OUR TEAM

Ceara Wynne is an eco-visionary, and community builder with a deep desire to create spaces where both people and the planet can heal.
With a Bachelor of Science in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources with a focus in Global Tourism, and an Associate of Science in Integrative Health, Ceara has intentionally studied the relationship between people, place, well-being, and the natural world. Her education, paired with lived experience across cultures, shaped a clear calling to reimagine travel as something restorative, ethical, and deeply connected to community.

Over the years, she has worked alongside grassroots nonprofits, indigenous leaders, animal advocates, and environmental stewards across the globe supporting sustainable tourism initiatives. These experiences showed her that when travel is intentional and land is honored, it can become a catalyst for healing for ecosystems and for people.
That belief now guides her work with Ponderosa Paradise and her long-term vision of creating eco-retreat spaces and safe havens where guests can slow down, reconnect to nature, and return to themselves. She dreams of building regenerative retreat centers rooted in sustainability, integrative health practices, education, and community, places where wellness meets stewardship, and where rest becomes an act of restoration rather than escape.

"Dr. Anja Wynne’s life has been one of courageous leadership, global service, and radical inclusion. With over two decades of experience in human resources, leadership development, and diversity strategy, Anja has worked across sectors—from the U.S. military to international organizations like NATO and the UN—pioneering programs that champion equity, foster cultural intelligence, and spark lasting change.

After serving in both the U.S. Army and the Air Force, Anja retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. But retirement was just the beginning of her next chapter. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in Organizational Development & Leadership, where her research explored the nuanced impact of intercultural experiences on cultural intelligence—bridging the gap between U.S. and global perspectives. Fluent in German and deeply rooted in cross-cultural work, she spent 12 years living and working overseas, including four years in the private German sector.

As a Level II Certified Cultural Intelligence Facilitator, Anja has launched diversity offices from the ground up, led national-level equal opportunity efforts, and received the prestigious NAACP Roy Wilkins Service Award for her work building community relationships between military bases and civil rights organizations.

Whether coordinating humanitarian logistics in Somalia with the United Nations, supporting disabled veterans through sports, or crafting educational initiatives at major universities, Anja brings grace, grit, and wisdom to everything she does.

Now, as co-founder of The Wynne Group: Holidays with Altitude, Anja infuses each guest experience with the same thoughtfulness, global perspective, and human connection that have defined her life’s work. Her belief is simple but powerful: every space—whether a home, a team, or a country—can be more just, welcoming, and alive with possibility."

Mekdes Dishon, lovingly known as Mek, is the gentle force behind many of the moments that matter most. With a calling rooted in service, Mek has spent her career helping others feel seen, heard, and cared for: whether as a Certified Nursing Assistant or in her current work supporting children with disabilities. She moves through life with an unwavering calm, unmatched patience, and the kind of energy that softens even the sharpest edges.

Mek believes in the magic of the everyday: the healing power of a clean, peaceful home, the nourishment of a home-cooked meal, and the grounding energy of soil between your fingers. She’s a green-thumbed nurturer, a kitchen alchemist, and a keeper of calm in the chaos.
Deeply intentional, fiercely reliable, and endlessly humble.

Her purpose is simple yet profound: to love, to serve, to bring peace where it’s needed most.

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Raised in a family where kindness was the currency, Liam inherited his dad’s big-hearted nature and his mom’s deep sense of curiosity. He also inherited a near-superhuman ability to listen to audiobooks at 2x speed and still recall the details.

Whether he’s leading a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, or learning of mythology, Liam brings a rare mix of playfulness and depth to everything he does.

Though he works in finance by day, Liam is all about relationships and judges his impact on how many people he can influence. He believes in showing up for people fully and consistently.