John began his career as a high school art teacher after graduating from Indiana University with a BS in education and a BA in art history. Shortly thereafter, he began his foray into experiential education as an Outward Bound instructor leading canoe expeditions in central Florida.

John has since expanded upon his outdoor education experiences through many different adventures: as a Jungle Cruise skipper at Walt Disney World, as a trip leader and staff trainer for The Road Less Traveled, as an English teacher in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, as the Education Coordinator aboard the historic fishing schooner Roseway, and as the Program Director for the non-profit Cypress Adventures.

Recently, John has earned his M.Ed. in Interdisciplinary Leadership, became an ACA level 2 canoe instructor, and backpacked across the Himalayas in northern India for professional development. In July 2025, he accompanied the Levine Scholars on their NOLS course in southern Montana.  John started with Venture in the summer of '23 as the Assistant Director for Adventure Trips and hopes to continue introducing students to meaningful outdoor experiences for many years to come.