Lauren “Lolo” Grossman
Lodge Manager — 4th Minam Season
A Southern California native, Lolo fell in love with the mountain life in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., and never looked back. Her love of culinary delights and fresh mountain air quickly made her a perfect fit at the Minam. Contact her with any questions you may have or to help you book your next visit at lolo@minam-lodge.com.
Matthew Williams
Beverage Director and Hospitality — 4th Minam Season
Matthew, a long-time Portland resident, has many years of experience behind the bar at Portland institutions including Touche and Cassidy’s. After spending most of his vacations exploring the Eagle Cap Wilderness with his family, he finally realized it would be more convenient to work here. His wry sense of humor and keen eye for detail make Matt an indispensable member of the team.
Mackenzie Coggin
Yoga Teacher and Hospitality — 2nd Minam Season
Born and raised in central Oregon, Mackenzie has been a lover of nature from the start. Eventually landing at home in nearby Enterprise, she has spent the past several years exploring her passions of yoga, holistic health, getting kids out in nature, and cooking nutritious food. Her happy place is exploring the mountains with her pup Magnolia, foraging for mushrooms and berries, playing guitar or reading a good book.
Dylan Mitchell
Hospitality — 2nd Minam Season
Dylan grew up at the foot of The Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and has always loved the outdoors. After thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, this love grew stronger and he began seeking out work that would enable him to stay engaged with the outdoor community. This search led him to the Minam, where he combines his hospitality experience with his passion for the wilderness. Dylan is always enthusiastic to connect with guests and discuss favorite hiking trails.
Robbie Olsen
Hospitality — 2nd Minam Season
Coming from New York, Robbie has always wanted to visit Oregon. He loves long walks to the sauna, large bowls of yogurt, and napping on the couch. He also loves visiting with guests and asking what they love in life. One day he’ll publish a poetry book.
Kyle Massey
Maintenance Manager — 3rd Minam Season
Kyle Massey, a recent high school graduate from Houston, Texas, is a nature enthusiast and deep thinker. Embracing the outdoors, he seeks thrilling adventures while contemplating life's philosophical questions. With a green thumb and a keen eye for detail, Kyle also finds solace in gardening and excels in ground keeping and dishwashing. Eager to make his mark on the world, he embarks on a journey that blends his passions and determination.
Cayman Minter
Grounds/Dishwasher — 1st Minam Season
A recent college grad from Houston, Texas, Cayman has always had a love for the outdoors and trying new things. Now thriving and exploring the Oregon wilderness at the Minam, he feels right at home. When not on the job, you can find Cayman outside, either swimming or relaxing by the river with a good book!
James Pech
Head Chef — 1st Minam Season
James was born in Iowa, grew up in Colorado, and lives in Seattle by way of Alaska. He learned the fundamentals of cooking from his grandmother and great-grandmother. After nearly two decades of cooking and leading kitchens in the Seattle area, he is thrilled to bring his diverse experience and natural curiosity to this truly unique culinary adventure.
Mana Gale
Chef — 1st Minam Season
Originally from Florida, Mana cooked her way to the West Coast and now calls Portland home. Passionate about farmer’s markets, urban foraging, and Pacific Northwest natural wines, she brings a deep appreciation for seasonal ingredients to every dish. This summer, she’s excited to take her craft to Minam, embracing the bounty of the garden and the forest.
Nataiela Croft
Chef — 2nd Minam Season
Although Nataiela joins us originally from Idaho, her talent for cooking, love of learning, and sense of adventure have taken her many places, from Texas to Oregon. She delights in crafting thoughtful meals that reflect her ever-growing curiosity in the kitchen while celebrating the bounty of the Minam garden. Nataiela enjoys basking in the beauty of the outdoors, whether it’s enjoying river time, sauna sessions, or long forest walks.
Mel Eliason
Chef & Garden Harvester — 2nd Minam Season
Mel, with her husband, Thomas, and Tuna the cat, have been traveling the country learning how to farm. She comes with a passion for vegetables, cooking and baking and a love of the wilderness. When Mel is not harvesting veggies at the garden or preparing sourdough bread, she likes to spend her time outdoors on a long hike.
Thomas Eliason
Market Gardener — 2nd Minam Season
Thomas has returned for his second season—with Mel, his wife, and Tuna, their adventure cat. His degree in English literature has been indispensable in the profession of farming. His background in landscape design has pushed the garden in a production-centered direction with a touch of beauty.
Laura Jonikaitis
Massage Therapist — 1st Minam Season
Originally from Chicago, Laura brings intuitive, grounding bodywork to every session and loves connecting with people in nature. Outside the massage tent, you’ll often find her trail running, hiking deep into the wilderness, or cooling off in a creek—with her Husky sidekick, Nala, never far behind.
Isabella Powers
Massage Therapist — 1st Minam Season
Originally from St. Augustine, FL, Isabella brings a deep, intuitive understanding of the body shaped by years of experience in dance, mindfulness, and diverse bodywork modalities. Her approach is rooted in resourcing the body’s innate wisdom and fostering nervous system ease. When she’s not in session, you’ll find her immersed in the surrounding wilderness- plunging in the river, hiking forest trails, or moving and breathing in the barn’s quiet light. Her presence invites restoration, both on and off the table.
Margaret Smith
Lodge-istics — 7th Minam Season
After wearing many different Minam hats since joining the Lodge in 2019, Margaret is happy to help keep things running smoothly from behind the scenes. Contact her for help arranging flights or other logistics needs at margaret@minam-lodge.com.
Interested in joining the Lodge team?
Are you interested in working at the Lodge? Many of our team members return each year, but we typically have openings for a few select candidates in areas including dining, hospitality, gardening and groundskeeping each year. If you have relevant professional experience, high personal standards, a serious work ethic and -- of course -- a sense of adventure, we would love to hear from you! Please send a letter of interest, resume, and three professional references to info@minam-lodge.com.