Andrew Deming

Co-Founder

In West Philadelphia I was born and raised, it’s where I spent… nah I won’t go there…although true. I found Rock climbing in my early 20’s, at a time when I was lost in life and not always making the best choices. Everything changed for the better the day I began climbing. My health, my […]

Rory Coughlin

Director of Routesetting, Instructor, Co-Founder

I began climbing in 2002, shortly after moving to Philadelphia, where the existing community there took me under their wing and started me on the climbing path. My passion for climbing has taken me across the world, climbing in Thailand, Sardinia, Sicily, Northern Italy, South Africa, and Mexico. I hope to give back to the […]

Alexi Windler

Assistant Manager, Climbing Coach

I was first introduced to climbing at Tufas Boulder Lounge in August 2019. Having never been involved in sports in my adult life, I was surprised by how suddenly I began to fall in love with the sport. What started out as a hobby eventually became a passion, then a lifestyle and integral part of […]

Idaho Ketcham

Retail Manager, Welcome Desk Attendant

I grew up for the most part around Hockessin, Delaware but also New Hampshire and Maine as a teenager. I first got into climbing when I was 13, frequenting climbing crags in the White Mountains. In 2016, I moved to a small island in the Gulf of Thailand, where I worked as a climbing and […]

Roxy Taginya

Community Programming Director

I started climbing 3 years ago when my sister purchased us an intro to belay class down in Maryland. Being terrified of heights made me reluctant to go but I was quickly bit by the climbing bug and have been climbing ever since (sans pandemia lockdown). I love cheering my fellow climbers on when I […]

Satya Simpson

Communications Manager

I first learned what bouldering was in 2019 while I was at Florida State University and simply trying something new with friends. Climbing quickly became a passion of mine, and I found myself meeting new people, getting stronger, and improving my skills. I moved up to Philly in 2022 and I’m thrilled to be a […]

Ben Berger

Youth Coach, Welcome Desk Attendant

I got back into climbing in the summer of 2019 with my friends in the Appalachian Mountains. It provided a great outlet during the pandemic that I’ve stuck with to this day. I believe that Tufas provides that relaxed, friendly, and inclusive environment that draws so many to the sport. Catch me at the front […]

Lili Chranko

Social Media Assistant / Welcome Desk Staff

Hi, my name is Lili and my pronouns are she/they. I began my climbing journey in my hometown of Baltimore in 2022 and quickly fell in love with the sport. However, in the summer of 2023, I had a bad bike accident. The trauma my body went through flared a condition that I didn’t know […]

Pat Puzio

Routesetter

I started climbing sometime in 2017/2018 and life really has never been the same. I’m especially drawn to the outdoors and deeply appreciate that rock climbing has introduced me to a myriad of destinations and many different people. In 2022, I joined the Tufas route setting team have continued to develop my climbing and critical […]

Andrew Izzo

Routsetter

I grew up just outside Phoenixville, in the Northeast suburbs of Philly. In 2015, at the tender age of 18, I was introduced to climbing at my local gym. Despite an un-athletic background, I was hooked and have spent my time doing little else since then— even at the expense of my grades and social life. […]

Diana Chica

Youth Programs Director

Hello, my name is Diana! I am the Youth Program Director and afterschool coach for your kiddos! I am so excited to see old faces and teach new ones how to climb. As a coach I am passionate about: teaching, getting kids to face their fears on the wall and achieving their climbing projects. A […]

Dan Shin

Welcome Desk Attendant

I work at the Welcome Desk and I started climbing in 2021. I got into climbing for my mental health and developed a passion for it because of the community.

Matt Whiteman

Assistant Head Routesetter

I began climbing in 2019, and have been setting since 2021. The competition climbing community is something I’m very involved in, and that tends to come out in my routesetting as well. I love being a part of the Tufas community and hope to always push people in new, fun ways!

Joby O’Brien

Welcome Desk Attendant

I first started climbing during my last years of high school. I started with mostly indoor climbing for a while, but eventually began climbing outside. I now often go to Haycock Mountain to go bouldering. The aspect of problem solving and meeting new people is what I enjoy most in climbing.  I’m excited to continue […]

Brandon Daniel

Social Media Assistant, Welcome Desk Attendant

I started climbing in August of 2022 when a friend invited me to go bouldering with them. After that first trip outside, I wanted to boulder all the time so I became a member. I really loved the community here and developed a passion for climbing. My background is in film and media, so after […]

Tyler Sim

Routesetter

I began climbing back in high school in 2012 in my hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. A coastal city located several hours from the nearest rocks, there is a surprisingly strong climbing community that has developed with the only bouldering gym in town. I continued climbing through high school and my time at the College […]

Jacob Mermelstein

I was first introduced to climbing in 2020 by my roommate, whom I still regularly climb with. I mostly climb indoors at Tufas, and can be found throwing myself at dyno problems and projecting on the slab wall. When I’m not climbing, I enjoy biking to and fro, and writing/recording music with my band.  Jacob