Aron Schmid has been a caver for over 25 years concentrating in the states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Project caving, especially cave survey, is his particular area of interest. Aron is a life member of the MAKC and the NSS. He is also the long serving treasurer of the Loyalhanna Grotto and member of the […]
Continue Reading
At the November 2021 quarterly board meeting of MAKC, Curt Harler of Cleveland Grotto was elected to the board to fill the vacancy created by outgoing chairman Kim Metzgar. After being re-elected to a three-year term, Ryan Maurer was elected chairman and Hope Brooks will fill the shoes of long-time vice chairman Phil Gowaty, who […]
Continue Reading
Board Member (Term Expires 2025) • McClure Cave Preserve Manager Rick Smith has always had a fascination with the underground since the age of 8 when he entered his first cave, McClure Cave. It was not until many years later he found the caving community and since then has visited caves throughout Pennsylvania and West […]
Continue Reading
Board Member, NSS 22735 CL (FE) Curt Harler, a long time member of the Cleveland Grotto and a former executive vice president of the National Speleological Society, was elected to a three-year term on the MAKC Board of Directors in 2021. Curt is a life member and conservation life member of the NSS, fellow, frequent […]
Continue Reading
On Saturday, November 16, 2019, three new faces joined the MAKC Board, one of whom is not entirely new to the board. Andrea Gillis, chairman of the Ohio Cavers and Climbers, and a former board member and board chairman of MAKC, rejoined the board to fill out a one-year term. Ryan Maurer joined the board […]
Continue Reading
Board Member (term expires 2020) Andrea Gillis rejoined the board in 2019 to fill out a three-year term. She is a former board member and former chairman of MAKC, as well as chairman of the Ohio Cavers and Climbers. While on the MAKC board a number of years ago Andrea spearheaded a project to clean […]
Continue Reading
Vice Chairman, Board Member (Term Expires 2022) Hope Brooks joined the MAKC board in November of 2019. At the November 2021 meeting Hope was elected vice chairman of MAKC.
Continue Reading
Chairman, Board member • (Term expires 2024) • Fayette County Cave Survey Ryan Maurer joined the MAKC Board in November of 2019. He was re-elected to the board in 2021 and following his re-election to a three-year term, was elected chairman.
Continue Reading
(term expires 2020) Treasurer Johnny is a lifelong resident of Westmoreland county. He graduated from Hempfield High School in 1980 and Saint Vincent College in 1984 with a B.S. in economics. He says: “I work very hard at avoiding work but I don’t always succeed. I have been employed as an IT manager for a […]
Continue Reading
• NSS 47049RE FE• Franklin County Grotto (term expires 2020) Kerry Speelman is a licensed professional geologist. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown with a BS in geology and biology minor, he is working on documenting the caves in southwestern PA. Keep an eye out for him as he usually is ridgwalking, […]
Continue Reading
(term expires 2021) NSS #24554LF FE • Board Member • Pittsburgh Grotto • MAKC Life Member • Assistant Billy Clay Pit Preserve Manager Walt started caving in 1974 and joined the Pittsburgh Grotto the following year. He began going caving in Fayette and Westmoreland counties located just to the south and east of Pittsburgh. He […]
Continue Reading
Board Member • NSS 49291 (term expires 2022) • Harlansburg Cave Preserve Manager Phil started caving in 1974 while in high school with his brother’s college outdoors club. Barton’s was his first cave and Bear was the second. Phil then became President of The Penn State McKeesport Outdoors Club 1977-78. After moving from South Western […]
Continue Reading
NSS 17557 RL • Loyalhanna Grotto (term expires 2020) Paul Damon, Jr., of Monroeville was a founding board member of the MAKC, and its first treasurer. He took a break from his board duties for a few years due to the growth of his business, Paul and Paul Collectibles (see paulishere on eBay). Paul’s father […]
Continue Reading
Secretary • NSS 33921RL • Pittsburgh Grotto • Loyalhanna Grotto • West Virginia Cave Conservancy Life Member • MAKC Life and Sustaining Member • Potomac Speleological Club (term expires 2021) • Billy Clay Pit Preserve Manager Carl started caving in 1974 as a child with his dad in the undeveloped area of Laurel Caverns. During […]
Continue Reading