Derek DeBruin
AMGA Certifications Held: AMGA Certified Rock Instructor, AMGA
Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Other Certifications Held: Wilderness First Responder, AIARE Level 1,
Leave No Trace Trainer
Derek began working at an indoor climbing wall during the first year
of his undergraduate career and has been hooked on climbing ever
since. He has climbed all over the country, from the deserts of Utah
and the mountains of Colorado to the granite of the Northeast and the
hidden gems of the South.
Derek holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of South
Carolina and a MA in Higher Educaiton Administration from the
University of Alabama. He is an an American Mountain Guides
Association certified Rock Instructor and a member of the Single Pitch
Susan DeBruin
Position: Full-Time Instructor
AMGA Certifications Held: Single Pitch Instructor
Other Certifications Held: AIARE Level 1, Leave No Trace Trainer 
Susan's first adventures in rock climbing took place in 2002 on the smooth granite dome of Looking Glass Rock. Since then, she has traveled throughout the United States to climb at iconic destinations as far West as Joshua Tree and as far North as the Gunks, but she has always found her heart drawn to the climbing community in Western North Carolina.
After a decade of recreational climbing, Susan has chosen to live the adventure full time by pursuing a career in professional climbing instruction. She is an AMGA certified Single Pitch Instructor and an LNT Trainer. Susan also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and a Master of Library and Information Studies.
Keep up with Susan and her partner, Derek DeBruin, at http://rockriverrun.blogspot.com/
Russell Hobart
Position: Instructor
AMGA Certifications Held: AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
Other Certifications: Wilderness First Responder
Employeed by FMG Since: 2012
Originally from the flatlands of northern Illinois, Russell started climbing in the Red River Gorge when he lived in Kentucky. He began guiding trips out to Devils Tower and the Black Hills of South Dakota while working for a climbing gym in Minnesota. Until moving to North Carolina, he did most of his climbing out west in Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, Utah and California. His favorite climbs are adventurous, multi-pitch routes with long approaches and long pitches.
Russell has a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Portland and will finish his M.S. in Experiential Education from Minnesota State Mankato this spring. His research interest is in using climbing as a therapeutic tool.
Clay Kennedy
Certifications held: AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
Clay Kennedy began climbing nine years ago while atteding Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. While being centrally located throughout the U.S., he was able to travel and climb in many world-class destinations like Yosemite Valley, Zion National Park, and Eldorado Canyon. After college, he move to North Carolina to work for Outward Bound and started exploring the granite monoliths of the east. Clay has a passion for sharing his love of climbing and was excited to begin working for FMG in 2012. Clay is an AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor and has taken his AMGA Rock Instructor Course. He is also a wilderness first responder.
