I was destined to be in the travel industry and bring Ripe to life. After studying commercial tourism at the University of Utah, I launched into the online startup world leading UI and UX development for two large e-commerce platforms. After the .com bubble burst in 2001 and funding dried up, I further fueled my love of international travel by backpacking around the world for a year. Upon returning, I brought my internet marketing knowledge to the hospitality arena and began an extensive career as an executive leader in hotel and property management marketing and operations. In 2007, I received an MBA from Westminster College, which further fueled my passion for entrepreneurship. During my continued hotel hospitality tenure, I started and sold two successful property management companies, one in San Diego, CA, and one in Santa Fe, NM. And finally, in 2010, while collaborating with the Sundance Film Festival, I observed their challenges relating to lodging and proposed creating a locally customized and community-supported booking engine. From the technology developed, RootRez was born. These experiences led to a deep understanding of developing, leading, and executing company strategy. Along the way, I gained expertise in digital marketing, sales, project management, finance, budgeting, and web technologies. I'm dangerous in graphic and web development, but I can't claim to be a designer.When I'm not in my office chair, you can often find me in a bike saddle. I continue to be an endurance mountain bike and road racer (aka, glutton for punishment). I have completed 10 Leadville 100 mountain bike races as a top competitor, along with many other painfully illogical accomplishments. In 2016, I observed that Park City lacked a community bike club, despite being full of passionate cyclists. Seeing the unmet need, I founded and launched Stay Park City Cycling, an all-inclusive club for all levels, from elite racers to weekend warriors of all ages. While I knew there was a need, the success has been overwhelming. We are now the largest cycling club in the state, consisting of over 400 paying members and a host of supportive and amazing sponsors. The club operates on the backs of dozens of incredible sponsors who lead rides, host socials, and promote safety and cycling stewardship in the community. Let's connect: If you generate the demand for travel in any form, let's talk. We help cities, destinations, resorts, and events across the country better service their travelers and participate in hotel commissions. Or, if I can help in any way, reach out!