Meet the Team at Epic Angling & Adventure

Our Staff


  • Don Mutert

    Don Mutert

    Owner

    After working with EPIC A&A since 2018, Don took over the entire business in 2023! He grew up in IL but moved to Bozeman, MT in 2015 to pursue a degree in Film and Photography. Most likely it was because he has a passion for the outdoors, fly fishing and bow hunting! Being a fly fishing guide was always in his blood – his uncle guided for 10+ years on the Alaska Peninsula & the remote Russian Kamchatka Peninsula. Don is a Wilderness First Responder and U.S. Coast Guard licensed.


  • Shannon Mutert

    Customer Support

    Don’s sister, Shannon, is also originally from IL, but moved to WI to attend UWP, graduating with a Bachelor of Business Admin/Marketing in 2020. Still living in southwest WI, she gets to fly fish the small, clear streams of the Driftless area where the Brown and Brook trout are plentiful!


  • Paul Marr (“Frog”)

    Guide, AWS 2025

    Paul grew up in Memphis, TN but moved to Denver, CO to attend college… and climb, fish and camp amongst the Rockies.  He was originally inspired by the mountains after his older cousin spent time climbing in South America. But the mountains kept calling after his sister visited Norway. Eventually he embarked on his own trips through NOLS to the Pacific NW, the Yukon, and even spending 6 months in Patagonia. Paul has been with us since 2022 when he started as the camp helper / apprentice guide. 


  • RICK Gildea

    Guide, AWO & AWS, 2025

    Raised in Colorado, Rick was always curious about the folks waving strange sticks over the river. That curiosity led to a passion for fly fishing and a lifelong pursuit began. From the rivers of the West to the remote drainages of Alaska, every trip is a chance for Rick to help create unforgettable memories. A dedicated fly tier, Rick keeps his fly boxes loaded with fresh hand-tied patterns designed to tempt even the most selective fish. His philosophy is simple: good things come to those who fish often. Off the water, Rick is a seasoned wrestling coach and expert in drywall work, bringing discipline, craftsmanship, and focus to everything he does


  • TYLER ASHBY

    Guide, AWO 2025

    An angler from the very beginning, Tyler’s passion for fishing started the moment he could hold a rod. He grew up in the mountains of Virginia, chasing native brook trout and rainbows through the small creeks and rivers of the Blue Ridge. That love for wild places and wild fish eventually led him north to Alaska, where he fell in love with North America’s Last Frontier. Over the years, Tyler has had the honor of guiding a wide range of clients—from business owners and top executives to pro athletes and Hollywood personalities. One of the most meaningful parts of his journey has been working with the Wounded Warriors Outdoor Program. When summer starts to fade, Tyler trades rivers for the tundra, guiding caribou, moose, and brown bear hunts across the Alaskan wilderness. He then heads south for the winter, spending his time in Florida’s Mosquito Lagoon chasing redfish, snook, and tarpon.


  • SAMMY Mutert

    Guide, AWS 2025

    Growing up on the lakes of Wisconsin, Sammy has always had a deep love for the water. After moving to Montana in 2017, she discovered her true passion—fly fishing and rafting. She learned from the best and Sammy quickly became hooked and took every chance she could to guide friends down the river. If humor were a lure, Sammy would be landing trophy fish all day. When she’s not on the water, you’ll find her in the mountains—snowboarding, backpacking, mountain biking—anything that gets her outside and chasing the sun. On workdays, she trades waders for scrubs, working as a nurse and always ready to tend to any bumps or bruises along the way. Traveling to Alaska for this adventure is a dream come true for Sammy, and she’s bringing her passion, energy, and plenty of laughs along for the ride.


  • Kevin Roberts

    Chef, 2025 AWS

    Born in south Louisiana and raised in Mississippi, Kevin is a seasoned culinary professional with over 17 years of experience cooking all over the country. Although trained in classic French cuisine, southern soul food and Cajun/creole are his specialties. Having won awards for both his boudin and bread pudding. As a kid he grew up catching brown and rainbow trout on the White River every summer in Arkansas but his favorite fish to cook and eat are salmon and halibut. When he’s not in the kitchen, he’s spending time with his 8 year old daughter, catching bass and bream in the lakes of Mississippi.

  • Gavin Ekberg

    Camp hand, Apprentice Guide 2025 AWS

    Gavin grew up on a farm in northern Illinois, where he spent his childhood chasing frogs and fishing in the creek that ran through his family’s land. That early connection to the outdoors sparked a lifelong passion for wild places and wild fish. In recent years, Gavin has taken his love of fishing further north, first exploring the waters of Canada and now diving into the ultimate adventure in Alaska. Outside of fishing, Gavin enjoys backpacking and playing guitar, often around a fire after a long day outdoors. He thrives in remote environments and brings both curiosity and grit to every expedition.


Employment Opportunities

If you think you have what it takes to work in a rugged, remote and unforgiving environment that will challenge you both physically and mentally, please contact us about potential staff openings.

Everybody thinks they want to work in Alaska, but the work is NOT for everybody. Our work is perpetual and strenuous and is anything but your “great Alaskan vacation.” We need professional, hard working, serious, team oriented (no ego-maniacs), non-alcoholic and drug free people with a passion for fishing, the outdoors and hospitality.

Email all inquiries and resumes to [email protected].