At Door County Adventure Center, every adventure is made possible by an incredible team of guides, leaders, and staff who are passionate about the outdoors and creating memorable experiences for our guests. From kayaking and Segway tours to marketing and operations, each team member brings their own unique skills, experiences, and sense of adventure to DCAC.
This summer, we’re excited to introduce the 2026 DCAC team who help make the magic happen behind the scenes and out on the trails and water. Get to know our team, learn about their favorite adventures, and discover what they’re most looking forward to this season!
Tim Pflieger — Founder & Owner
Tim Pflieger founded Door County Adventure Center over 30 years ago, turning his passion for adventure, leadership, and the outdoors into what DCAC is today. As a professional adventure guide, Tim brings decades of experience and expertise to the team. He is a Level 2 Ropes Course Instructor, Level 4 ACA Coastal Sea Kayaking Instructor, Certified Zip Line Instructor-Guide, Nationally Registered EMT, adjunct faculty instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, and keynote speaker. Tim also earned his Master of Science in Education.
Over the past three decades, Tim has dedicated himself to helping people grow through outdoor adventure experiences and leadership development. One fun fact about Tim is that he is also a mountaineer, with his most recent summit being Mount Kilimanjaro. His passion for adventure and education continues to inspire both guests and staff at DCAC every summer.
Jacob Pflieger — Operations Manager
Born and raised in Sturgeon Bay, Jacob Pflieger is spending his summer helping lead operations at Door County Adventure Center. When he’s not working, you can usually find him playing baseball or planning his next adventure. One of the most unforgettable experiences he’s had was spending three weeks traveling through Kenya. If he could travel anywhere next, Montana is at the top of his list. Fun fact: Jake is a twin! This summer, he’s most excited to meet new people and help create memorable experiences for guests visiting DCAC.
Kierah Hietala — Marketing Intern
Originally from Chassell, Michigan, Kierah is joining the DCAC team this summer as a marketing intern. She loves traveling, hiking, camping, and anything outdoors, making Door County the perfect place to spend the summer. One of her favorite adventures was traveling to Morocco and riding camels through the Zagora Desert before camping under the stars. So far, she has visited 11 countries, and Switzerland is next on her travel bucket list. This summer, Kierah is looking forward to meeting new people, learning new things, and helping share DCAC adventures through marketing and social media.
Lauren Maresh — Marketing Intern
Lauren Maresh joins the DCAC team from Denmark, Wisconsin, as a marketing intern this summer. Outside of work, she enjoys baking and has played piano for 15 years. Her favorite adventure so far has been hiking to the Annaly Bay Tide Pools in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Lauren loves traveling and hopes to visit Greece, Spain, and more places across Europe someday. This summer, she’s excited to meet new people and explore more of the Door County area while helping showcase everything DCAC has to offer.
Sydney Jeanquart — Marketing Intern
Door County local Sydney Jeanquart is spending her summer as a marketing intern at DCAC. She enjoys photography, fishing, traveling, and spending days out on the water. One of her favorite adventures was hiking and cliff jumping through Puerto Rico’s El Yunque National Forest. Sydney hopes to one day travel to Australia, and one of her biggest bucket list goals is to fish on all five Great Lakes. This summer, she’s most excited for new experiences, new connections, and making the most of her last summer in Door County before graduating college.
Alexis Stephan — Marketing Intern
Egg Harbor native Alexis Stephan is joining DCAC this summer as a Marketing Intern. She enjoys photography, painting, concerts, listening to music, and paddleboarding with her dog. Alexis loves adventure and adrenaline-filled experiences, one of her favorites was completing Cedar Point’s “Fearsome Foursome,” a coaster challenge where riders attempt to conquer the park’s four biggest roller coasters in under an hour.
If she could travel anywhere, Alexis would love to visit Japan or Thailand. A fun fact about her is that she absolutely loves roller coasters. This summer at DCAC, Alexis is excited to step outside of her comfort zone, try new things, and gain hands-on experience. She currently holds a certificate in Digital Marketing and will begin pursuing a technical degree in Video Production this fall.
Emily — Tour Guide & Marketing Intern
Emily joins the DCAC team this summer as both a Tour Guide and Marketing Intern. Originally from Waukesha, Wisconsin, she enjoys a wide variety of outdoor and creative hobbies including golfing, swimming, cooking, hiking, painting, and fishing. One of her favorite adventures was exploring the Blue Mountains in Australia, where she experienced incredible scenery and outdoor exploration.
If Emily could travel anywhere next, she would choose Africa. One especially unique and meaningful fun fact about her is that she fosters medical-needs and under-socialized rescue pets for the humane society. This summer, she is especially excited for lighthouse kayak tours and all the new experiences that come with working at DCAC. Emily currently attends the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, where she is studying management and geography.
Emmalyn Larson — Adventure Guide
Emmalyn Larson joins the Door County Adventure Center team this summer as an Adventure Guide. Originally from Tomah, Wisconsin, Emmalyn recently graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Environmental Science. She loves spending time outdoors and enjoys hobbies like slacklining, playing guitar, crocheting, and hiking. One of her favorite adventures was a summer road trip through Glacier National Park, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, and Colorado, where she explored some incredible hiking trails along the way. If she could travel anywhere next, Northern Europe or Germany would be at the top of her list. Fun fact: she’s a huge fan of scary movies! This summer, Emmalyn is excited to work with a fun team and help families create unforgettable outdoor adventures in Door County.
Skyler — Adventure Guide
Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Skyler is joining DCAC this summer as an Adventure Guide. She enjoys hiking, backpacking, traveling, playing soccer, and spending time with friends over card games. One of the most memorable adventures she’s experienced was living in Almaty, Kazakhstan for a summer when she was 16 years old. Skyler loves exploring new places and hopes to one day visit New Zealand and Iceland, although she says Door County is pretty hard to beat. A fun fact about her is that she can speak Russian, German, and Spanish. Currently studying Cognitive Brain Science at Tufts University, Skyler is excited to spend the summer learning more about Door County and helping guests enjoy fun and memorable adventures outdoors.
Izzy — Adventure Guide
Izzy joins the Door County Adventure Center team this summer as an Adventure Guide. Originally from De Pere, Wisconsin, she enjoys spending her time hiking, biking, thrifting, and reading. One of the most exciting adventures she has experienced was zip lining over Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe while traveling on a safari through Southern Africa. If she could travel anywhere next, Patagonia, Argentina would be at the top of her list.
A fun fact about Izzy is that she owns and operates her own vintage clothing company called Strut, which can be found at Green Bay and Door County vintage markets throughout the summer. She graduated from college in Colorado with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is excited to spend her summer outdoors, soaking up the sun and spending time on the water while helping guests create memorable adventures at DCAC.
Chris — Segway Guide
Chris is joining the Door County Adventure Center team this summer as a Segway Guide. Originally from Sturgeon Bay, Chris has lived all across the United States and brings plenty of life experience and stories to the team. He enjoys photography and drone photography, always looking for unique perspectives and beautiful scenery to capture. One of his favorite adventures has been visiting Montgomery Woods in Northern California, a place known for its towering redwoods and peaceful landscapes.
If he could travel anywhere, Chris would love to take a train journey from Norway to Italy, and he’s also planning a future trip to Scotland. Fun facts about Chris? He has driven all the way from Maine to California, worked at Disney, and was even a disco dancer at a nightclub. This summer, he’s most excited to spend time outdoors and do something completely different from the ordinary. Chris also attended film school in Maine, bringing creativity and storytelling skills to the DCAC team.
See You Out There!
While our team comes from different backgrounds and places across the country, we all share a passion for adventure, learning, and helping guests create unforgettable memories in Door County. Whether we’re guiding tours, capturing content, managing operations, or welcoming visitors, we’re committed to making every experience at DCAC safe, fun, and memorable.
Whether you’re looking to kayak, Segway, zip line, or just explore Door County, we’re excited for another season of adventure and can’t wait to meet everyone who joins us this summer. Be sure to say hello if you see us out on a tour, at the Adventure Center, or around Door County, we’re looking forward to sharing the adventure with you!
