Genuine Climbing

Meet Our Team

Climbing Instructors

Anyssa Lucena
Founder, Breast Cancer Survivor and AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide
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Anyssa has been climbing and guiding for over 15 years and strongly believes that climbing is a means to deeper healing and self knowledge.   

Anyssa was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2002 and was inspired to turn her challenging experience into something that can help other women.   

Her cancer experience is a gift that she share with other women, to help them know it’s going to be ok and to show them that it’s ok to feel disconnected and confused and still find our true, genuine selves at the end.

Jessica Miller
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor

Jess first experienced rock climbing at the Delaware Water Gap on a school trip in 1999, and was hooked. Over the next two decades, while working as an engineer in New York City and abroad, she came back to the to Gunks home crag often and deepened her climbing practice and skills.

As a frequent traveler, she tries to find a crag or more remote adventure wherever she goes. She’s climbed and trek in several of the United States, as well as Sweden, Indonesia, Morocco, Nepal, China, Cambodia, and Mexico. As a guide, she loves sharing climbing skills, snacks, nerding out over gear and helping others grow their confidence.

Gail Blauer
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
Jobi Gabrielli
AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide and Single Pitch Instructor
Meet Our Team

Board of Directors

Shellie Freedman
Board Member

Shellie has been passionate about climbing ever since she stepped foot in the climbing gym in her early 20’s, followed shortly by trips to climb on real rock.

Since moving from California to New York for law school, she has enjoyed getting to know the Gunks climbing community while exploring the cliffs there.  Her climbing goals involve climbing big walls in Yosemite. (Her kids enjoy playing on her portaledge.)

Shellie’s mom is a breast cancer survivor, so the mission of Genuine Climbing is close to her heart.  When Shellie is not climbing, you can find her hanging out with her two young kids, baking cakes, riding her bike, or camping.

Dr. Moira Christoudias
Board Chair, Breast Surgical Oncologist, Valley Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care

Moira is a breast surgical oncologist, climber and mom to 3 kids.  She has been climbing for three years and treating women with breast cancer for far longer. 

She began climbing after she was invited to visit an indoor climbing gym in Colorado.  The seeds were planted after that visit and is constantly learning new climbing skills. 

Moira is passionate about both treating women with breast cancer and climbing, and is excited to have found a way to combine these pursuits.  

Ling Yin
Board Member

Ling is an outdoor enthusiast but has never been rock climbing before!

Ling is a Managing Director and Head of Regulatory Reporting Policy at JPMorganChase Company. When she is not working on regulatory reporting rules & interpretation, she loves to travel, explore new restaurants and ski. 

Ling is a huge supporter of giving back to the community and sits on the board of other charitable organizations. 

It’s just a matter of time before we get her on the cliff. Stay tuned.

 

Meet Our Team

Volunteers

Jane Bishow-semevolos
Program Facilitator and AMGA Single Pitch Instructor

Jane began climbing in 2019 at the Gunks and easily fell in love.  Her eternal smile and good cheer is a staple at the cliff as she enjoys the physical and mental challenges climbing offers. 

Jane loves introducing people to climbing so they too can learn new things about themselves and enjoy the adventure. She also enjoys capturing the climbing moments through photography. 

Karen Kwilecki, RN
Medical Facilitator

Karen has been a Registered Nurse for 42 years. The highlight of her career has been working as a Breast Nurse Navigator for the last 13 years. She is passionate about the mind, body, spirit connection to healing as her professional intention for patient care. To replenish herself, Karen enjoys the outdoors: hiking, cycling, swimming and practicing yoga.

Kere Kuhr
Acupuncture and Holistic Wellness Specialist

Kere is nationally board certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).  She is certified in Chinese herbology and is a Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc) in NY State.  Her goals are to help her clients reduce pain and promote health, energy and vitality through her patient and practitioner team approach.

Testimonials

what they say about us

"I had an amazing day in the Gunks with Anyssa. She's such a respectful and patient teacher. My goal was to get comfortable following on multipitch routes, and she methodically got me there. Her confidence and energy are contagious to be around, and I'm so stoked to keep learning from her."

Emma Garschagen

"Anyssa is a patient and thorough teacher who explains climbing fundamentals so clearly—and makes trying even tricky (or terrifying) new things fun! She’s so positive and encouraging and I felt super safe while learning a ton. I loved working with her and recommend her to all female climbers.”

Andi

"I went out with Anyssa to learn the basics of top-rope anchors and left feeling confident and empowered! She knows her stuff and makes sure to address any concerns of the people she takes out with her. We closed out our learning day with a really fun climb and overall just had a wonderful day! 10/10 recommend."

Colleen

"Climbing with Anyssa made me feel supported and heard. Being emotionally and physically vulnerable in an outdoor activity that relies on safety and trust between partners is hard especially with a stranger, but she made me feel empowered to ask questions and try new things. She constantly put me in a place where I could challenge myself safely and focused on the joy of the experience and the process instead of just reaching the top."

Annika Morgan

"Climbing with Anyssa was just the right combination of challenge and total joy. I felt safe- physically and emotionally- and I learned a ton!"

Jennifer Armstrong

"Anyssa is constantly teaching and sharing her knowledge with you. I’ve learned techniques that I can use over my lifetime to become a better climber and climbing partner. She cares about your growth as a climber and wants to see you independent and sharing the love of climbing with others."

Kate Conklin

"Anyssa has been such an important mentor to me as I grow as a climber. On and off the rock she continues to be a steady and consistent source of positive support and empowered encouragement. She provides a space to learn how to navigate the climbing world as a woman in such an empowered way. I am grateful I've had the opportunity to work with her as I worked on technical skills and challenged myself on the rock."

Sarah Y

I really think women’s brains work differently than men’s. Anyssa's class was perfect! I learned so much and was able to take it in in a way that I completely understood. And there’s no pressure! You just relax and focus on what you’re learning

Mendy