SARAH CRUSE SCHUSTER CO-FOUNDER / CEO / MOM / ACTIVIST 
AGE: 41 Primo Years   
WORD THAT DESCRIBES HER: EasyGoing-HardWorking-EarthGirl (Kelly said if it's hyphenated, it counts as one word)
NON-PROFIT SIDE JOBS: Founder & Chair, Friends of Big Foot Beach State Park / Co-Founder & Member, Friends of Geneva Lake.  Member, The Nippersink Trail Project; and Member of the Friends of Hackmatack.
ACTIVITIES: Trail Running, Hiking/Backpacking with my family, Swimming at the Lake, Skiing, Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Baking Killer Cookies and Pancakes with my kids, Hanging out with family and friends in General Boyd’s Barn, and Mega Cross Country Road Trips with my family. 
FAVORITE GEAR: Patagonia (everything fits me perfectly), Skirt Sports Skort, Hobie SUP, Kaenon, Chaco… and so much more! Come talk to me at the store! 
BEST OUTDOORS EXPERIENCE: Backpacking down the Tanner Trail in the Grand Canyon and Hiking in the Tetons/Yellowstone with hubby Dave and kids Cruse and Katie Sue. Everything I’ve ever done on the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff (ski, hike, mnt bike). And last summer we had our first annual family swim across Geneva Lake, which was an amazing, exhilarating open water swim that I hope to do at least twice a year from now on… no sea monsters got us!
FAVORITE LINE FROM A SONG:

…If I were the rains, I'd wash away the whole world's pain and
Bring the gift of cool like ice cream trucks on sunny days and
If I was the earth I'd be like mountains bountiful
And if I were the sky so high, I'd be like wind invincible and
If I could be a seed, I would give birth to redwood trees and
If I were the trees, I'd generate the freshest air to breathe in…
…I could walk a mile in your shoes, and you could walk a mile in my bare feet…
WHAT I BE - FRANTI

Sarah works day and night helping make Clear Water Outdoor the premier outdoor store in southeastern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. Sarah grew up in Lake Geneva and her family has been in the area for over five generations. During her youth, Sarah, her four older brothers and 18 cousins explored the old family farm and enjoyed the pier on Geneva Lake. Sarah and David met and graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ.

DAVE SCHUSTER CO-FOUNDER / CFO / DAD / ADVENTURE SEEKER
AGE: 43    
WORD THAT DESCRIBES HIM: Hopeful
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Skiing (downhill & x-country), MT Biking, Backpacking, Kayaking (any), Golfing, Roadbiking, Fly Fishing, Watching Football, Playing with my kids
FAVORITE GEAR: Patagonia surftrunks, Patagonia Capiliene long underwear, Brooks ASR running shoes, Kaenon Beacons, Current Designs Cypress, Exped Synmat 7, Kelty Gunnison 4 tent…
BEST OUTDOORS EXPERIENCE: One of my favorite experiences was shared with my wife and my best friend Matt, skiing Fremont Peak in Northern Arizona. We had about a three-mile approach hike into the inner basin of the San Francisco Peaks Wilderness Area to get to the base of the targeted face of the peak. The hike was beautiful alpine springtime in early June and the snow still filled the north facing avalanche chutes. We dropped a cache of food at the base of the main north chute on Fremont, then packed the skis to the top. I remember not wanting to leave the peak, even though the sun had tenderized the snow into perfect glory corn. We dropped in and carved and ripped our way back to our awaiting ‘picnic in paradise.’ After eating a late meal, we giggled and laughed our way through the forest back to our car, just outracing the chilled air tumbling down from the high peaks.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST PICK-UP LINE? Baby you’re so sweet you make a lolli-pop jealous.
IF YOU COULD CLICK YOUR HEELS TOGETHER AND BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD YOU BE? I would be in Big Sky, with a foot of fresh on three feet of recently settled snow and some good buddies.
PHILOSOPHY THAT MAKES SENSE:  Stand in Love, don’t fall in Love!

Dave is known for his early morning and late night office duties. More than just a brainiac who loves numbers, he's often found out on the lake Saturday mornings with CWO's paddle club, or kiteskiing on a frozen lake with his Ozone gear. When he's not volunteer coaching his YMCA soccer team or running a bonfire at Big Foot Beach State Park, Dave loves to play outdoors with the customers and test out new products. No wonder Sarah married him...an outdoor guru, accounting wiz, and a man with a big heart.

BRIAN WASPI  CO-FOUNDER / CTO / ECOMMERCE GURU / INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY
AGE: 36
WORD THAT DESCRIBES HIM: Enigma
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Hiking, Yoga, Kayaking, Fly Fishing, Having a cold one in the hammock
FAVORITE GEAR: Icebreaker, Patagonia Down Sweater, Hobie Kayaks, Prana, any and all electronic gadgets
BEST OUTDOORS EXPERIENCE: Two weeks in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area
WHAT IS YOUR BEST PICK-UP LINE? "Hey want to grab some breakfast tomorrow? Should I call you or nudge you?"
IF YOU COULD CLICK YOUR HEELS TOGETHER AND BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD IT BE? Mykinos, Greece
MOST EMBARASSING MOMENT: I once let a girl paint my toenails bright blue. I forgot about it until the next day when I had Chacos on and met someone in the backcountry.  It took me a minute to figure out why there were acting so strangely.  I think I freaked them out.
WHERE IN THE WORLD HAVE YOU TRAVELED? Mexico, Canada, Honduras, Guatemala, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Italy, The Czech Republic, Greece, Morocco, Ghana, Cape Town, Mauritius, India, Malaysia, Viet Nam, China, Japan, Costa Rica, and Multiple Caribbean Countries...phew!
WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE IN THE U.S. TO VISIT? Hawaii

Like his two crazy partners Sarah and Dave, Brian is a Northern Arizona University alum, Lake Geneva Native, and outdoor Jedi. Melding his love of the outdoors with his passion for online business was just what the doctor ordered. Now, Brian is pretty much the ghost in the machine, literally. He can be on the phone, remote accessing a computer in the store, and updating the website all while riding his bike at Kettle Moraine. We sometimes wonder if there are multiple clones of him; which would be awesome because you just can’t have enough Waspi.

SEAN PAYNE STORE MANAGER / COOLEST GUY IN TOWN
AGE: 43
WORD THAT DESCRIBES HIM: Delicious
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Skinny Skiing, Bullfights, and Bratwurst
FAVORITE GEAR: Mountain Hardwear Canyon Shorts
BEST OUTDOORS EXPERIENCE: The days and nights Skiing at Majestic.
WHAT WAS YOUR WORST DATING EXPERIENCE? Does it count if it involved livestock?
WHERE IN THE WORLD HAVE YOU TRAVELED? Elkhorn, Mexico, Spain, Germany, France, and Canada.(does Canada count?)
WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE IN THE U.S. TO VISIT? Siesta Key, FL or Jerome, AZ.

Sean is like Sam from Cheers, everyone knows his name and they're always glad to see him. A lot of customers ask for him when they come in. Luke thinks it's because he's "sexah", but we know it's because he really knows his stuff. He's so good at helping people find the right gear that it borders on ESP. A proud father, he's a good one to ask about kids clothing and gear too.

KELLIE "KIRKY" KIRKPATRICK ASSISTANT MANAGER / BUYER / CLIMBING MONKEY
AGE: 27
WORD THAT DESCRIBES HER: Spunky
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Hiking, Rock Climbing, Sleeping, Writing, Watching LOST, Enjoying beautiful things.
FAVORITE GEAR: Chacos, Arc'teryx Atom LW Hoody, Patagonia dresses, Fits socks
BEST OUTDOORS EXPERIENCE: Backpacking the UP at Pictured Rocks
IF YOU COULD CLICK YOUR HEELS TOGETHER AND BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD IT BE? Wherever people I love are (hopefully they are somewhere cool like New Zealand or Iceland).
MOST EMBARASSING MOMENT: I had just won a big gymnastics competition and when I went up to get my trophy, I tripped getting onto the podium and fell head first off the top step, knocking over the people bringing me my award. We all ended up in a big pile on the floor... in front of lots of people.
WHAT'S THE LONGEST YOU HAVE GONE WITHOUT A SHOWER AND WHY? Two weeks... out being wilderly of course!
WEIRDEST QUIRK: I have to sleep with socks on no matter how hot it is. If i don't have socks on... I won't sleep.

Kellie likes to talk, so it's a good thing she's so knowledgeable about our products (especially socks). She's the uber-cool camp counselor you always wish you had. Go ahead, ask her anything... you're sure to get solid advice and probably a good laugh.

LAURA LUKSICH BUYER / INVENTORY MANAGER / INDEPENDENT GEAR TESTER / MOM
AGE: hmmm… 30, for the first time this year
WORD THAT DESCRIBES HER:Twin-Mom
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Running, Hiking, Playing with my twin boys – 2 years old, anything outside
FAVORITE GEAR: Patagonia Fleece – can’t go anywhere without it!
BEST OUTDOORS EXPERIENCE: Backpacking in Glacier National Park for a week with my husband.
WHAT'S THE LONGEST YOU HAVE GONE WITHOUT A SHOWER AND WHY? 11 days – Kayaking with Outward Bound in the Bahamas
WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE IN THE U.S. TO VISIT? Any National or State Park

Laura used to graced our sales floor when she wasn't cycling to work, coaching the Badger High School Cross Country Team, or running the lake trail with CWOs Running Club. She and her husband Aaron moved to the Pacific Northwest. But that won't stop a dedicated CWO team member! Laura telecommutes and helps to answer any of your online questions. Sometimes you can still see her smiling face in the store when we Skype with her. It's like she never left...

LUKE STEWART SALES ASSOCITATE / KAYAK INSTRUCTOR / WIT-MEISTER
AGE: 21
WORD THAT DESCRIBES HIM: Earnest
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Climbing, Kayaking, Hiking, Camping, Cooking, Wrenching, Studying, and of course any of these things with good people in the great outdoors.
FAVORITE GEAR: Anything by a company that rhymes with Shmatagonia :P also Helly Hansen rain jackets, Mountain Hardwear soft shells, and anything Prana. Favorite pieces of all time are the Prana Mojo Shorts and Patagonia Better Sweater.
BEST OUTDOORS EXPERIENCE: There isn’t just one but to narrow it down, climbing at Devil’s Lake, camping in the summer of ’09, any of the many kayaking trips down the White River, and also meeting awesome people while hauling kayaks for CWO in the summer.

Luke is the kind of guy you want coming along when you have a flat tire, or were just bit by a dog.  He's that good all-American guy that just makes everything... well... a little bit of alright.  Find him in on the sales floor and get expert advice, or in the summer he's probably the guy carrying your kayak to the water for you who knows everything about it; and where to go for the best local spots.

NATHAN DUDA SALES ASSOCIATE / EVENT COORDINATOR
AGE: 22
WORD THAT DESCRIBES HIM: Zippity
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: O my God there is so much: volleyball, football, golf, hiking with my dog, running (never though I would say that), kayaking, disc golf, yoga (now it's awesome thanks to Linda), chilling with family and friends, enjoying life.
FAVORITE GEAR: Chaco Z/2’s, Mountain Hardwear Android Jacket, Patagonia Capillene, Perception Carolina 12ft.
BEST OUTDOORS EXPERIENCE: House boat trip in the Boundary Waters. Fishing, family, hiking, swimming, sun, beautiful scenery, what’s not to enjoy about that.
IF YOU COULD BE ANY ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? A Bear (its actually my animal spirit) preferably a Polar Bear, they’re strong, have integrity, resourceful, can think strategically. Also bears have a softer side of caring and compassion... and I enjoy the cold.  
IF YOU COULD CLICK YOUR HEELS TOGETHER AND BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD IT BE? North Island, New Zealand
WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE IN THE U.S. TO VISIT? Devils Lake, WI.

Nate is a college student who's studying nursing and working towards his EMT. He loves working at CWO and it shows! When he's not helping customers or enjoying the outdoors, he's the pro window cleaner for this area. Nate loves the outdoors, trying new stuff, and is up for almost anything. He's kinda shy until you get to know him, then he loosen right up; which is a good thing because he's so dang funny.  

Brian Kalvestrand (BK, B-Tall, Kalvey)  Shipping & Receiving Manager / Customer Service / Super Tall Handsom Guy
AGE:  38
WORD THAT DESCRIBES HIM: Modest 
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES:   Biking, Hiking, Camping, Kayaking & making a little maple syrup    
FAVORITE GEAR:  Kuhl, Solomon, LOVE my XA Pro 3D GTX's, Patagonia R1, Osprey Packs & Bags     
BEST OUTDOORS EXPERIENCE:   RAGBRAI, the bike ride across Iowa, biking, camping, good food, and meeting new people.   
IF YOU COULD CLICK YOUR HEELS AND BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD IT BE?   New Zealand, top of my list of places to visit, and this would eliminate the long fight there! But would I be able to click my heals if/when I was ready to come back?    
WHAT'S WORSE; PAPER CUT OR CLOSING YOUR FINGER IN A DOOR?  I’d say that getting your finger caught on a chain link fence tops both, but if you need to know more I’ll field any and all inquires individually.

Brian (we call him BK or Kalvey as not to confuse him with Waspi) is the man behind the curtain.  He's the one that writes on all your packing slips and sends your awesome online purchases to you.  But really, he's at the center of the center of the "nerve center" of Clear Water Outdoor.  Every product that comes in or goes out must first pass through Kalvey's careful inspection.  His attention to detail hovers somewhere between cyborg super powers and divine intervention.  BK recently grew a beard and we're trying to convince him to keep it.  Feel free to send him a message about how sexah' he looks with a beard.     

JILL HOVDEN SALES ASSOCIATE / ADVENTURE CLUB HELPER
AGE: 22
WORD THAT DESCRIBES HER: mom votes “warm-hearted” haha
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: I LOVE movies, tv shows (Bones, Chuck and Castle most importantly), and sports so if you want to chat it up any combination of those stop on by and I promise we’ll be talking for a while. I love soccer, running, kayaking, ultimate frisbee, hiking ... pretty much anything that gets me outside and anything I can do with my family and friends. My favorite thing in the world though is traveling. Nothing about jumping on a plane in Chicago and stepping off into a completely different world is ever going to get old :)
FAVORITE GEAR: the Solstice GTS is my baby :) and I love anything Helly Hansen (gotta represent my fellow Norwegians), Mountain Hardware, Vibram Five Fingers, and anything Patagonia
BEST OUTDOORS EXPERIENCE: oh man that’s a tough one! The coolest thing I’ve ever experienced was being on a safari in Kenya. I’ve never seen so much open space or so much natural beauty in my life.  A close second though was hiking behind my house in Norway. I’d wander down my favorite trail to the other side of the island and sit in my favorite secluded spot looking out over the fjord with a book and a thermos of coffee.
IF YOU COULD CLICK YOUR HEELS TOGETHER AND BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD IT BE? anywhere I’ve never been ... except maybe Canada because it’s close enough to drive to so it’d be kind of short-changing a good heel click. Australia, the entire continents of Africa and South America, and Cambodia are very high on my list though :) 
WHERE IN THE WORLD HAVE YOU TRAVELED? US, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Latvia, England, Ireland, Kenya, Tanzania, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Mexico

SHARI DUDLEY SALES ASSOCIATE / TRAIL GUIDE (with no sense of direction, wanders aimlessly... Sarah is working on this with her, no worries...)

AGE: 40 something....        

WORD THAT BEST DESCRIBES HER: Brave

FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Kayaking, hiking, fishing, any place with Grady (my Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier),  photography, wood working, anything in the great outdoors, walking in the fresh fallen snow and SHOPPING!! Oh yes, SHOPPING!!

FAVORITE GEAR:  Patagonia~Down Sweater, Chacos, Smith Optics, Mountain Hard Wear~Double Wicked Lite, Sorel~Joan of Artic, Brooks~Adrenaline ASR GTX, Solomon, Horny Toad

BEST OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE: Hiking above the clouds at Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii

WHAT'S THE LONGEST YOU'VE GONE WITHOUT A SHOWER AND WHY?  One week. Kayaking and backpacking at Algonquin Lake, Canada on a fishing trip...in the snow!

WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE IN THE US TO VISIT? Where ever there is family ( McKean County, Maui, Syracuse, Portville, Windber, Reno, Indiana, South Jersey)

WIERDEST QUIRK: I don’t have one, I think I am perfect...oh wait...maybe that’s it??

Baseball? Phillies!!! Football? Steelers!!! I wonder if Sean will include this in my profile? :)

HANNAH ELIZABETH RAUSCH (HANNY)  SALES ASSOCIATE / ADVENTURE CLUB COORDINATOR
AGE:  22
SINGEL WORD THAT BEST DESCRIBES HER: genuinely-adorably-goofy (median of the answers that were gathered)
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES:  rafting,canoeing,backpacking,going to youth group,laughing, reading, quality time with friends,thrifting... 
FAVORITE GEAR:  PATAGONIA TRUCKER HATS! anything Patagonia, Sherpa Sera Top,Black Diamond headlamps have saved my life, thermarest sleep pads, marmot sleeping bag, sporks,  wool socks of any kind...
BEST OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE:  I can't pick just one...guiding for Timber-lee Christian Center the summers of 2009-2011. Taking trips down the Wolf River (sections 3 & 4), backpacking at Pictured Rocks, hiking a portion of the Black River, camping at Estes, sleeping on the beach of lake superior...all while in the company of some really awesome friends and a dozen or so jr. high or high school students;D
IF YOU COULD BE ANY ANIMAL WHAT, AND WHY:  A fox because they are beautiful and smart;-D
FAVORITE LINE FROM A SONG:  Let the song I sing bring joy to you, Let the words I say profess my love, Let the notes I choose be your favorite tune, And Father let my heart be after you- "Garden" by NeedToBreathe

AUGUST TADDEO SALES ASSOCIATE / BOAT CHUCKER
WORD THAT DESCRIBES YOU: Ridiculous
FAVORITE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES: Running, Stand up Paddling, Pole vaulting, and of course some Black Ops with Luke and Duda
FAVORITE GEAR: Brooks running shoes and gear, and Tahoe and Hyper Stand Up Paddle boards.
BEST OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE: I would have to say walking around Lake Geneva, just because it's always here, but I had never walked the whole path, and when I finally did it was a great way to bond and learn more about my friends as we walked.
BEST PICKUP LINE: "Suns out, Guns out" follow that and the guns do all the work.
FAVORITE LINE FROM A SONG: " Hold your own, know your name, and go your own way"

GENERAL OFFICE DOG / FRIEND / STRESS RELIEVER

AGE: 6 OR 42 in human years        

WORD THAT BEST DESCRIBES HIM: Hungry

FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Eating, fetching, scratching, chasing, napping, crop dusting the office 

FAVORITE GEAR:  Ruff Wear, Chukit, Mountain Smith

BEST OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE: Fetch After that it's a tie between staff parties and that time I ate THREE boxes of Thin Mints all by myself.  

WHAT'S THE LONGEST YOU'VE GONE WITHOUT A SHOWER AND WHY?  Months, 'cuz I'm a dog!  Although I clean my privates with my mouth at least once a day?

WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE IN THE US TO VISIT? Definitely Clear Water Outdoor! There's snacks, friendly people, a water bowl by the front door... plus good lookin' lady dogs wander in from time to time.  And when I get tired there's a dog bed under the desk.

WIERDEST QUIRK: If there's anything in the toilet, I try and retrieve it.

General is everybody's favorite staff member. He's sort of lazy, but we don't let it bother us. Sean once tried to train him on the register, but we took him off that job becuse all the candies kept disappearing.  Plus he just randomly falls asleep at his post. General is smart, funny, and easily distracted. If he were a human, he would be Dave .