Mel oversees sales, human resources, and accounting. She works closely with our seasonal teams in Punta Arenas and Union Glacier to ensure all guests have a seamless experience.

Steph works closely with all future guests to answer questions throughout the booking process and prepare them for their Antarctic experience. She also serves as an Account Manager for many of our travel agent and guide company partners.

Heather Bowers was born and raised in the sunny state of California. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a B.A. in public relations and a minor in business management. Heather started in the nonprofit world and transitioned to digital marketing in 2018. She lived for a time in Peru and has also traveled across Europe and Asia. When she’s not organizing and creating spreadsheets, she loves trying new foods, improv comedy, and mixed martial arts (MMA).

Jake joined ALE in September of 2022 on the heels of two years with the United States Antarctic Program. His time with USAP included one summer and two winters in Antarctica, where he served as a Heavy Equipment Operator on the South Pole Traverse and a Foreman/Operator for the maintenance, construction, and testing of Phoenix Airfield at McMurdo Station. Jake is from Patoka, Illinois, and he earned his engineering degree from nearby Kaskaskia College. His work experience includes LTL logistics management, logistics and inventory control management in biotechnology, custom wheat harvesting field operations management, and oil and gas midstream construction, testing, and maintenance. For recreation, Jake enjoys scuba diving, overland vehicle travel, 4×4 club involvement, and self-improvement in the form of continuing education, among other things.

Hillary is a passionate marketing professional with a penchant for creativity. Equipped with a degree in Social Cultural Anthropology, she brings a unique perspective to her work. Hillary has worked as a content specialist for over 10 years, finding joy in the artistic expression the career allows. Having grown up between Tokyo and Utah, Hillary has developed a deep appreciation for the diversity of our world. When she’s not crafting a social media campaign, you’ll find her indulging in baking, knitting and binging her favorite TV shows. Family is important to Hillary, as she cherishes her husband Ethan, two daughters named Golden and Frances, and her orange tabby cat named Pear.

Miri is the newest member to join the SLC team as a Travel Specialist. Miri is a Utah native with a passion for outdoor adventure. She earned her Sustainable Tourism degree from the University of Utah and spent five years as a river guide on the Snake River in Wyoming. In her free time she enjoys playing dungeons & dragons, volunteering at the aquarium, and spending time with her sister’s kids and her cat Bear.

Also known as our “Chief Chippy”, Walt constructs all of our specialized structures and adapts equipment for use on the ice.