Meet the Directors

Matt Jackowitz

Matt’s journey in the camping world began in 1992 when he stepped off the bus at Camp Echo Lake as a nine-year-old and never looked back. After 14 years as a camper and seasonal staff member, he joined the professional team full-time. Matt joined Ashleigh as an Assistant Director at Camp Walt Whitman for a number of years before they transitioned over to Winaukee.

A specialist in logistics, recruitment, and program development, Matt is deeply involved in the industry as an ACA Standards Visitor and a former committee member for the ACA Tri-State and EPIC programs. He holds a degree from the University of Maryland and an MBA from Iona College. A dedicated supporter of Project Morry, Matt served as the long-time Chair for their “Dare to Dream” event. He lives with his wife, Ashleigh, and their sons, Cooper and Henry—whom he is raising to be die-hard (if long-suffering) fans of the Nets, Mets, and Giants.

Ashleigh Jackowitz

Originally from Boise, Idaho, Ashleigh’s passion for the camp industry began on the waterfront at Camp Walt Whitman. After nearly two decades in the industry, she now specializes in the camper experience, staff development, and cultivating a positive community culture.

Ashleigh’s leadership style is uniquely informed by her background as a college athlete at Willamette University and a multi-year journey around the world. Having visited every continent, including a year spent teaching English in South Korea, she brings a global perspective and a spirit of adventure to everything she does.

A respected voice in the industry, Ashleigh has served as a Program Track Chair for the ACA Tri-State Conference and as a speaker at industry conferences. She is also a deeply committed advocate for Project Morry, which helps youth from underserved communities experience the magic of summer camp. Ashleigh lives in Ridgefield, CT, with her husband, Matt, and their two sons, Cooper and Henry.

Tom Daniel

Originally from England, Tom earned his B.S. in Sport and Exercise Science from Cardiff Metropolitan University. Over a nearly 20-year career in the camping industry, he rose from camp counselor to Assistant Director at Lake of the Woods & Greenwoods Camps, later transitioning into technology as the Business Development Manager for CircuiTree. An avid adventurer, Tom has summited Mount Kilimanjaro, completed Ironman Texas, and tackled the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim. Today, he serves as Vice President and board member for Run2Revive, an organization dedicated to fighting Alzheimer’s and ALS. Tom resides in Nashville, TN, with his wife, Jenny.

Chandler Barnard

Chandler is our Assistant Director who oversees much of our athletic and creative programming – ensuring all Winaukee campers receive incredible sports instruction. A graduate of Trinity College in Connecticut with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, he was a two sport athlete, winning a National Championship in baseball in 2008 (earning 1st Team All-American honors) and was an all-conference running back & quarterback on the football team.

After graduating, Chandler had a 7-year career as a professional baseball player before getting his M.B.A. from Texas Tech.

Chandler has coached all ages ranging from five to twenty-five, including several top Texas-based travel teams and at the collegiate level. Since joining Winaukee for the summer of 2016, Chandler has been instrumental in our athletic programming and camp leadership.