Long Shot Leaders with Michael Stein

Alice McKennis, born and raised in western Colorado, embraced a childhood filled with skiing and horseback riding. Her passion for skiing led her to the U.S. Ski Team, where she excelled on the World Cup circuit and earned a spot in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Despite a setback from a knee injury in 2011, Alice persevered, achieving a career highlight with a World Cup Downhill win in 2013. ⁣ However, tragedy struck in Germany, causing a severe knee injury that jeopardized her future in ski racing. Although she aimed for the 2014 Winter Olympics, recovery proved challenging. Alice returned to competition in 2015, securing a national title and showcasing her resilience. In the 2018 season, Alice continued to shine, finishing fifth in the Olympic Downhill and earning third in the World Cup Downhill in Sweden. Unfortunately, a coaching accident in 2018 led to a prolonged recovery, with five surgeries keeping her off the slopes for 11 months. ⁣ Alice returned to competition in 2020, maintaining her momentum until a knee and ankle injury in 2021 forced her to reconsider her career. In the spring of 2021, she made the tough decision to retire from ski racing. Post-retirement, Alice has embraced coaching at Ski and Snowboard Club Vail and works as an Athlete Gift Officer for the US Ski & Snowboard team, contributing to fundraising and supporting fellow athletes.

Lorraine Huber is recognized as one of the strongest and most experienced female big mountain skiers in the world today. She is a long-term competitor in the Freeride World Tour and has podiumed over twenty-five times at international freeride competitions. Lorraine has been featured in ski films by Warren Miller and Shades of Winter, as well as in a series of experimental ski films by Austrian filmmaker Hanno Mackowitz. She is a winner of the ‘Best Freeride Female’ film award by the International Freeski Film Festival (iF3). The ski instructor’s daughter from Lech am Arlberg, Austria, is a UIAGM ski guide and Level III ski instructor and a sought after freeride coach in Austria. Each year, she runs the highly popular ‘Women’s Progression Days’: a freeride camp for women to improve ski technique and risk management in the backcountry. She also co-founded and managed Austria’s first ever freeride school, the ‘Freeride Center Sölden’, for five years. Lorraine is a presenter at film festivals, a columnist for a freeride magazine, and works as a professional speaker. Fascinated by the mental side of her sport, Lorraine is currently studying a Master degree in mental strength coaching at the University of Salzburg.

Bryan Clayton is CEO and co-founder of GreenPal an online marketplace that connects homeowners with local lawn care professionals. GreenPal has been called the “Uber for lawn care” by Entrepreneur magazine and has over 200,000 active users completing thousands of transactions per day. Before starting GreenPal Bryan Clayton founded Peachtree Inc. one of the largest landscaping companies in the state of Tennessee growing it to over $10 million a year in annual revenue before it was acquired by Lusa holdings in 2013. Bryan‘s interest and expertise are related to entrepreneurialism, small business growth, marketing and bootstrapping businesses from zero revenue to profitability and exit. Bryan Clayton has been recognized as one of Inc. Magazine's "Top Entrepreneurs" and has built GreenPal to over 300,000 customers and $30 million a year in revenue. He is a serial entrepreneur with 22 years of experience in the lawn, landscaping, and garden industry. Before GreenPal, he built Peachtree Inc. to over $10 million a year before selling it. In my experience, most people don't know this, but Bryan is a thought leader in the green industry, often sharing his insights through various media outlets and speaking engagements.

Hunter Durham, a resilient and enterprising young individual, embodies a journey marked by the peaks and valleys of entrepreneurship. Transitioning from a tenure at Facebook to a remarkable acquisition of four businesses totaling 3.8 million dollars.  Hunter faced the stark realities of watching them slip into bankruptcy. His narrative encapsulates the raw emotions of navigating stress, enduring pain, and confronting the profound loss of his entrepreneurial endeavors. Throughout his tribulations, Hunter found solace and renewed purpose in his unwavering faith, the unwavering support of his family, and the uplifting embrace of his community. His unwavering optimism and resilience shone through the darkest moments, illuminating his path to finding hope amidst adversity.

David Chancellor is a multi award-winning documentary photographer. His work brings him across the world, from the sombre mountains of Scotland, to the tribal lands of Kenya and, more recently, the arid plains of Saudi Arabia. A regular contributor to National Geographic, he has participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions, exhibited in major galleries and museums, and published worldwide. Recognized by World Press Photo, the Taylor Wessing National Portrait Prize and Pictures of the Year International, David published the monograph ‘Hunters’ in 2012. His work continues to examine mankind’s complex relationship with the natural world. Visually reminiscent of 19th-century daguerreotypes, David’s photographs are arresting, engaging, and thought-provoking. His passion for his work allows him to consistently succeed in navigating the minefields surrounding his chosen subjects. The resulting bodies of work never fail to draw people in and create a space for a much-needed dialogue. David has won over 50 awards for his work, including Nikon Photographer of the Year multiple times, World Press Photo Award for Elephant Story, Sony World Photography Award for his project Lion, Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award for Hunters, World Understanding Award, Environmental Vision Award and Best Long Form Documentary story in Pictures of the Year International for his projects Hunters, Butterflies and Warriors and A Gamekeeper’s Life.  He was recently awarded the Siena International Photography Prize for best documentary story With Butterflies and Warriors – shot entirely in the northern rangelands of Kenya over a period of 13 years, the project follows a generation of Samburu warriors as they metamorphose from boys to men. David’s work appears in numerous global publications, including National Geographic, The New York Times, Time Magazine, The Independent, The Telegraph

Heidi Wirtz is one of the country’s few prominent female adventure climbers. She has been climbing for over twenty years, letting her passion for adventure and exploration lead her to places such as Nepal, Morocco, Jordan, Siberia, Tasmania, Czech Republic, Eastern Europe, Pakistan, South America, Canada etc. Heidi has pioneered new routes up unclimbed big walls and mountains and pushed the limits of female exploration.  She is known in the United States as Heidi Almighty for her bold and technical climbing as well as speed ascents in Yosemite Valley. Heidi is also known for her philanthropic work and her passion for yoga. She is co-founder of Girls Education International (girlsed.org), an organization that helps bring education to women and girls in under-served areas throughout the world.  Heidi is also co-founder of Earth Play Retreats (www.earthplayretreats.com), an adventure/yoga retreat service that empowers people to find there true potential and to connect with nature in a deeper more meaningful way. 

Stacey Osorio hails from Southern California but moved to Idaho with her family. Her father's business encountered financial struggles, prompting their relocation. Her mother, a dedicated graphic designer, worked hard to support the family. Stacey's upbringing revolved around embracing outdoor pursuits such as gold panning, hunting for rattlesnakes, and camping adventures with her father. Her involvement in the TV show "Naked and Afraid" came about when Discovery Channel reached out to her workplace seeking participants. Viewing it as a chance to earn money, she enthusiastically applied. To prepare, Stacey extensively studied survival techniques and eagerly volunteered for the show. Her initial stint took place in Eastern Croatia, where a burn injury on day six forced her to exit despite her determination to persevere. Undeterred, she later took part in another episode set in South Africa's Quazulu Natal during a harsh drought. Survival became a daily challenge as food and water became scarce. Their means of sustenance included catching catfish and ingeniously managing limited resources. Facing the challenge of nudity on the show, initially discomforted by the presence of clothed production crew members, Stacey eventually adapted. She observed that the participants' shared concern for each other's safety and success eclipsed any initial awkwardness about nudity.

A car accident in 2018 left Jenn Drummond awestruck and emboldened. Rescue workers couldn’t imagine any scenario where she came out of it alive, but she did. That’s when she realized you don’t get to choose when you leave this life…but you sure can choose how you live it. Strengthened by this awareness, she set out to live in a more authentic and adventurous way. Inspired to climb a mountain for her birthday, her son raised the stakes by suggesting Mount Everest.  Not one to back down from a challenge, she accepted the pursuit. During her training, her coach upped the ante and proposed that she go for a Guinness World Record and become the first woman to climb the 7 second summits. The pursuit matched her desire to live a life of significance, not just success. Today, Jenn is a world record holder who elevates others to master their own summit in life. She’s a successful business owner and Mom of 7 remarkable kids who, as you have heard, boldly inspire and brazenly challenge her. She’s also an international speaker, an author, and Host of the Seek Your Next Summit podcast, who’s focused on inspiring others to go beyond success to a life of significance.

Lisa Chulich, born in Olympia, WA, began as a gymnast before excelling in rock climbing and volleyball at 13. She competed nationally in both sports but chose climbing professionally, representing the USA in the World Cup Circuit from 2014-2019. Alongside competitions, she earned a BS in Biology and Math minor from the University of Portland in 2014. Starting her modeling career in 2011 in Portland, OR, Lisa signed with Sports and Lifestyle Unlimited, landing campaigns for Adidas, Nike, Ecco, and Nautilus. Balancing climbing and modeling, she expanded into commercial, film, and editorial shoots. When not climbing worldwide, Lisa enjoys beach volleyball, surfing in Hermosa Beach, CA, and exploring farmer's markets or running trails in Portland.

Ally Cudby, a Washington DC native raised by a real estate agent father and a graphic designer mother, fostered a deep-seated fascination with media and entertainment early on, securing her maiden role as an intern at a public TV station. Recognizing that Hollywood wasn't aligned with her values due to its prevalent egocentric environment, she made a pivotal decision to return to academia. Despite her passion for media, she charted a course in philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania, heeding advice to pursue her passions while gaining practical experience. Embracing philosophy, Cudby discovered its value in honing critical thinking and writing skills. Later, she ventured into an MBA program, acquiring a distinct skill set complementary to her educational journey.