The Explorers

  • Man smiling outdoors in winter with mountains, snow, and an ice waterfall in the background. He is wearing orange sunglasses, an orange headband, and a dark blue jacket, carrying a backpack.

    Mark Reed

    PROJECT FOUNDER

    Mark is our team’s visionary. He’s a modern-day explorer fueled by an all-out obsession to tell one of history’s greatest assist stories.  During his second season guiding in Antarctica, Mark first learned about the Shackleton’s support crew and he’s been doggedly determined to follow their trail ever since.

  • A person dressed in winter gear, including ski goggles, a red jacket, and a face covering, standing in a snowy landscape.

    Devon McDiarmid

    EXPEDITION LEAD

    Like the men of the Ross Sea Party, Devon's been assisting high-profile expeditions since the age of 22. He is one of the most experienced and respected polar guides in the world. He has skied to the South Pole more than anyone on earth and has led expeditions to the North Pole and completed a record-setting crossing of Greenland.

  • A person dressed warmly in winter gear, including a hooded jacket with a fur-lined hood, standing in a snowy landscape.

    Maggie Flatland

    POLAR EXPLORER

    With close family ties to the legendary polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen, Maggie has long been inspired by the epic tales of polar exploration. From Svalbard to Greenland and across Antarctica, she has built a reputation for her expert leadership in guiding and as the "fixer" on major TV productions, where her skills in logistics and planning are invaluable.

The Film and Business Crew

  • A person in a red jacket and winter gear standing on a frozen landscape with snow-capped mountains in the background, alongside snowmobiles.

    Katie Barrett Cleary

    DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER

    Katie is a filmmaking multi-tool. She’s an acclaimed director, producer, editor and camera operator with over 20 years of experience producing inspiring documentaries for National Geographic, Netflix, Smithsonian and Discovery.

  • A woman with short brown hair in a black sleeveless turtleneck top and light-colored pants sitting on a red bench inside a modern office or workspace, with blurred background of people working and colorful decor.

    Christy McMillian

    EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

    Christy is a digital pioneer who has worked with some of the world’s largest brands, including Sony PlayStation, Mercedes-Benz, UNICEF, and others in beauty, healthcare, entertainment and financial services to help them tell compelling stories and engage their audience in meaningful ways.

  • Thelton McMillian

    BUSINESS AFFAIRS

    At the forefront of the digital revolution for nearly three decades, Thelton led digital marketing programs, online experiences and developed powerful eCommerce sites for AT&T, BlackRock, Ford, MasterCard, Starbucks, Home Depot, Macy’s, JPMorgan Chase, NASA, Sony, Stan Lee Media, TIAA, World Wildlife Foundation, among others.

  • Tennessee Blackmore

    PROJECT HISTORIAN

    Tennessee is our project historian and has spent the last decade taking part in expeditions across the globe. His specialty is Antarctic history, and he has travelled extensively around the continent, following in the footsteps of the explorers of old. A fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, his connection to the epic tale of the Ross Sea Party was cemented during an expedition to the historic huts on the Ross Sea. His focus will be searching archives and the ice for the location of Last Cache.