Meet the Directors & Staff

Michaux Crocker, Executive Camp Director

Michaux oversees both Traditional Camp Cheerio and Cheerio on the New River. Michaux became the Camp Cheerio Director in 1996, but he has been involved with Camp Cheerio since long before. He became a camper at the young age of 8, worked as counselor and leaderhsip staff while in college, then was hired as the Assistant Director in 1989.

Michaux met his wife and current co-worker, Michelle, at Cheerio in 1989. They were married in 1993 and since then, have loved raising their family surrounded by the wonderful relationships and values that are central to the Cheerio culture.

Growing up in North Carolina, Michaux always cheered for the Tarheels. He was able to fulfill a dream by attending and graduating from the University of North Carolina. In his free time, Michaux loves playing golf, soccer, and basketball, as well as spending time with his wife and two sons, Jack and Luke.

Shane Brown, Director of Traditional Camp and Development

Shane’s Cheerio Journey started as a camper in 1992 and his life has been changed and shaped by his Cheerio experience in countless ways since. He studied Parks and Recreation Management at NC State University and met his wife Cheri while in school there. They have two children, Adaline and Benton, who love being campers at Cheerio as much as Shane did 30 years ago. When not at camp, Shane enjoys cycling, whitewater paddling, and spending time with family.

Jim Hussey, Director Cheerio New River

Jim joined our Cheerio family in 2004 as a senior counselor and lifeguard and loved it so much that he decided to make this his career. Since his start, Jim has taken on the roles of head counselor, events director, and trip leader prior to joining Cheerio in a full-time capacity. Having worked at both of Cheerios’ locations, Jim is excited to bring knowledge and traditions from both camps to Cheerio on the New River as the Director.

Outside of camp, you can find Jim out hiking on local trails, riding bikes with friends, canoeing down various rivers, hanging out with his beautiful wife and daughter, Millie, or playing with their dogs (Graham,Trout and Goose). At camp, you will be able to find Jim working alongside staff to ensure all activities are taught in a safe, fun manner and that each child learns something along the way.

Jim and the other staff work hard to ensure that camp will always be a special place as it allows kids to disconnect from the world of social media and find a connection (and hopefully a love) with the outdoors. They want camp to provide a place where they can be their authentic selves without the fear or worry of being judged.

Mark Miles, Caretaker

Mark Miles was born and raised in Alleghany County and grew up shadowing his father, James Miles, who was Cheerio’s first Caretaker. In 1992, Mark officially became Full Time and has been keeping Camp Cheerio beautiful ever since.

Mark oversees all aspects of maintaining the grounds and buildings of both Traditional Camp Cheerio and Cheerio on the New River. He has a great staff that works for him in keeping up with over 300 acres compbined.

Mark is married to his lovely wife, Lisa, and has a son, Austin, that lives and works in California. He enjoys spending time with his mom and siblings, as well as hunting and gardening.

Michelle Crocker, Director of Marketing and Communications

Michelle first joined the Cheerio family in 1989 as a Senior Counselor. She has also served Cheerio as a Program Director, Media Director, and Head Counselor.

She met her husband Michaux during the summer of 1989, while attending Appalachain State University. After graduation, they were married in 1993 and she has worked at Cheerio over the years in a variety of capacities.

Michelle joined the Cheerio Staff Full Time in 2014 as the Cabin Life and Personnel Director. By far her favorite role is building meaningful relationships with our staff and helping them to achieve their full potential.

The most important part of Michelle’s life are the people with whom she shares her journeys. Her husband Michaux, of 31 years, and two sons Jack (27) and Luke (25), provide Michelle with extreme pride and gratitude. She feels blessed by many wonderful family and friends, and will spend her free time reading, doing puzzles, playing games, laughing, and hanging with her two pups, Sutton and Hazel.

Weldon Hussey, Associate Director Cheerio New River

Weldon joined the Cheerio year-round team in May 2021 as the Marketing and Communications Director transitioning to Associate Director for Cheerio New River in 2022. Known for her passion for a good event, Weldon was in the tradeshow and event industry before coming to Cheerio. She is a graduate of Meredith College earning a degree in Communication.

Splitting their time between Mouth of Wilson, VA and her hometown roots of High Point, NC, when not at the River, you can find Weldon chasing their daughter, Millie, around, dabbling in creating tablescapes or entertaining her family and friends.

She looks forward to the exciting challenge of giving campers lifelong memories on the New River and making each camp gathering a special event!

Martyn Armstrong, Operations and Food Service Director

Martyn joined the Cheerio family as a counselor in 1996. Originally from England, Marytn has since become a citizen of the United States and takes pride in both countries he considers a home.

In addition to planning and preparing the all of delicious menus in our dining hall, Martyn is responsible for all of the great Cheerio gear in the camp store, and is the judge of everyone’s favorite camp competition, Cabin Cleanup!

During the Fall and Spring seasons, Martyn oversees the operations of camp, including building projects, weekend groups and other groups that use the Cheerio facility in the off camping season.

Melissa Butner, Personnel Director

Melissa started at the High Point YMCA as a day camp counselor in 1998 and now over 20 years later is excited to be back at Cheerio. She spent 20 years working with a local school district directing the after school programs and working with special needs students.

Melissa has been married for 15 years to her husband Michael and they have a daughter, Carolina. They also have a fur baby named Nova and she is the sweetest. Melissa’s family loves to watch movies together, attend UNC football games at Carolina and her favorite thing to do is eat the wonderful meals Michael prepares for us. Blue is Melissa’s favorite color, she is slightly obsessed with the number 3, but most importantly, she loves the summer.

Kiran Orcutt, Cheerio New River Personnel Director

Kiran has been a staff member at Camp Cheerio since 2016 and has worked Full Time since 2019. She has filled many different roles, from working with our CREW campers to hiring staff as the Personnel Director.

As of January 2024 Kiran moved to work at Cheerio on the New River as the Personnel Director! Kiran is thrilled to have the opportunity to spend more time at one of her favorite places. She looks forward to being at the River with her husband and their dogs each summer. Kiran enjoyws helping campers and staff create wonderful memories!

Emmie McGlaughlin, Cabin Life Director

Emmie McGlaughlin is the Cabin Life Director at Camp Cheerio, which basically means she hires most of the staff and supervises the cabin counselors throughout the summer.

Emmie’s first summer ever, was as a Counselor In Training (CIT), never having been a camper. She fell in love with Cheerio right away and spent 10 summers at Cheerio, never looking back. In the Fall of 2024 Emmie have started her journey on the Full Time team and is working directly with our Counselors and Head Counselors to keep our campers happy and safe during their sessions. She is excited to be a part of turning campers and staff into the best versions of themselves, year after year. When not at camp, you can find Emmie doing various other activities, such as; hiking, writing, painting, reading, or sewing! She loves learning about rocks, and admiring the world around us. Emmie feels she owes so much of who she is to Camp Cheerio, and feels so fortunate to have the ability to do the same for others now. She can’t wait to see you on the mountain!

Sarah Kutner, Leadership Development Director

Meet Sarah Kutner, the Leadership Development Director at Camp Cheerio! Sarah has held numerous different summer positions at camp including Counselor, Climbing Staff, CIT Director, and is now in charge of the CIT Program!

Camp is Sarah’s favorite place in the world and she feels so lucky to work somewhere so amazing. Being able to help young people develop into great counselors and leaders in our community is a true pleasure.

In her free time, Sarah loves to play fetch with her black lab June, listen to Taylor Swift, and watch Survivor. She can’t wait for the summer!

Eric Orcutt, Program Director Cheerio New River

Eric has been a long-time camper and staff member here at Cheerio. Eric grew up in High Point and has always loved working with children. Originally beginning at the Hartley YMCA as a lifeguard, he quickly became fond of spending his summers throughout college working at Cheerio. After graduating, he spent 4 years being the full-time Activity Development and Training Director at Camp Cheerio. Beginning in January 2024, Eric moved into a new full-time role at Cheerio on the New River! He has enjoyed the challenge for this new adventure, and hopes to spend many more years working for Cheerio.

Luke Crocker, Program Director

Luke moved with his parents at the tiny age of 3 weeks to Camp Cheerio. So, it is not untrue for Luke to say that he has literally spent every summer of his life up at Camp Cheerio. These years have helped to prosper his love for camp and the mountain community, and now he has the opportunity to give back to the place that raised him.

Luke has had plenty of experience in different roles at camp including, Jr. and Sr. Counselor, Kitchen Staff, Climbing Staff, CIT Director, Head Counselor, and Support Staff Liasion. Luke is now excited to be the Full-Time Program Director.

During his free time, Luke enjoys reading, playing video games, skateboarding, and spending time with friends and family. Luke met his fiance’, Andi Wheeler, at Camp Cheerio and plans to marry in October of 2025. They are excited to continue their journey at Cheerio together as a couple.

Andi Wheeler, Riding Director

Andi joined our Cheerio team in the midst of Covid, but that didn’t stop her from falling in love with the people and the atmosphere. She has been working with horses for over 17 years and has been teaching lessons for over 7 years.

Andi graduated from Appalachain State University in 2023 and began working Full Time with Camp Cheerio that summer. Andi met her fiance’, Luke Crocker, her first summer on staff, and plans to marry Luke in October of 2025.

When not spending time at the Cheerio barn, Andi enjoys puzzles, painting, reading, and spending time with her own horse, Gerry, her 2 cats, and bearded dragon.

Cheri Brown, Director of Groups and Health Care

Cheri joined Camp Cheerio full time during the summer of 2022, but has spent several summers at camp in past years. Her role at Cheerio is working with our summer medical team to ensure we are staffed and able to care for kids that come to camp. She also schedules spring and fall weekend groups and Family Camps.

Cheri is a graduate of NC State in Parks and Recreation, where she met her husband, Shane, who introduced her to Cheerio. They have two camp-loving children, Adaline and Benton, and a cat, Daisy. When not at work, Cheri enjoys running, being outdoors, traveling as much as possible, and spending time with friends.

Amy Peters, Director of Housekeeping

Amy Peters grew up in Asheville, NC and met her husband, Gary Peters while playing basketball for Catawba College. Gary introduced Amy to Camp Cheerio in their early years of marriage and she worked a bit before they moved to Georgia and started a family.

In 2019 Amy and her husband returned to NC and joined the Camp Cheerio staff again, but as Full Time this round. Amy oversees all of the Housekeeping Staff and makes sure all of camp is ready for guests both during the summer and throughout the Fall and Spring groups.

When not working, Amy is an avid Pickleball player, competing in tournamnets throughout North Carolina. Additionally Amy enjoys plants, playing games, and spending time with her husband Gary and their three children, Price (29), Reagan (27), and Katelyn (24).

Gary Peters, Program Director

Gary Peters worked at Camp Cheerio back in his younger years as the Director of Basketball Camps. At the time he was working as the Basketball Coach of Catawba College, where he eventually met his now wife, Amy. In 2019, Gary returned to Cheerio to work Full Time.

Gary, know as “Gar” is a man of many talents at Camp Cheerio. You will find Gary around camp each and every day, but will never find him doing the same thing. He holds many titles at camp, including: Weather Man, Program Director, Sign Maker, Transportation Director, Skit Creator, Pickleball Instructor, Leader of Garnation, and much much more. Whatever he may be involved with, you can count on him having a large group of campers following behind.

In his free time, Gary enjoys spending time with his wife Amy and three children, Price, Reagan and Katelyn. You can find Gar piddling in his “lair”, creating TikToks, or watching the Georgia Bulldog sports.

Kathy Harris, Registrar

Kathy’s first experience with Camp Cheerio was as a participant at our Family Camp, and she immediately fell in love with it. She joined the staff in November of 2014 and assists with the registration process for our many campers and groups at both camps.

Outside of Cheerio, Kathy enjoys walking, spending time with her husband and 2 sons, as well as her extended family.