Staff

Roy Tuscany | Reno, NV

Founder & CEO

Originally from Waterbury, VT and after graduating from University of Vermont with a degree in Mechanical Engineering Roy headed out West to pursue the dream of being a professional free-skier. In 2006, Roy suffered a life-altering injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down and was the catalyst to the creation of High Fives. Roy turned the financial and community support of his own recovery into a ‘pay-it-forward’ adventure with the creation of High Fives Non-Profit Foundation. He was named the “Spirit Inspires” award from disabled sports USA in 2011 and once held the world record for the most high fives in a 24 hour period. He lives in Reno, NV with his girlfriend Alana Nichols and son Gunnar and enjoys finding fun in everything he does.

STAFF MEMBER: 2009-Present

Steve Wallace | Truckee, CA

Program Services Director

In 2008, Steve suffered a spinal cord injury while skiing in the Granite Chief area at Squaw Valley. After spending a year in different hospitals around the country, Steve returned to Northern California and was introduced to Roy Tuscany. Shortly after the two met in person Roy asked Steve how High Fives could help him, and Steve expressed to Roy his desire to get back out skiing again. In 2010 High Fives helped Steve achieve his goal, and made him the first grant recipient when they bought him all the equipment and lessons needed to get him skiing again in a safe manner. After seeing and experiencing what High Fives Foundation did for him, Steve was honored to pay it forward by helping Roy with athletes and events for the next year. When a position became available, Steve was offered the role of CR Johnson Healing Center Coordinator and graciously accepted.

STAFF MEMBER: 2010-Present

Becca Lefanowicz | Truckee, CA

Operations & Media Manager

Becca is the first High Fives employee born and bred on the west coast, but she’s left her footprints and first tracks all over the globe. She is a celebrated big mountain skier, having once held the title of North Face Young Gun award at the Subaru North American Freeskiing Championships before attending Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. Becca first offered her linguistic and artistic savvy to the Foundation as Social Media Manager and now has evolved into overseeing operations.

STAFF MEMBER: 2014-Present

Trey Humphrey | Reno, NV

Foundation Manager

IN 2010, TREY STEPPED ON AN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN SANGIN, AFGHANISTAN. THE EXPLOSION SEVERED HIS RIGHT LEG BELOW THE KNEE AND MANGLED HIS LEFT LEG BAD ENOUGH TO REQUIRE 31 SURGERIES TO SAVE IT FROM AMPUTATION. AN AVID SKIER, TREY WAS DETERMINED TO GET BACK ON  THE SNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND USED THE SPORT TO DRIVE HIS RECOVERY. IN 2014, HE VOLUNTEERED TO MENTOR A PARALYMPIC ALPINE TALENT IDENTIFICATION CAMP AT ALPINE MEADOWS, WHERE HE WAS INTRODUCED TO THE HIGH FIVES FOUNDATION FOR THE FIRST TIME. AFTER GRADUATING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA-RENO, TREY WAS OFFERED A POSITION TO HELP ROY MANAGE THE FOUNDATION. WHEN HE ISN’T WORKING, TREY SPENDS HIS TIME RAISING TWO BOYS, MOUNTAIN BIKING, FISHING, AND SKIING. HE HOPES TO SERVE THOSE WHO SUSTAINED LIFE-ALTERING INJURIES, IN THE SAME MANNER HE WAS HELPED GETTING BACK TO THE ACTIVITIES HE LOVES.

STAFF MEMBER: 2018-Present

Jesse Murphy | Warren, VT

East Coast Development Director

Jesse Murphy served on the Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2013, but he has been a supporter throughout the history of the organization. He has been involved in the ski industry since the 90s working with brands like Lange, Dynastar and others. Now he is a part owner of Vermont North Ski Shops in Warren, Vermont at the base of Sugarbush Resort. He’s a big part of the exceptional growth of the Foundation, and will help initiate the establishment of an East Coast Healing Center.

STAFF MEMBER: 2015-Present

Nico Nordin | Tahoe City, CA

FINANCE & DONOR MANAGER

Nico began as a major High Fives supporter, attending most if not all Tahoe High Fives Events. Her passion for helping High Fives Athletes lead to lots of volunteering. Eventually the Foundation grew to a point where employing Nico was not only viable but necessary. Nico manages all finance and donor affairs for the Foundation.

STAFF MEMBER: 2016-Present

Tess Vertin | Squaw Valley, CA

Grants & B.A.S.I.C.S Coordinator

Tess began her story in Edina, Minnesota where she was raised by emphatic athletes and surrounded by all kinds of sports including, figure skating and skiing. She graduated from the University of San Diego for English & Communication Studies (Undergrad) and continued her education at USD for a Master of Science in Executive Leadership where she focused on Non-Profit/Charitable accountability. She recently moved to Tahoe/Truckee in June of 2016 to get back to the snow and be near the mountains. When she volunteered with Life Rolls On in Southern California, High Fives was brought to her attention. SHE INSTANTLY FELT AT HOME AT HIGH FIVES THANKS TO THE STAFF AND ATHLETES.

STAFF MEMBER: 2017-Present

Chris Cloyd | Truckee, CA

CR Johnson Healing Center Trainer

Chris Cloyd has been involved with what we do since 2011, working with our first athletes in our first sessions at the CR Johnson Healing Center (it was actually just the office back then). Chris has been a trainer for the past 10 years, and uses his background in sports performance training and neurokinetic rehabilitation to help his athletes accelerate their recovery. Outside of the CRJ, he’s a competitive distance runner, mountaineer, and snowboard enthusiast.

STAFF MEMBER: 2016-Present

Jordan Drew | Soda Springs, CA

Administrative Assistant

Growing up in the Bay Area, but always having a love for the mountains, Jordan found himself attending the University of Nevada, Reno and graduating with a B.S. in Kinesiology in December of 2018. Since living in Reno/Tahoe area, he has found a passion for capturing photos and videos of the various outdoor activities he enjoys in the surrounding mountains including rock climbing, snowboarding, and backpacking. An internship in his final semester got him familiar with the High Fives Foundation and upon graduation, joined the team assisting with office tasks and media creation.

STAFF MEMBER: 2019-Present

Jeff Robertson | Truckee, CA

Camp Organizer

Jeff’s history also traces back to the East Coast where a passion for the outdoors started at a young age. His background in adventure sports comes from years as a professional skier, mountain bike racer, following the 100th Tour De France from start to finish (with Crystal on their honeymoon), surfing, and participation in other adventures that span the globe. With over 25 years of experience in the action sports industry and countless trips around the world, his passion for adventure runs deep. Jeff has guided friends and professional athletes over the years to many iconic locations in search of the next powder run, smooth flowing single track, surf destinations and European cols. His involvement with the High Fives Foundation spans years and has been a long time supporter. Over the last couple of years Jeff has been organizing and leading the surf camps to Maui and Ventura. Jeff is excited to continue his support of the foundation by building more camps, assisting the athletes in all aspects while at the camps and encouraging new goals to be reached. When in Tahoe, you can usually find Jeff & Roy riding single track deep into the woods!

STAFF MEMBER: 2016-Present

Landon McGauley | Verdi, CA

High Fives Athlete Team Manager

In 2010 Landon McGauley became a T-4 paraplegic after crashing in a downhill mountain bike race. Six months later he became a High Fives Athlete when he made the journey from Canada to Tahoe to learn how to sit ski. He has since attended multiple High Fives camps all over North America. After spending four years ski racing, McGauley stopped racing to attend school, where he completed his journalism degree. Landon plans to spend the next year in the United states, working for the foundation as Athlete Manger, mountain biking as much as possible.

STAFF MEMBER: 2019-Present

Dani Trujilo | South Lake Tahoe

Empowerment Assistant

Born and raised in Gardnerville, NV, Dani grew up in the mountains. After attaining her Bachelors of Arts in Sociology from Pepperdine University, she returned to South Lake Tahoe to pursue a life of outdoor adventure and while working towards a Masters in Social Work from the University of Nevada, Reno. Dani found High Fives to be the perfect opportunity to combine her love for being active in the mountains and her desire to work with others to make a positive impact on the lives of human beings.

STAFF MEMBER: 2019-Present

Madelina Silva | Portola, CA

Events & Partners Manager

Madelina found her love for the outdoors as a 3x national snowboard champion but after a fractured T-11 on a big-air jump at Squaw Valley she transitioned into the event world. She has been an Event producer for over 20 years with companies like Red Bull, Duke’s Malibu, and the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association and co-owner of Red i Productions and Zenbu. Madelina enjoys snowboarding, dancing, diving, and traveling to locations with delicious food and intriguing architecture. After 10 years of living in Venice Beach, her heart was telling her, “It’s time to go home, to Tahoe.”

STAFF MEMBER: 2019-Present

Amy Matcham | Reno, Nevada

Accounting and Donor Relationship Manager

Amy earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Economics from the University of Reno, NV and two associate degrees from Lassen College, in Accounting Principles and Business Administration. A mother of three spectacular children, Amy enjoys attending music festivals, visiting anywhere with a beach, hiking (aka rock hunting), traveling and having as much fun as possible. Amy joined High Fives with the intentions of giving back to society. As the eldest daughter of an Army Special Forces Veteran and mother of a year-round athlete, for her, the High Fives Foundation was an ideal place to apply her many talents.

STAFF MEMBER: 2019-Present