Meet The Staff

Chris started working at Touchstone in 2019 but has been a regular at Dogpatch Boulders since he started climbing in 2014. After he started climbing, he quickly fell in love with the physical challenge of bouldering and also found that it is a great excuse to eat snacks in the…

From pizza chef to pastor to fledgling academic to content director for start-ups (and many things in-between), Dan has had an unusual career trajectory, to say the least. But it all provided a way for him to pursue his passions—exploring ideas and spiritual practices, surfing, climbing, and generally anything in…

Debra is co-founder of Touchstone, managing the financial side of the business. Her passions are climbing, backpacking, and cycling. She loves the outdoors, especially the backcountry of the Sierra, and hot dry places like Joshua Tree.

Eric discovered climbing in 2011 while lifting weights with the Henry Rollins crowd at the Sacramento State fitness facility. He noticed the gangly Ian Mackaye kids having a bunch of fun on the climbing wall and realized he had found his sport. After completing his BA in Photography, he moved…

Heather hails from the weirdest state ever, Florida, and has a PhD from The Royal Orlando Academy of Dramatic Tricks. She wrote her dissertation on genetically engineering the cuteness of kittens in order to fight terrorism and would love to talk with you about it in length, so definitely bring…

Holly started working for Touchstone in 2014 as a belay staffer, teaching intro classes and folding towels. Since then, she’s worked her way through various positions as Desk Staff from Great Western Power Co to Gym Manager of two LA locations; LA Boulders and Hollywood Boulders. She’s now living it…

Jeffery has been working for Touchstone since 1996, when he got a taste for climbing at Mission Cliffs. Was it for this his life he sought? Maybe So, Maybe Not. When we travel backwards down the number line, we see that Jeffery has done everything from working kids’ birthday parties…

Justin is the strong, silent type who is too busy running an empire to write his own bio. Some would call it lazy, but we prefer to call it telepathic delegation. That’s next level managerial strategy right there. Justin hails from the great state of California, and when his soccer…

Kristen is the luckiest Touchstone Climbing staff member (self proclaimed) because she’s in charge of the beer! Kristen joined the Touchstone Climbing team in 2022 as the Pub Manager at Touchstone Brewing Co during its early(ish) years. She got to experience the frigid Sacramento winters serving outside from a 4-tap…

An Afro-Dominican raised in NYC’s Washington Heights, Lissette de la Rosa is now based in the Bay Area, CA. For 10 years, she created and implemented programs to remove educational barriers for the incarcerated and court-involved populations in both NYC and the Bay Area. She then transitioned to Human Resources….

Mark and Debra Melvin co-founded Touchstone Climbing in 1995 with the help of several dozen passionate climber investors. Mark spent 15 years in the corporate world, which he credits with a sense of how not to run a company. He has a M.S. from U.C. Berkeley in the school of…

Markham started at Touchstone working at Mission Cliffs when it opened its doors in 1995, developing the youth programs and working at the front desk. He moved back to Telluride, Colorado to accomplish some unfinished challenges in skiing and climbing, but returned to open and manage Berkeley Ironworks in 1999….

Monica has been working for Touchstone since 2006. She first started climbing when she was 14 years old and has been in love with the sport and community ever since. When she’s not responding to emails and taking calls she’s either hanging out with her family and friends, off on…

Noah got his start at Touchstone behind the desk at Mission Cliffs and Dogpatch Boulders. But his skills were better used making sure the internet tubes stay up and running, and so we’re happy to have him on the team as our IT manager. He is a self-proclaimed computer language,…

Patti started her Touchstone career at the front desk at CityRock in 1997. She continued working at Berkeley Ironworks when it opened in spring of 2000. Patti is now the Retail Manager for all the Touchstone gyms. She loves working with her dogs, redesigning her house, and hanging out with…

In 2018, Preston just showed up in Berkeley, living out of his van and working out of the back office of Berkeley Ironworks. When he isn’t building the Touchstone Online Retail Shop, coordinating new collabs, or fielding requests for more liquid chalk, Preston enjoys running slowly, backpacking with Lucia, twiddling…

Remi has been working for Touchstone since 2011—the same year she started climbing! After working as desk staff at Mission Cliffs, she opened LA Boulders, Cliffs of Id, Verdigo Boulders, and Pacific Pipe. Now she has the privilege of supporting managers at all Touchstone locations. When she’s not bopping around…

Rob joined the Touchstone team in 2022. As a compulsive outdoor sports person climbing was an obsession for about 12 years that took Rob all over CA from Joshua Tree, to the Needles, to the Sierra Eastside, to big walls in Yosemite. Professionally, Rob’s finance experience is broad, spanning across…

Russell joined Touchstone in 2000 as a subcontractor from Telluride, CO. While snowboarding 100+ days he and the crew build a handful of climbing walls for school’s and the rich and famous. Almost 12 years later he has  made a life in the bay area with his wife Michelle, daughter…

I dislike writing about myself: Ryan (Campy) is a brewer in a climbing company? Really? After getting involved as a beer sponsor for Touchstone’s competition series from Strike Brewing Company in San Jose, Campy had an opportunity to combine his two passions in one place. After parting ways with Strike…

Ryan is a long-standing member of the Touchstone climbing community who’s been hanging around like a stubborn sloth since 2003.  He initially discovered Touchstone when he stumbled upon the grand opening of Diablo Rock Gym. Starting as a casual climber, he eventually became a dedicated full-fledged member. Recognizing his commitment,…

Ryan started climbing in 2003 and finally joined the Touchstone family in 2006 at the long gone, but not forgotten Touchstone San Jose bouldering only gym. He considers himself lucky to have been able to participate in an activity that has given him a strong, supportive group of friends and…

Scott is a legend around here. Almost everything in our gyms from chalk, t-shirts, and shoes comes and goes through Scott’s hands, on its way to you. Frye is a Berkeley staple, you’re likely to see him bombing around on one of his 14 bicycles, coaching wicked ping-pong backhands, or…

Taylor is Touchstone’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Outreach Manager. With a background in creative strategy, community engagement, and experiential marketing, Taylor has worked with tech startups like Udemy and Quora, leading social impact and diversity initiatives. As the founder of Solid Grounds, a creative hub and event agency, she…