Falling Creek Camp Directors
Yates & Marisa Pharr
Owners/Directors
When Yates met Marisa at Appalachian State University, summer camp was already in his blood. His family had long been involved with camps in Western North Carolina. Yates and his brothers attended Falling Creek—Yates for 12 summers as both a camper, C.I.T., and staff member.
Yates teaching kayaking at FCC in the mid 1980's
In the summer of 1989, Yates and Marisa both worked at Falling Creek—Yates leading the whitewater program and Marisa heading up the waterfront.
After they graduated with degrees in recreation from ASU, Marisa joined the staff of the YMCA, first as aquatic coordinator, and then as a staff trainer. Marisa later served as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist at the Alexander Children’s Center. Her commitment to the well-being of children and families is exemplified by her volunteer work with many community programs, as well as with her neighborhood, church, and children’s schools.
Yates, Marisa, Annie, Lucy & Mary
Yates, meanwhile, returned to his hometown of Charlotte, N.C., to serve as President of Bissell Development. In 1991, Yates and Marisa married and now have three daughters: Annie, Lucy, and Mary. Even as Yates was forging a successful career in the business world, he continued to work with children, serving as assistant scoutmaster for the same troop in which he earned his Eagle Scout. The Pharrs moved to Asheville and Yates became Vice President of commercial development for Biltmore Farms until returning to camp. It was and continues to be the opportunity of a lifetime for them.
To learn more about Yates & Marisa, please read the following article.
Ballantyne Magazine Article - Charlotte, NC
1.7MB PDF - Acrobat Reader Required
Frank Tindall
Associate Director
Frank has been camping since his childhood—first as a camper, then a counselor, and finally in 1984 he bought his own camp! Frank and his wife Elizabeth had the time of their lives as they directed Camp Illahee (Brevard, North Carolina) for 18 years. After selling Illahee, Frank worked as a camp consultant with camps around the country. Now, Frank brings his extensive knowledge of camping to Falling Creek where he advises in camp's long range planning. You can also see him helping out in numerous activities during the summer.
Frank is an active member of the community, serving as the Chairman of the Young Life Committee and volunteering as a coach for tennis and basketball.
Jim Goodrum
Staffing Director
Jim's first summer at Falling Creek was in 1979 and he was a camper for seven years and CIT for two years. Jim is a graduate of Mercer University in Macon, GA and while he attended, worked at FCC as a Catawba Tribe cabin counselor and activity leader. In the summer of 1993, Jim moved from the swim docks to begin his tenure as Program Director. In 1994, Jim joined the full-time camp staff as Assistant Director / Program Director until 2002. He returned home to Georgia in 2002 to work at Mercer University as Assistant Director of Admissions and Recreational Sports and Wellness. At Mercer, Jim met his wife Kristi and they married in 2005. Jim worked for Fickling & Company selling residential real estate from 2005 to 2007. Jim returns to FCC to share from his 20 plus years of Falling Creek experience. Jim's passion for Falling Creek and it's mission, combined with his knowledge of camp operations, sets the stage for his primary focus with FCC's staff and alumni development.
Nathan Newquist
Program Director
Nathan started working for Falling Creek in 2001 during his first summer of college. He came across the Falling Creek website while searching for a similarly named summer camp he attended as a teenager. He applied and after a series of phone conversations with camp, Nathan came up for a visit. He met with Donnie Bain and Jim Goodrum, who was Program Director at the time, and they hired Nathan as a counselor. He has spent time in many areas of camp, but is best known as the Head of the Waterfront several years. As Program Director, Nathan uses all the experience gained from seven years as counselor (with Cabin 1, no less!), tribal leader, coordinating church services, and all-camp games to make the programs at Falling Creek safe, interesting, and fun for all the boys at camp.
Nathan was born and raised in Texas in the large Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex. He was heavily involved in his church youth group growing up and attended several summer camps with the group. One of his main passions has always been music. He helped lead worship for his youth group, sang in the church choir, and even played drums at a missionary conference in Malaysia. Now you can always find Nathan involved in music at camp.
Nathan graduated from Texas Christian University with a degree in International Communication. He honed his Spanish in college and lived in Mexico for a semester of study abroad. After college he worked at the Star-Telegram newspaper and then the Fort Worth School District. He has been involved over the years with young people in the community by working with a local family after school and their friends. In his free time, Nathan enjoys computer gaming and doing most anything outdoors. In the winter you will probably find him skiing at a nearby resort or somewhere in Colorado.
Ben Williams
Outdoor Adventure Director
From Ohio, Ben attended Mount Vernon Nazarene University and majored in secondary education and history. Ben joined the Falling Creek summer staff in 1998. In August of 2006, Ben joined the full time staff as an Assistant Program Director. Ben now serves as the Outdoor Adventure Director and will also be one of the leaders of the CIT (Counselor In Training) and Junior Counselor programs. He will help with staff recruiting and special projects during the winter and spring. Ben is a certified EMT, Wilderness First Responder, and a Swift Water Rescuer . Playing no favorites, Ben takes advantage of all the outdoor opportunities offered in the mountains. If he can't find it here, he may go to where the action is, like his most recent trip to Mexico to paddle on the El Slato and the Micos rivers with Steve McGrady. Biking, paddling, running, climbing, and snow skiing, Ben does it all. What else would you think the Outdoor Program Director did in his free time? His next big trip will be down the aisle! Ben and fiancé, Elliott Ogilvie, are to be married in during the Spring of 2008.
Chuck & Jean McGrady
Directors Emeritus
The McGrady Family
Chuck and Jean McGrady, guided Falling Creek as owners and directors from 1989-2005.
The McGrady’s children, Steve and Lisa, have grown up at Falling Creek. Steve has been a camper for many summers, excelling at rock climbing and kayaking and now attends VA Tech. Lisa can usually be found at the barn, helping with the horses.
The McGrady’s remain closely affiliated with camp as Directors Emeritus.
We encourage parents to contact the leadership of Falling Creek Camp with any questions they might have about camp! A Staff Directory is located on our Contact Us page.
