Jake Wheeler is the founder and captain of Wild Empress Expeditions, bringing over 20 years of maritime experience and a lifelong passion for the natural world to every guided excursion. His professional seafaring career spans two decades across a diverse range of vessels—from Pacific Ocean container ships and Great Lakes freighters to U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command support ships. For the past 10 years, Jake has specialized in expedition tourism with leading adventure travel companies, most recently serving as an expedition team member with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. His work has taken him to remote and wild corners of Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and Latin America, where he helped connect travelers with the richness of local ecosystems and cultures through education and exploration.

A Minocqua native, Jake grew up immersed in the lakes, forests, and trails of Wisconsin's Northwoods. His early years spent canoeing, hiking, camping, and biking instilled in him a deep appreciation for wilderness and the quiet beauty of the natural world. While his travels have taken him to 28 countries, he remains rooted in the Northwoods, where his love for wild places first began. With Northwoods Nature Tours, Jake combines global expedition expertise with local knowledge and a strong conservation ethic—offering guests not just scenic boat tours, but meaningful, educational encounters with the ecology, wildlife, and natural history of this extraordinary region.