Kody Smith

General Manager (He/Him)

With a solid foundation in my passion for the outdoors, I decided to further my education in outdoor leadership through a National Outdoor Leadership School in Alaska. Here, I decided that my passion was to help others develop the skills and obtain the resources needed to succeed in the outdoor industry.

I absolutely love Zion Guru and everything that we stand for. I am extremely passionate about our team and helping guests feel welcome in the outdoor community and a sense of belonging in outdoor adventure.

My life today is far beyond what that troubled teen would have imagined. I am a husband, a father, a leader, and most importantly a person who has a sense of belonging and purpose thanks to the way I have been impacted by adventure and the outdoors.

As the current General Manager of Zion Guru, I get the opportunity to help our team connect to our visitors in a meaningful way and relive the awe of Zion in each of these interactions.

I grew up in a small town in Washington State that was greatly influenced by the outdoors in the way of Fish and Game. My earliest memory of being outdoors was a crisp fall morning deer hunting with my father. From the groggy 5am start, hiking into the mountains at dark and hearing the sound of a bull elk bugle in the distance, these expreinces planted a seed that would sprout many years later.

I found myself on a troubled path in high school, out of shape and really longing for a way to feel connected to others and my surroundings. I was re-introduced to the outdoors during an attempt to change my direction in life at a wilderness therapy program in Montana. Here I would challenge myself to change and find peace and belonging in the outdoors.

I continued my journey for 7 years participating in an active lifestyle community in Northeast Georgia exploring the Appalachain Trail and traveling to Colorado to pursue my love of mountaineering and climbing 14ers.

Meet our Staff

Kody Smith