Advisory Council

The goal of the Advisory Council is to bring together individuals with a passion for our mission and expertise from which The Mountaineers could benefit. The Advisory Council gathers twice a year to listen and learn about high-level issues within The Mountaineers so that they may provide out-of-the-box strategic advice. The Advisory Council will help to define, discuss, and give recommendations on ways in which The Mountaineers can further our vision and strategic plan. The Council presents an opportunity to engage, educate and create future leaders, ambassadors and advocates for The Mountaineers.

Adam Forest
Adam Forest co-founded The Forest Group to bring high-level executive search services to all management levels in the Outdoor Industry. Adam previously served as a partner with the firm McCormack and Associates, from 1997 to 1999 serving such clients at the Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America and Nextec Applications. Adam proudly serves of the Board of the Conservation Alliance, The Progress House, and is the President of the Coloma-Lotus Firefighters Association.

Andy Falender
President of the Appalachian Mountain Club
Andy has been President of the Appalachian Mountain Club for over 22 years, growing the organization to over 80,000 members and 22 million in revenue. In his past life Andy was a Peace Corps volunteer, Harvard Business School graduate and Executive Director of the New England Conservatory of Music. Andy loves to run and hike, he lives in Lincoln, MA with his wife and two children.

Bill Ashby
Operations Executive
Bill joined the Mountaineers in January 2008, and since then he has participated in the Navigation, MOFA, Alpine Scrambling, Sea Kayaking and Sailing courses. He is currently a student in the Basic Climbing Course. While not enjoying the Pacific Northwest outdoors on hikes, scrambles, climbs, paddles, and sails, Bill spends his workdays as an operations executive for customer-centric, global-service companies.

Bill Deters
Fleet Program Manager, Boeing Company
Bill has been a Mountaineers member since 1980 and served as president from 2006 to 2008. He has been active in strategic planning for The Mountaineers and the move to Magnuson Park. Most recently he has been active in the Seattle Branch Naturalists program. He works for the Boeing Company as a fleet program manager in supplier management. Bill enjoys fly fishing, bicycling, hiking, scrambling and kayaking.

Charles Lozner
Director of Marketing, Outdoor Research
Charles Lozner is the director of marketing at Outdoor Research, a leading outdoor apparel and accessories brand based in Seattle. Prior to joining Outdoor Research, Charlie was a brand director at K2 Sports, responsible for the Outdoor Group, including Tubbs Snowshoes, Atlas Snow-Shoe Co., Karhu Skis, and Madshus. Charlie is an avid backcountry skier, climber, runner and cyclist.

Chip Jenkins
Superintendent of North Cascades National Park Complex
Since April 2007, Palmer "Chip" Jenkins, Jr. has served as the superintendent of North Cascades National Park Complex. Prior to this assignment Chip served as the superintendent of the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park and assistant superintendent and chief of strategic planning for Yosemite National Park, where he received the Department of Interior Honor Award for Superior Service.

Chloe Harford
Vice President, Product Management & Strategy at Zillow
Chloe Harford is an avid explorer, skier, mountaineer, windsurfer and kite-surfer. She started the Ski & Snowboard Mountaineering Class within weeks of coming to the U.S. in 2005, and has taken up a new Mountaineers activity every year since. In her spare time Chloe is vice president of product management and strategy at Zillow.

Craig McKibben
Craig was the co-founder of WRQ, Inc., a Seattle software company, and is now enjoying the ability to get outdoors more often to climb, ski and hike during his retirement. His favorite hikes are in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area during the fall in search of huckleberries and larches.

Don Goodman
Contracts Director, Boeing Company
Don has been an active Mountaineers member since 1972 and has been focused on the climbing programs for 20+ years. Between his outdoor adventures he works at the Boeing Co. where he is a director in the contracts department, currently supporting commercial aircraft sales on the African continent.

Doug Walker
Retired Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, WRQ, Inc.
For 25 years Doug Walker was the founding partner and CEO of WRQ (until January 2005), an integration software company that served Fortune 500 companies and had customers in 51 countries. He is an active supporter of charitable, environmental and community organizations. Doug is an avid hiker and mountain climber and a year-round bicycle commuter.

Eric Friedli
Acting Deputy Superintendent/Chief of Staff, Seattle Parks and Recreation
Eric Friedli has devoted his professional life to public service and is recognized both for his leadership, support for those he works with, and passion for ensuring access to recreational opportunities. He currently serves as acting deputy superintendent and chief of staff for Seattle Parks and Recreation

Greg Moga
Greg is an attorney with the Moga Law Group and the CEO of Outreach Services and Disability Outreach, which provide patient advocacy services to hospitals in 11 states, and the CBO Solution, which provides business office outsourcing to hospitals. Greg is Immediate Past Board Chair of the Olympic Park Institute; Board President of Washington's National Park Fund; Board member of NatureBridge; and active with the National Geographic Society's Grosvenor Circle.

Heidi Mathisen
Business Communications Advisor, Foster School of Business, University of Washington
Heidi Mathisen currently works as a business communications advisor to MBA students at the Foster School of Business. She has previously worked with the World Bank and USAID in West and North Africa, as well as in marketing at Boeing Commercial Airplanes. She earned her BA from Colorado College and her MA from The Fletcher School at Tufts University. An avid world traveler, Heidi has visited all seven continents, including climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and Mt.Toubkal in Morocco. She lives with her husband in Seattle and enjoys skiing, hiking, kayaking and sailing.

Jim Nelson
Owner, Pro Mountain Sports
Jim has over 40 years of climbing experience. He enjoys day hikes, gardening, cross-country skiing and all types of climbing. Recently he has been lending a hand to the new youth programs at The Mountaineers--teaching the joys of climbing and being outside to those new to the outdoors. He is the co-author of Selected Climbs in the Cascades, Vols. I and II, and owner of Pro Mountain Sports in Seattle.

Jordan Roderick
President, International of New Cingular Wireless Services, Inc.
Jordan M. Roderick has served as president of International of New Cingular Wireless Services, Inc. (formerly AT&T Wireless Services, Inc.) since January 2000. He holds a BA and MBA from Dartmouth College and has been a member of The Mountaineers since 2005.

Kara Stone
General Manager, Seattle Flagship REI
Kara is currently the General Manager at the Seattle Flagship REI. She has worked as the Store Manager for both the Bellingham and San Diego REIs as well. Kara is a graduate of Michigan State University and serves on the YMCA of San Diego Camping Board.

Karen Daubert
Retired Executive Director of the Seattle Parks Foundatrion
Karen has over 15 years of experience in trail and parks policy, advocacy and funding. She was the founding executive director of the Seattle Parks Foundation (recently retired). She has also served as a member of the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board, Seattle Park Board, Seattle Planning Commission and National City Parks Alliance. Her favorite activity is taking week-long backpacks in the Pasayten Wilderness.

Katie Blackett
CEO of Colorado Mountain Club
Katie Blackett has an interesting career mix of executive leadership, professional running and academic teaching, and has over 10 years of financial and management experience, in both the for-profit and non-profit sector. Katie is currently the CEO for Colorado Mountain Club, a statewide outdoor education, recreation, and conservation organization.

Ken Meidell
Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Cascade Designs
Ken Meidell is the vice president of sales and marketing for Cascade Designs, Inc. He was a founding member of the Outdoor Industry Association’s Business to Business Standards Group and currently serves on the board of directors for the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance. In his free time he enjoys mountain biking, snowboarding, backpacking, and rock climbing.

LaVerne Woods
Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
LaVerne Woods is a partner in the Seattle office of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, where she chairs the firm’s tax-exempt organizations group. Ms. Woods also helps private foundations establish grantmaking compliance programs and provides grantmaking training workshops. She received her bachelor’s from Yale University and her law degree from Harvard University.

Leah Schultz
Real Estate Agent and Mortgage Broker
Leah Schulz has been with The Mountaineers, Seattle Branch, since 2006. Having graduated from the Basic Alpine Course in 2007, Leah has always enjoyed working with youth and shares her love for the sport of climbing by reaching out to young people and providing beginning climbing lessons. As a certified real estate agent and mortgage broker in her own business, Leah has developed a sharp acumen and patience for the long processes involved in these activities.

Lief Whittaker
Leif Whittaker is a writer, speaker and adventurer from Port Townsend, Washington. On May 25, 2010, at age 25, Leif stood on the summit of Mount Everest, breathed the oxygen-thin air, and gazed down at the entire planet. Forty-seven years before that moment, Leif’s father, Jim Whittaker, became the first American to stand in the very same place.

Liz Marzolf
Director of Organization Development, Starbucks Coffee Company
Prior to joining Starbucks, Liz has worked as an educational consultant and a management consultant in a variety of industries. She received her BA from Mount Holyoke College and holds a MEd and a PhD in educational leadership from the University of Washington. She also serves on the board of directors for Seattle Girls’ School. Liz is an avid backcountry skier, cyclist, mountain biker, backpacker and paraglider.

Margaret Wheeler
Guide for Pro-Guiding Service
In 2006, Margaret became the second woman in the US to complete her full UIAGM guide certification. An active member of the guiding community, she is an instructor of guide training for the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) and serves on its board of directors and as president of the organization. She is involved in avalanche education through her work as an AIARE (American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education) instructor and trainer.

Mike Gauthier
Chief of Staff, Office of the Superintendent Yosemite National Park
Mike Gauthier is a long time National Parks Service employee spending 19 years at the Supervisory Climbing Ranger and Search and Rescue Coordinator on Mount Rainier. Mike is currently serving as the Chief of Staff, Office of the Superintendent Yosemite National Park. His hobbies include mountain and rock climbing, snowboarding, writing and photography.

Mindy Roberts
Environmental Engineer, Washington State Department of Ecology
Mindy joined The Mountaineers in 1999. Her favorite part of climbing has been forging the strongest personal bonds of her adult life. In Mindy’s other life, she works as an environmental engineer with the Washington State Department of Ecology. She especially enjoys using her climbing team skills to inform her science and engineering world, and her engineering skills to inform her climbing world.

Neil Fiske
President & CEO Eddie Bauer LLC
Mr. Fiske has served as President and CEO of Eddie Bauer LLC since June of 2007. During his tenure, he has led the effort to bring the company back to its roots. This includes the launch of First Ascent in 2009, "the most significant line of outerwear in a generation," built by some of the world’s best known mountain guides. Mr. Fiske is a graduate of Harvard Business School and Williams College. He is an avid skier, climber, and outdoorsman.

Peter Whittaker
Mountain Guide, Rainier Mountaineering, Inc.
Born into what could rightfully be called the First Family of American mountaineering, Peter Whittaker is a lifelong climber and skier who grew up at the foot of Mount Rainier and surrounded by hard-core guides. At age 12, his summit of Rainier (14,410 ft) unleashed a desire for global adventure. Peter has led 75 international expeditions and climbed Rainer 231 times. In addition to his mountaineering exploits, Peter is a successful entrepreneur, gear designer and television host.

Petra Hilleberg
President and CEO of Hilleberg the Tentmaker, USA
Petra Hilleberg is the president and CEO of Hilleberg the Tentmaker, USA. Petra is very active in the vibrant Swedish business community in the Northwest, as well as an active ski instructor. She teaches both alpine and telemark skiing for Snow Performance, based at Crystal Mountain, and she is a divisional clinic leader for telemark for the Northwest division of the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA-NW).

Ruth Nielsen
Managing Partner, Nielsen Law Office
Ruth Nielsen is the owner and Managing Partner of Nielsen Law Office in Seattle. Ruth specializes in Ski Area Defense, Products Liability, Sports and Recreation Defense, Insurance Defense, and Employment Law Defense. She is the current President of ASDA, the Association of Ski Defense Attorneys specializing in ski area and other outdoor recreation defense. Ruth received her JD from the University of Utah.

Sally Jewel
President and CEO of Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI)
Sally Jewell is president and CEO of Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), a national outdoor gear and apparel retailer dedicated to inspiring, educating and outfitting people for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship. Additionally, Jewell sits on the boards of the National Parks Conservation Association, Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, Initiative for Global Development and the University of Washington.

Scott Heinz
Scott Heinz is currently an MBA student at the University of Washington, Foster School of Business and holds a Bachelor of Engineering from Vanderbilt University with a concentration in electrical engineering. He started climbing with the Mountaineers in 2007 and has since joined the leader’s list and has been active in mentoring climbers in the various climbing courses.

Shannon Scott
Owner, Scott Estate Services
Shannon Scott focuses exclusively on providing fiduciary services to individuals. She serves as Personal Representative and Administrator of estates. Shannon received her law degree from Seattle University School of Law in 1998. She has a BA in Bioethics from Colorado State University. She enjoys cycling, triathlon, and spending time with family in Kauai and Montana.

Steve Swenson
President of American Alpine Club
Steve lives in Seattle and Canmore, Alberta, where he is now climbing, writing and volunteering for the American Alpine Club as its current president. He enjoys a broad range of interests, including alpine climbing in the great ranges, ice climbing, trad and sport climbing.

Steve Yi
Director of Product Management for Cloud Computing Initiatives, Microsoft
Steve Yi has been a member of The Mountaineers since 2008 and graduated from basic climbing in 2009. Currently a student in the intermediate climbing program, he says he continues to work "because REI has stolen all my money." He serves as director of product management for cloud computing initiatives at Microsoft.

Susan Sayers
Senior Manager, Strategic Planning for Value Added Services at T-Mobile
Susan Sayers is a Senior Manager for Strategic Planning for Value Added Services at T-Mobile. Her background includes brand and product management for companies such as Starbucks, Washington Mutual, and Precor Incorporated. She has been an active member of The Mountaineers since 2000. She is a graduate of the Basic Climbing course and an active climb leader.

Suzanne Rowen
Founder and President of Rowen and Company
Suzanne Rowen is founder and president of Rowen and Company, a Seattle-based management consulting firm focused on the needs of the alternative investment markets. Suzanne has been a member of The Mountaineers since arriving in Seattle in 1996. She has served as a member of The Mountaineers Books Advisory Board, the Membership Marketing Committee and consulted with the organization and the board in strategic planning and marketing.

Thomas O’Keefe
American Whitewater
Since 2005 Tom has worked for American Whitewater, a river conservation organization representing the whitewater paddling community. He has provided formal analysis and comment in agency planning efforts, drafted legislation and Supreme Court testimony, and testified before Congress and the State Legislature. Tom has been a member of The Mountaineers since 2003 and chair of the Recreation Resources Committee since 2006.