Your Imperial River Company Guides

It’s a great day on the Deschutes River! At Imperial River Company, our great days start with amazing people to help guide you on your next adventure here in Maupin, OR. Whether you want to raft, fish, cycle or just explore, we have the right people with the right experience to give you the best time ever.

Brian Black

River Guide + Front Desk + Maintenance
Born: Washington State
Lives: Maupin, OR

Working and playing in the outdoors is something Brian has always enjoyed. He says he first started experiencing the outdoors in utero, as a matter of fact! Being outside gives him a great sense of freedom. Brian has worked for the USFS at Mount St. Helens and has a college degree in Process Engineering. He is also trained in Natural Disaster & Evacuation Training, as well as White Water Rescue, First Aid & CPR. Brian is exceptional with kids on the river and has worked for Imperial for 10 years.

Brian and his family live year-round in Maupin with their 2 dogs, Zeke & Walter. He lives by the creed of, “What you put out in the universe is what the universe gives you back.” He is a big believer in shopping local and regularly volunteers in the Maupin community. Outside of the summer rafting season, Brian is a Maintenance Magician! He executes winter projects at Imperial, and is the go-to guy when something breaks. Not sure how this makes him feel, but we all appreciate him!

Favorite River to Recreate on: Deschutes

Favorite Destination: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Worst Food Ever Tasted: Ruz al Bukhari

Words to Live By: The answer is right in front of you, you just need to look in the mirror.

Venmo: @BrianBlack22

Holly Miles

River Guide + Front Desk + Server
Born: Maupin, OR
Lives: Corvallis, OR

Holly can literally say that she has been around Imperial her whole life. Growing up with her parents running the business, she has had “opportunities” to try lots of jobs at the resort. What’s her favorite? Rafting of course! “I love how the river flows by everyday, giving life to everything that touches it.” She recalls many camping trips when she was young and also lots of outdoor playtime. She loves that there is a never-ending supply of things to do and learn about in the outdoors.

Holly is started her college career at Hobart & William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY. As a Geoscience Major, she loved taking a wide variety of classes about all things concerning the natural world, from aquatic biology to meteorology. In NY, Holly longed for the mountainous west and decided to transfer to Oregon State University. She is finishing her Environmental Science BS currently. Holly was a three-sport High School athlete and also played college volleyball for the William Smith Herons. She is always down to play a game on the lawn or sand at Imperial!

Traveling and learning new things are a part of Holly’s core. Her favorite world destination is Costa Rica, where she learned to surf. She also completed a solo road trip across the US when she was just 18. This summer, she will be guiding while also completing two internships on the Deschutes River.

Favorite Deschutes River Rapid: Boxcar, with a good stadium seating!

Favorite River to Recreate on: Deschutes

Words to Live By: It will never be today again. Each day is a fresh start and a new opportunity to create the life you want.

Venmo: @hollykilometers

Brock Fisher

Manager of Outdoor Operations + River Guide
Born: Cincinnati, Ohio
Lives: Maupin, OR

Brock has enjoyed the outdoors his whole life. He fondly recalls many childhood camping trips with his family, while growing up in Michigan. He and his sister would wander the woods and make up games for as long as the daylight would allow. Brock followed his love of all things outdoors to college, where he received a B.S. in Outdoor Recreation Leadership Management & minor in Environmental Studies from Northern Michigan University in 2018. He has additional certifications of Wilderness First Responder, First Aid/CPR and a Level 4 Swiftwater Rescue.

His outdoor working career started as a Raft Guide in Northern Wisconsin. Since then, he has worked seasonal outdoor jobs in 8 different states. Working for Imperial in Oregon, is his 9 the state! Brock firmly believes that everyone has a place in the outdoors, some just haven’t found it yet. He loves connecting people to experiences in the outdoors and inspiring the next generation of stewards. Brock is happily making Maupin his new home with his wife, Chelsie, and Aussie dog, Daja.

Favorite River to Recreate on: the Colorado!

Favorite Destination: Glacier National Park

Best Food Ever Tasted: First beef brisket I ever smoked. I haven’t been able to replicate it since!

Words to Live By: Most important life lesson – It’s okay to ask for help!

Venmo: @Brofishe

Chelsie Fisher

General Manager + River Guide
Born: Michigan
Lives: Maupin, OR

Growing up in an adventurous family, Chelsie has been exploring the outdoors since she could walk. Discovering seasonal changes in the Michigan woods really got her hooked. There is so much variety in colors, seasons and animals. This led her to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. Chelsie started her outdoors career as a sea-kayak guide in Munising, Michigan on Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. She has also been a Teacher Naturalist at an Outdoor School, spent two seasons wrangling horses and 4 seasons as a river guide. This nomadic working lifestyle has allowed her to work in 9 different states. Chelsie makes a conscious effort to give back to her community by caring for the spaces she visits and lives in. It is important to her to be a part of communities that proactively support guides, their ecosystems and education.

Pet: Daja, her snuggly, sassy Aussie mix pup of 8 years. She loves adventure too!

Favorite Destination: Puerto Rico (amazing biodiversity and history!)

Worst Food Ever Tasted: Cilantro

Words to Live By: Everything in life is just a season. Things could be hard and trying now, but what you learn from those difficult moments will be there to help you later.

Venmo: @michiganchelsie

Charlie Shifrin

River Guide
Born: Chestertown, MD
Lives: West Lafayette, IN

Charlie first discovered the outdoors through hiking trips and sailing adventures with his parents along the East Coast. Those early experiences shaped his love for nature and ignited a lifelong passion for exploration. What captured him most was the sense of adventure—the challenges, the unexpected moments, and the constant opportunity to grow. Over the years, he’s gained hands-on experience as both a Climbing Instructor and a Challenge Course Facilitator.