We believe the water should be for everyone

“Big M”

Jeremy has spent more than three decades chasing horizons and sharing the joy of being on the water. He’s guided wilderness trips, trained paddlesport instructors, and led adventures everywhere from the Pacific Northwest to Austria, Sweden, Canada, and even Antarctica. If it floats, Jeremy has probably paddled it, taught it, or helped write the standards for it.

At BKR, Jeremy brings big-picture strategy, thoughtful oversight, and a whole lot of passion to every experience—on the water and off. He currently serves on the Washington State Boating Program Advisory Council, and previously led Safety, Education, Instruction, and Outreach for the American Canoe Association, shaping national paddlesports education and training.

He still loves getting out there with people, offering instructor and guide certifications in Kayak, Canoe, SUP, and Adaptive Paddling across the country and around the world. Whether he’s coaching new leaders or swapping stories after a sunset paddle, Jeremy is all about building community, elevating skills, and making time on the water unforgettable.

Products + Partnerships

Vanessa grew up exploring the Sierra Nevada mountains from a young age. After a break to focus on sailboat racing and instructing on the water, she returned to land to climb rocks. A decade-long career in the outdoor industry shaped her into an avid skier, backpacker, and climber. At the center of her life outdoors is a commitment to accessibility and inclusivity in the industry. You can find her at the boathouse floating on a SUP.

Operations + Programs

Zoe grew up kayaking in the northwoods of Wisconsin - from flatwater lakes to the Brule river in the Upper Peninsula, time on the water has always been a constant. She took a wilderness course in Alaska during college and got to spend 3 weeks sea kayaking in Prince William Sound which firmly planted the passion of getting people access to the outdoors. fter various guiding jobs in Wisconsin, she was able to make her way to the PNW where she spent 7 years guiding and managing outdoor experiences for REI and was absolutely delighted when Best Kayak Rentals was able to take over the boathouses. When she’s not on the hucking boats, or saying “cartwheel your paddle!” you’ll find her knitting, making sourdough, chasing mountains, or laying in a hammock.

Merchandising

Emily has spent her life outdoors. Between time on the water and on horseback, her feet were rarely on the ground growing up. This led to jobs guiding in Colorado, a career in outdoor retail, and ultimately to the team of BKR. The common thread in a journey that has spanned the breadth of the US is a passion to get others safely outside, have fun, and find joy. 

You can find her at the boathouse wearing a huge grin and one of Stu’s tie-dye shirts, making sure you have the best time out on the water. She is a sucker for a good pun, so come prepared with your corniest dad joke!

Risk Management

Malcolm spent years as REI's National Risk Management Coordinator for Experiences, where he built and managed risk policies, led emergency response planning, and oversaw incident review across field operations nationwide. At BKR, he brings that same rigor — so every guest gets on the water with the confidence that someone has thought through every scenario.

Malcolm loves getting people out on the water to see the world from a different perspective. Outside of paddling, he enjoys baking, long walks on the beach, and watching his kids play soccer.

Finance

Stu has spent 20+ years making things run smoothly behind the scenes and 15 years guiding whitewater rivers, with a good chunk of that time leading outdoor experiences at REI. These days, he channels that on-the-water know-how into writing blogs that help people feel confident, prepared, and excited to get outside. When he’s not thinking about operations or adventure logistics, he’s the SqueeFO of Squid Wizard, Inc. and the Magician behind Pacific Mystic Tie Dye, bringing color to life through tie-dye and screen printing. Equal parts organizer and hype man, Stu is an ambassador of sunshine who loves helping people be themselves and have a damn good time doing it.

Marketing

Jenn is an outdoor professional with an MBA who’s passionate about marketing, leading teams, and bringing ideas to life. Her experience spans small women-owned businesses, nonprofit work with the Girl Scouts of Western Washington, and major retailers, giving her a well-rounded mix of strategy, creativity, and collaboration. A true water sign at heart, Jenn has always been drawn to life on the water. She first fell in love with boating as a Girl Scout, learning to sail Sunfish and later found her stride kayaking after moving to the Pacific Northwest. Outside of work, she’s usually off on an adventure, backpacking to alpine lakes, exploring new trails, or guiding trips with Sierra Club outings around the Northwest, often with her dog Rye happily along for the ride.