For many people, work is something to get through.
For TJ, it's something to look forward to.
Every morning, instead of commuting to an office or staring at a computer screen, he launches a paddleboard onto some of Central Florida's most beautiful waterways. His work mates are manatees, osprey, turtles, and many other forms of wildlife. His "office" doesn’t have any walls, fluorescent lights, and the only meetings involve sharing his passion with fellow kayakers and guests eager to experience a side of Florida they've never seen before.
"I literally tell people I go to work to relieve stress," he says with a grin.
It's hard to imagine a better description of both TJ and the culture at Venture Outdoors.
A Career That Found Him
TJ didn't grow up planning to become a kayak guide.
Years ago, he was working in information technology, spending most of his days indoors in front of a computer. Like many people, he needed a way to disconnect after work. That escape came in the form of a paddleboard and his dog.
What started as casual paddles quickly turned into something much bigger.
After moving back to Florida, TJ purchased a paddleboard from a local outfitter. Just over a week later, they offered him a job leading tours. More than eleven years later, he's still guiding guests through Florida's waterways, only now he's doing it with Venture Outdoors, a company whose philosophy closely matches his own.
Why Smaller Is Better
Ask TJ why he joined Venture Outdoors, and he doesn't mention equipment or locations first.
He talks about people.
Having worked for larger tour companies in the past, he experienced what it's like to guide groups of twenty or thirty guests at a time. While those tours certainly got people out on the water, something was often missing: real connection.
"When you have that many people," he explains, "you barely get to know them."
That's one of the things he appreciates most about Venture Outdoors’ approach. By intentionally keeping groups small, guides can actually spend time with every guest. Questions become conversations instead of quick answers. Wildlife sightings become shared moments rather than something shouted to the back of a crowd.
“Guests aren't simply following a guide, they're exploring alongside me.”
That difference may seem small on paper, but on the water it changes everything.
Sharing the Florida Most People Never See
TJ believes one of Florida's greatest attractions isn't found behind admission gates or at the end of a long line.
It's found in the springs.
While millions of visitors flock to theme parks each year, he wishes more people realized that some of Florida's most memorable experiences happen in quiet places where the loudest sound is a paddle dipping into the water.
Natural springs, hidden waterways, towering cypress trees, playful manatees, and countless species of birds create a side of Florida that many visitors, and even lifelong residents, never experience.
"Most people don't even realize these places exist," he says.
Helping guests discover that hidden Florida is one of the most rewarding parts of his job.
The Joy Never Wears Off
After more than a decade on the water, you might expect wildlife sightings to become routine.
For TJ, they never have.
His favorite animal has always been the manatee, and his face lights up when he talks about one in particular.
Matthew the manatee.
Matthew became a familiar visitor during TJ's tours. Over the years, the gentle giant would regularly swim alongside his paddleboard, sometimes placing a flipper right beside it as if stopping to say hello. TJ laughs as he recalls the hundreds of photos he collected over the years.
It's a story that says something important about him.
To TJ, wildlife isn't simply something to point out for guests. It's something he genuinely treasures. That enthusiasm is impossible to fake, and guests quickly find themselves sharing in his excitement whenever a manatee surfaces nearby or an osprey dives into the water.
Helping Guests Feel at Ease
For many first-time paddlers, stepping into a kayak comes with a few nervous questions.
What if I tip over?
What if I can't keep up?
What about the alligators?
TJ has heard every one of those questions countless times, and he enjoys watching those worries disappear within the first few minutes of a tour.
After eleven years on the water, he's never experienced an incident with an alligator. Most simply want to be left alone, and once guests understand that, they quickly relax and begin focusing on the beauty around them instead of what they were worried about before launching.
That transformation, from nervous anticipation to genuine enjoyment, is one of his favorite parts of guiding.
More Than Just a Tour
If you ask past guests what makes TJ memorable, many won't start by talking about wildlife.
They'll probably mention his sense of humor.
TJ believes a great tour should be informative, but it should also be fun. He enjoys joking with guests, answering questions, and making everyone feel comfortable enough to simply enjoy the experience.
"A lot of people expect a guide to just stand there and give facts," he says. "I'd rather interact with people."
That approach reflects something Venture Outdoors believes deeply: the best adventures aren't scripted. They are shared.
Why Venture Outdoors?
Spending time with guides like TJ quickly reveals what makes Venture Outdoors different.
Yes, you'll paddle through beautiful waterways.
Yes, you'll likely see incredible wildlife.
But perhaps more importantly, you'll spend your day with someone who genuinely loves these places and wants you to love them too.
That passion can't be manufactured. It comes from years spent on the water, countless unforgettable wildlife encounters, and a sincere desire to help people experience something meaningful.
For TJ, success isn't measured by how many tours he leads in a week.
It's measured by something much simpler.
"I just want people to have a good time."
Judging by the smiles that leave the dock each day, he's accomplishing exactly that.
Because at Venture Outdoors, you're not just booking a kayak tour.
You're spending a few hours exploring Florida with someone who feels like a friend.