ABOUT NAHA

Kevin Kent manages Green Tortoise San Francisco and currently serves as President of NAHA’s Board of Directors. Before moving into hostel management, he spent eight years guiding camping trips with Green Tortoise Adventure Travel, bringing people together in a hostel on wheels while exploring remote national parks. Kevin also holds a degree in graphic design. His background brings together adventure travel, hostel operations, creative work, branding, and marketing, giving him a broad perspective on the tourism industry and a genuine enthusiasm for connecting people.

Bobby began his Hostel journey while backpacking Europe in college. After traveling through countries staying in Hostels, Bobby was enlightened to the unique style of hospitality hostels offer. After college, Bobby got a part time job at USA Hostels in San Diego where me his future business partner. International Travelers House was formed shortly after in 2012 with the mission of Spreading Peace Through Knowledge of Culture a ultimate hosts. At their hostels today, Bobby enjoys delighting travelers at ITH Hostels with homestyle version hosting which feels like you are visiting your best friends house!

Matías Frank is an Argentinian entrepreneur with a background in technology, having worked for companies including IBM and EXCLE, where he gained experience in systems and management. Seeking to create affordable, welcoming spaces for travelers, he founded CHE Hostels, which has grown into Mexico’s largest and best-ranked hostel chain, with locations in nine destinations. CHE Hostels focuses on creating inclusive communities and offering local experiences and activities that enrich each guest’s stay.

Frankie Maduzia is a Pacific Northwest native and an active pursuer of global travel. While working as a medical technician, long hours paired with extended time off gave him opportunities to travel the world and connect with people from many cultures. Those experiences shaped his hope that Bunk+Brew could help fellow travelers do the same. Frankie currently lives in Tomar, Portugal, where he is developing a co-living and co-working project for digital nomads. Frankie is a founding board member for NAHA. 

Erin, also known as “Power Woman,” has summited the nine major peaks of the Sahara Desert. She is co-owner and managing partner of Gaslamp Hostel, where she helps keep the building’s backpacking tradition alive. Erin brings extensive experience as both an instructional designer and hostel operator, having gotten her start in the industry with USA Hostels before helping co-found Gaslamp Hostel. San Diego Magazine recognized her as a 2023 Tourism + Hospitality Rising Star. Erin is a founding board member for NAHA. 

Nina Erickson opened Treasure State Hostel in Bozeman, Montana, near Yellowstone National Park, in 2015 at age 24 and hasn’t slept much since. She is passionate about creating welcoming spaces for travelers and values the strong community NAHA provides for hostel owners and operators. Her love of travel comes second only to her love of dancing. She kindly asks not to be invited to anything even remotely fun, since she has an extremely difficult time saying no to a new adventure.

J. Charles Griggs is an adopted Oregon native, licensed Oregon attorney, entrepreneur, and socialpreneur. After several years in the IT industry, he took a break, bought a 4x4, and drove from Mexico to Panama. That journey helped inspire Bunk+Brew and the North American Hostel Association, setting the stage for many more adventures. Since then, he has traveled across every inhabited continent, nearly 100 countries, and more than 1,000 destinations, reflecting both his curiosity and his enduring connection to travel. J is a founding board member for NAHA. 

Alfie McKenzie began his hostel career as a volunteer in Europe and has since worked at nine different hostels across four countries. Over the past decade, he has progressed from front desk agent to general manager, working nearly every hostel role in between. His experience includes managing the legendary Flying Pig hostel and HI Whistler. Today, Alfie serves as Editor-in-Chief of HostelManagement.com and GM of Raging Elk Hostel. Throughout his career, he has been driven to bring people together and build pride in the work and mission of hosteling at every level.

Born and raised in the vibrant city of El Paso, Stephanie has been immersed in the world of hostels from an early age. She is the fourth generation in her family to manage the historic Gardner Hotel & Hostel, combining her family’s century-old legacy with her passion for creating authentic travel experiences. As an entrepreneur and lifelong traveler, Stephanie has also worked on hostel booking platforms and rental ventures, always striving to promote community-based travel and cultural exchange.

A California native and Architect, Terri has been an avid hosteler for years. Her interest in sustainable architecture led her to become involved in hostels in both feasibility, consultation, and design and construction. Serving on the Santa Cruz Hostel Society Board of Directors, a non-profit organization, we negotiated a lease for the Santa Cruz Hostel and rehabilitated historic cottages in a Santa Cruz City Park to become the hostel. We continue to work as a non-profit organization to spread the joy of hosteling and community.

Jim Kennett has spent nearly 50 years developing and operating hostels. He developed four hostels in Oregon and has consulted on the development of many others across the United States. Jim holds a degree from The Evergreen State College and earned union carpenter status, giving him a thorough understanding of construction from design through implementation. He also served for 15 years on the national board of HI USA, representing private hostels within the network. Today, Jim and his wife, Britta, own and operate Northwest Portland Hostel. Jim is a founding board member for NAHA. 

Ryan Oetting operates Monterey Hostel and serves as Executive Director of HostelingOn, a nonprofit formed during COVID-19 to preserve and promote hostels facing closure. His path into the industry began while traveling as a freelance designer and photographer across Africa, South America, New Zealand, Mexico, and Europe, where his first hostel stay on a goat farm sparked a lasting connection to hosteling. He later spent nearly a decade managing Music City Hostel and the Nashville Downtown Hostel in Tennessee. Ryan holds a BA in graphic design and an MBA in Responsible Business.