Next time you’re seeking the perfect presenter for a Western event, set aside the pie charts and efficiency experts and turn to some real mountain men (and women!) to get a group’s hearts pumping.
The region is loaded with true adventurers who have reached nearly impossible heights—and lived to tell about it. Their hair-raising tales of success and survival will have attendees on the edge of their seats, and perhaps ready to scale their own new heights.
Here’s a look at some of the very best in the business.
Jim Davidson, Fort Collins, Colo.
It’s no surprise if you’re familiar with the name Jim Davidson. The keynote speaker for this year’s HSMAI Annual Show, he has been featured on the national television program I Shouldn’t Be Alive and is co-author of the national bestseller The Ledge: An Inspirational Story of Friendship and Survival.
“My signature keynote reveals how a hidden glacial snow bridge collapsed beneath my feet, dropping my climbing partner and me into an 80-foot deep glacial crevasse,” Davidson says. “Sadly, my partner did not survive and I had to find a way to climb the overhanging ice wall alone, or die inside the glacier. By sharing these experiences at meetings and by distilling the hard-won lessons, I can inspire people to be more resilient with the challenges and opportunities that they face at work and in life.”
Davidson adds that he heightens the entertainment and excitement during his presentations through vivid photos, compelling videos, and animated storytelling.
“My other keynotes and interactive workshops share insights about partnership, leadership and teamwork from the expeditions and rescues that I have led on peaks all over the world,” Davidson says. “Speaking at mountain resorts or at events with a ‘summit’ or ‘peak performance’ theme allows me to help the meeting planning team really create a rich experience for the attendees.”
Stacy Allison, Portland, Ore.
The first American woman to scale Everest, Stacy Allison—represented by the established speakers bureau BigSpeak, Inc., in Santa Barbara—has won over clients ranging from U.S. Bank to Habitat for Humanity.
This feedback, from Beth Blaisdell of U.S. Bank, typifies the response to Allison’s riveting presentations: ”Your leadership messages interwoven with your personal story riveted our groups. The photos and videos added a sense of what it would be like to be on Mt. Everest. I have heard nothing but fantastic comments since your presentations. I would suggest that anyone move mountains to hear you speak!”
Her topics include Lessons from Everest, Teamwork and Reaching New Heights: Get an Altitude Attitude, and Allison is also a published author of two books on her mountain-climbing exploits. In addition to Everest, the mother of two has also scaled Mt. McKinley and K2, and has reached impressive heights in business as well as the founder of her own residential building company. PageBreak
Grant Korgan, Reno, Nev.
It’s hard to picture a more inspirational presenter than Grant Korgan. In the prime of his life, the mechanical engineer and active adventurer endured a horrific snowmobiling accident several years ago while making a gigantic jump for a film. He was paralyzed from the waist down, but what would have been the end of a life of adventure for many became a starting point for Korgan; a man who savored a challenge was faced with his biggest one ever.
His rehabilitation and redemption have culminated in achievements that most fully abled individuals would find overwhelming, including a 75-mile trek through the harshest environment imaginable to become the first paralyzed athlete to reach the South Pole.
“It has always been my great desire to give, to give and infuse the world with positivity,” Korgan says. “If through my experience of recovering from a spinal cord injury I can make a positive impact on even just one person, than this injury is not just an injury, but rather an opportunity.”
If your team is faced with a challenge that seems insurmountable, Korgan provides perspective and inspiration that few speakers bring to the table.
Nikki Stone, Park City, Utah
A breath of fresh air out of the Utah mountains, Nikki Stone has overcome her own adversity, and her fearless fervor has resulted in historic Olympic gold.
“Being afraid of heights and enduring a spinal injury in which 10 doctors told me that I would never ski again just to come back to win America’s first Olympic gold medal in aerial skiing, I can fully relate to the risks and challenges many businesses, organizations and individuals are continually faced with on a daily basis,” Stone says. “I have a highly interactive, dynamic, and passionate presentation that takes audiences from laughter, to tears, to all-out cheers.”
Some of her top clients include P&G, Visa, Coca-Cola, GE, BlueCross/BlueShield, 3M, Delta, AT&T, Pfizer, and Anheuser Busch—many of whom have asked for return business. Stone has also authored a best-selling book on the rewards of risk titled When Turtles Fly: Secrets of Successful People who Know How to Stick Their Necks Out.
