Our Leadership Team

Founder/Director/Guide

WIll Lillard

A New Jersey native, Will spent his summers backpacking at camp in Colorado and fishing at his grandparent's in Western North Carolina. His time spent in the outdoors instilled a growing passion for environmental conservation. After playing lacrosse and earning a BA in Political Science at Kean University, he followed his love for the outdoors into teaching outdoor education. He has led outdoor education trips for Sanborn Camps in CO, Wilderness Adventures in HI, WY, MT, Naturalist at Large in CA, and the Outdoor Academy in NC. After graduating from a fly fishing guide school at Cutthroat Angler in Silverthorne, CO, he went to work for Crested Butte Angler. While exploring the small mountain streams and lakes during his time off, he decided to turn his passion for the outdoors into a career. He returned to school at NYU for his graduate degree in Environmental Conservation Education. During his time at NYU he worked at the Orvis 5th Avenue store in the fishing department, where he taught fly fishing 101 and fly tying 101. He also volunteered for Trout Unlimited, teaching and developing lesson plans for their youth education program, "Trout in the Classroom." His passion for fly fishing, conservation, and teaching inspired him to create Lillard Fly Fishing Expeditions as his Master's thesis. His goal is to encourage appreciation for nature through participation in backpacking and fly fishing while inspiring future generations of sporting conservationists. When he's not working, he enjoys adventures with his wife Kim and three kids, River, Bailey, and Blake. He is a Wilderness First Responder, Registered Maine Guide, Montana Outfitter, and Colorado Outfitter.

Rocky Mountain Regional Director/Head Guide

Charlie Parr (April 21, 1985 - September 2, 2021)

When LFFE became a reality, Charlie was the first person Will called. From that moment forward, he was dedicated to building LFFE into what it is today. He was an avid outdoorsman whose parents taught him to fly fish when he was just nine years old. Since then, he spent his summers exploring the mountains and rivers of southwest Colorado. Upon graduating from high school in Oklahoma City, Charlie threw himself into a life dedicated to exploring the outdoors. While pursuing a degree in History and Political Science at Colorado College, Charlie led outdoor education trips for Sanborn Camps, held a leadership position in the ski club, engaged in conservation work, and was involved in planning and executing many backcountry excursions with friends and various organizations on campus. Over the next 16 years, Charlie lived, worked, and played in Colorado, Montana, and New Zealand, gaining a great deal of experience in various outdoor pursuits, including backpacking, fly fishing, whitewater rafting, backcountry skiing, sea kayaking, and mountaineering. Through his experiences, Charlie ascertained that “for young adults, active participation in the outdoors is invaluable for fostering the growth of important life skills such as leadership, responsibility, self awareness, and independence. It also teaches the importance of environmental and resource conservation and just simply knowing how to have fun outside anytime, anywhere.”  Charlie died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm stemming from an undiagnosed preexisting condition in Denver on Thursday, September 2, 2021. He was 36 years old. Charlie is survived by his wife, Jessica Parr, MD in Salida, his sister Katy Parr in Carbondale, his parents Doug Parr and Patricia Gallagher in Oklahoma City, his Maine Coon cat Grayling, as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, countless friends, and LFFE alum, who will miss him today, and all days. He left a lasting impact on LFFE, and a scholarship fund has been established to help build on that legacy.  

Charlie Parr Memorial Scholarship
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Office Director/Trip Coordinator

Kim Lawson

Kim graduated with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Before returning to school for her Master's degree in Special Education, she discovered the joy of teaching outdoor education.  While leading wilderness trips for adolescents with Naturalist at Large in CA, Kim loved showing girls how much fun backpacking and river trips could be. Kim used to spend the school year teaching a Kindergarten class for autistic children. Now she manages our office full time. Kim does all the behind-the-scenes work that keeps our trips running smoothly. If you have any questions during the summer, Kim is happy to help. When she is not managing our adventures, she can be found on her own adventures with Will and their children River, Bailey, and Blake.  

Montana Regional Director / Head Guide

Pat Sheehy

Another NJ native, Pat Sheehy, first learned about LFFE when Will gave a presentation to his Boy Scout troop. Already an experienced angler Pat jumped at the opportunity to refine his skill on our 2012 Blue Ridge Adventure. Three trips later, he started working as a co-leader while attending Montana State. He earned a degree in Early Childhood Education in 2020, and we are lucky to have him direct our Montana and Yellowstone Expeditions. Pat's participants love his sense of humor, patience on and off the river, and his knack for putting kids on big fish. When he is not on the water, you can find him hunting ducks and turkeys. Pat is a certified Wilderness First Responder and licensed Montana Guide. 

Colorado Regional Director / Head Guide

Jack Seiver

Jack was actually the first person to ever sign up for a Lillard Fly Fishing Expeditions trip. I have lost count of the number of LFFE trips he has been a part of, but they have certainly fostered a love for outdoor education. After receiving an Environmental Science degree from Santa Clara University, Jack mastered the art of leading wilderness trips for teens. He follows the footsteps of Will, and further trains his outdoor education skills while working for Naturalists at Large during the Fall and Spring. Most of his LFFE experience has been in Colorado, but he also led two Yellowstone Adventures in 2018. Jack is currently based out of Crested Butte and directing the Colorado Expeditions.

Summer Office Manager

Margot Drennen

Margot teaches preschool during the year, but when it comes to the summer, she is here to help with all your questions. Margot manages our office, making sure someone is available to answer your calls from 8AM to 5PM, 7 days a week. After hours she is available in case of emergency. When not working she enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, two dogs, and the occasional foster dog from the local shelter.

Medical Advisor/Fly Fishing Instructor

Dr. Jessica Parr

Jessica grew up fishing on the Connecticut River before attending Colorado College, where she fell in love with the mountains. Fly fishing has remained a central part of her life throughout her medical training.  She has observed that many of the skills developed through fly fishing can contribute to academic and professional success, which is one of the reasons why she loves teaching adolescents how to fish and safely enjoy the outdoors.  Jessica is also a fly fishing instructor for Casting for Recovery, an organization that plans therapeutic retreats where women affected by breast cancer can enjoy nature and learn how to fly fish.  Jessica is a board-certified MD specializing in internal medicine and is completing a subspecialty cardiology fellowship.

Meet our Guides

We provide top-quality teen and custom wilderness fly fishing expeditions at Lillard Fly Fishing Expeditions. Therefore, our guides must possess diverse skills not required of a typical fly fishing guide. This is why our team of Trip Directors and Guides are almost entirely returning staff and alums of our programs. Their LFFE experience had a lasting impact on their lives, and now they work to provide that same experience for the next generation of LFFE guides. Many of them have been a part of LFFE for over five years, and we are proud to call all of them a part of the Lillard Fly Fishing Family. They are excellent guides, great leaders, and, most importantly, great people. 

Montana Regional Director / Head Guide

Pat Sheehy

Another NJ native, Pat, first learned about LFFE when Will gave a presentation to his Boy Scout troop. Already an experienced angler Pat jumped at the opportunity to refine his skill on our 2012 Blue Ridge Adventure. Three trips later, he started working as a co-leader while attending Montana State. He earned a degree in Early Childhood Education in 2020, and we are lucky to have him direct our Montana and Yellowstone Expeditions. Pat's participants love his sense of humor, patience on and off the river, and knack for putting kids on big fish. When he is not on the water, you can find him hunting ducks and turkeys. Pat is a certified Wilderness First Responder and licensed Montana Guide. 

Trip Director

Will Yantis

Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Will grew up fishing and hunting in the fields of Western Kansas and the Ozarks of South Missouri. After a trip with his father to Montana at the age of 8, he knew he would eventually move out west. He started with LFFE in 2015 as a participant in our Yellowstone Adventure. After a few more LFFE trips in Yellowstone, Maine, and the Winds, Will graduated high school and made his way west to the University of Denver, where he is majoring in business marketing with a minor in sustainability. When Will isn’t in class or at Pioneer hockey games, you will find him on local rivers or in search of the next storm. Will joined the LFFE team as a co-leader after his freshman year and is looking forward to his fourth guiding season and second as Director of the Thorofare and Yellowstone Expeditions. 

Cole Hauswirth

Cole's first summer guiding was in '22. He did his first Yellowstone expedition as an eighth grader, and after that trip, he fell in love, doing three more Yellowstone expeditions in the years to come. He went on the first Thorofare trip as a camper and later returned to co-lead the second one. Cole grew up in San Francisco and is currently a Sophomore at Colorado College, where he is pursuing a major in Economics and a minor in Environmental Studies. He grew up fishing the native trout and steelhead rivers of California and exploring the bay and delta for striped bass and halibut. When he isn't fishing, he can be found on the ski slopes!

Trip Director

Hunt McCleary

Hunt grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, but has since lived in a few different places, including Steamboat Springs. He is a student at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, and is pursuing a degree in Health and Exercise Science. Hunt went on his first Lillard trip seven years ago and immediately fell in love. He knew he wanted to work for LFFE after his first trip to Maine; he hopes he can help ignite someone’s passion for fly fishing just like the Lillard guides did for him. When he’s not on the river, you can find him hunting ducks, trail running, skiing, or camping. Hunt is a certified Wilderness First Responder and loves throwing meat for buck nasty browns.

Connor Stanley

Born and raised in North Carolina. Connor grew up with the abundant small wild trout streams in Western NC and East TN. What started as a hobby turned into an obsession. Connor first started with Lillard on the Yellowstone expedition in 2018. He returned the following summers to do other Montana and Maine expeditions. Since then, Connor has guided the Montana Guide Schools and Road Trips. His time working for LFFE has assured him that guiding is a full time passion. Most recently, Connor is working at Trophy Water Guide Service in East TN back near his home waters doing float trips on the South Holston and Watauga rivers. Getting others on fish is Connor's focus most of the time. You can find him skiing, hunting, and camping all throughout the East Coast the rest of the year. 

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Lillard Fly Fishing Expeditions was started in 2010 as a graduate thesis for my Master's Degree in Environmental Conservation Education at NYU. The operating premise was simple - by coupling amazing wilderness fly fishing camps for teens with environmental education and service learning we can help inspire future generations of fly fishing conservationists. We have been growing our unique list of trips and experiences ever since.

When it comes to choosing a summer program for your teen the options are endless. For the teen who loves to fish, be outside, and has a strong sense of adventure we have made the choice easy. We are the leader in teen fly fishing adventures and are dedicated to providing the best backcountry fly fishing experience with opportunities for teens to engage in leadership training, community service, and backcountry camping.

Sincerely,

Will Lillard signature

Will Lillard, Founder/Director/Guide

Contact Us

[email protected]

Lillard Fly Fishing Expeditions
2540 King Road
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768

(828) 577-8204