Sara Brown Bell ‘02

Major: Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education (WLEE)
Was: Alllll about kayaking
Is: Wife, Mom and Entrepreneurial Powerhouse
Current Title: Owner, Green River Adventures

Sara believes that the world has a fairly reductive approach to how we view success. “We talk about people based on what they do for a living, how they make their money; or it’s based on their title in the community or other superficial attributes. It’s silly, to me.”

Sara takes risks – and happily so (check her out on the right!), so Brevard College was a perfect fit for her. While at BC, she took part in a 12-day backpacking trip through the Joyce Kilmer Forest, part of the Nantahala National Forest. “There was snow on the ground when we hiked in and by the time we hiked out nearly two weeks later, we were greeted by flowers. It’s hard to describe how inspiring that experience was – truly watching, smelling and hearing the seasons change.”

At BC, Sara says that she got a great education that felt like she was playing at the same time. She kayaked, engaged the faculty in her pursuits and began to develop her own opinions and goals. “In the WLEE program, we did so much field research and work that was beyond the lectures, reading, and research that I felt that I was getting my extra-curricular itch scratched while I was earning my degree.”

In 2006, Sara took over the operations at Pisgah Whitewater, an adventure business located in the Western North Carolina mountains. She taught a five week kayaking course and loved it and embraced the interplay of fun and business. When she soon after bought the business and changed its name to Green River Adventures, she tripled the company’s profits in a single year. 

Brevard College helped Sara become more hospitable to the process of integrating knowledge and experience. “The biggest thing that I took away from BC would absolutely be getting the practice of giving and receiving constructive feedback. We all had to put ourselves out there and demonstrate what we knew and thought about the topic at hand. I learned to remove my ego from the process and truly improve my processes, goals and thoughts through others’ viewpoints.”

BC also helped her find and develop a sense of balance and harmony in her life. Now, as a business owner, she still strives for it everyday. “I have so much to consider when running a business … the clients and their happiness, the bottom line, my own happiness and the rewards of being the guide. Sometimes I review my goals for Green River and get tired, but then I look at my son Finn and I am inspired to improve in everything. And I just keep going!” 

Sara is a contributor to her community as well these days, as most BC students are, wherever they are. She gives back via her business model and her connection to those who will benefit by the strength of her business.

What’s next?

“I want to keep doing what I’m doing, but enjoying it even more than I am now. I love the work, but would like to pass the torch to my crew so that I can plug into the community in other ways while continuing to be a responsive and happy mom, wife and community member.”

Perfect Harmony, indeed.