As a French culinary trained chef, David Brownell showcased his culinaryskills both in the U.S. and internationally. Although successful, his career as a chef did not bring him the fulfillment he had hoped. The search for a rewarding career mixed with his love for travel and the outdoors is what brought him to SOU to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Outdoor Adventure Leadership. As fate would have it, David was introduced to Inner Guide Expeditions for an internship. From the start, David was inspired by Tom and Kelly and was challenged to look within himself, a challenge he has embraced whole-heartedly.
Although he has always felt comfortable around young people, working as a mentor with Inner Guide Expeditions has encouraged him to develop his ability to relate to youth and has brought David that sense of fulfillment he has searched the world for. David always strives to balance two sides of his personality, which serves him well as a mentor. One side embraces the playful exuberance of youth while the other has the emotional and mature capacity to help guide and support someone through their personal struggles. His compassion, warmth and understanding encourage those who meet him to share their stories. David’s warmth and charisma is balanced by his educational and personal experiences. In addition to his culinary and Bachelor’s degrees, he has taken several outdoor courses throughout his adult life, worked as a river guide for Noah’s river adventures in Ashland for five years, as well as travelled to 28 countries. Along with outdoor adventure and international travel, his other hobbies include being a stay at home dad for his baby boy, Gabriel, cooking healthy gourmet meals for his wife, Victoria, or wrestling with his petite golden retriever, Truffle.
