.
Our Commitment to Your Family
Choosing a camp is an act of trust. At Camp Pinnacle, we take that responsibility to heart. Our team is united by a shared purpose to know each camper by name, support their growth, and make every summer safe, meaningful, and incredibly fun!
We train them not just in safety protocols, but in how to see and nurture the unique potential in every camper.
Why Our Staff Make All the Difference
Three years of being a Camp Pinnacle counselor taught me that the magic isn’t in the activities, but it’s in the moments between them.
Like when quiet Owen asked if we could sit by the lake “just to think” after a busy morning of activities. We spent twenty minutes skipping stones and talking about how sometimes you need quiet to feel brave. Or when energetic Sophie realized that her cabin mate was homesick and spent an hour braiding friendship bracelets instead of joining the capture-the-flag game, because “friends take care of friends.”
These weren’t programmed moments or planned lessons about kindness. They were natural expressions of the community we create when campers feel safe, seen, and valued exactly as they are.
This is what sets Camp Pinnacle apart; we hire counselors who genuinely care about each camper’s individual journey, not just whether they complete activities. We train them not just in safety protocols, but in how to see and nurture the unique potential in every camper.
Because at Camp Pinnacle, we know that when children feel truly known and valued, they naturally become the best versions of themselves.