WHAT WE DO
We unite and inspire people affected by neurological challenges through a common passion for the outdoors.
HOW WE DO IT
- Growing our Membership - Our Guide Program (1-on-1 Inspiration) - Outdoor Meet-Up Groups
WHY WE DO IT Social
connections positively influence health. - Information is helpful; however, according to
researchers and healthcare providers, personally connecting with others has a
significant positive impact on patient health
We all
know someone who has faced a neurological challenge. Over 600 neurological disorders exist! Each year
in the United States.- Over 100,000
people are diagnosed with a primary or metastatic brain tumor
- 181,000 people
are diagnosed with epilepsy
- 10,400 people are
diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS)
- 50,000 people are
diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease
- 1.7 million
people sustain a traumatic brain injury
Getting
outdoors and being active helps too.- Exposure to the natural environment of the
outdoors directly correlates to improved neuropsychological function and
behavioral attitudes toward managing challenges in diagnosis. Research has shown physical activity to be a
significant factor in improving quality of life indicators among neurologically
diagnosed individuals.
Values
- Community
- Inspiration
- Quality of Life
- Passion
- Humor
- Being Proactive
- Accountability
- Integrity
Board of Directors
Kyle Martin - Founder & Chairman After growing up in West Texas and graduating from Texas Tech University, Kyle made the journey to Colorado. He worked in the Travel/Leisure Industry for Vail Resorts for 8 years; starting his career as a transportation specialist (we all know this means bus driver) for a winter season, then moving into Human Capital where he was the Manager of Talent Acquisition until January 2011. Kyle has a passion for snowboarding, road and mountain biking, fly fishing, climbing, backpacking and pretty much anything outdoors. He also admits to an addiction of travel that has taken him around the world, mostly recently to New Zealand with the OM crew. Diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2009; when dealing with a neurological challenge, Kyle knows first hand the amazing benefits of relationships and the outdoors.
Jake Quigley - Vice Chair Jake's passion for the mountains lured him to Breckenridge, CO in 1996. He is a life & career coach, and owns his own business called InspiredShifts. His professional background in non-profit management, and personal connection to neurological diagnosis inspired him to get involved with Outdoor Mindset. He gets his fix through adventuring in the outdoors, and enjoying backcountry Telemark skiing, mountain biking, and backpacking.
Eric Ingebretson - Treasurer
Eric has a degree in financial management from the University of North Dakota and has worked as a financial analyst for the past 9 years.
He enjoys cycling and mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, backpacking, camping, and climbing 14ers.
In 2009 he underwent successful surgery to remove an Acoustic Neuroma (benign brain tumor that affected his hearing/balance/facial nerves on the left side). As a result, his perspective and outlook on life changed. He wanted to find a way to give back or do something for similarly diagnosed individuals facing neurological challenges. Being involved with Outdoor Mindset has given him the opportunity to share his experience with others. Being able to offer support and encouragement to someone else has been very therapeutic. OM offers a full circle community for the newly diagnosed and those living and thriving with their diagnosis
Jill Nadlonek - Secretary
Jill currently works for Vail Resorts in the Season Pass Marketing department. She starting working in Yellowstone National Park during college at Michigan State to get out West (and out of Michigan) and then pulled a winter season in Steamboat after college. She soon realized the Denver area should be her home. After a year of life in the "big city of Denver", Jill moved to Boulder to be closer to the trails and the mountains with her boyfriend Adam and favorite pup Savanah. Jill loves to hike, run, backpack, skip, swim, and grill in the outdoors. Rock climbing and road biking are on the brink of new outdoor passions. Her connection to Outdoor Mindset stems from family members and friends who are like family members who have been affected by neuro challenges including brain cancer, epilepsy, brain tumors, and brain aneurysms. Oh yeah, and she loves cupcakes.
This winter, Kellyn finished her Masters in Counseling and received her credentials as a National Board Certified Counselor. She working now at a psychiatric hospital near Denver and the experience is different and rewarding everyday. She been active in sports and outdoor activities all her life. Until moving to Colorado last year her love of the wilderness was slightly limited living in Michigan. She has taken every advantage of living in the mountains now and is loving every minute of it. She thinks it is safe to say that she's found home. Home not only in outdoor adventures, but also in the friendships and connections she's built here. Outdoor Mindset to her means helping others enjoy the things they love in life, overcome obstacles, and build relationships. What really inspires her about OM is being a part of something that can impact so many lives and bring people together who can help each other create their own homes that she has been so fortunate to find here.
Brian Blankenmeister - Member
Brian moved to Colorado after graduating from Texas Tech University. He now calls Breckenridge home. When not working as a lender at a local community bank, Brian enjoys tennis, skiing, biking and backpacking. Getting outside is his favorite! Brian’s passion for the Organization came about when a close friends got diagnosed with an F’ed up brain. Outdoor Mindset’s mission aligns perfectly with his passion for adventure while supporting those faced with a neurological challenge.
Jeanie Quigley Ringelberg - Member
Jeanie has volunteered and worked in the nonprofit sector ever since she could walk.On her way to becoming a doctor, Jeanie is getting in all the mountain biking, hiking and sleep she can before starting medical school. She loves volunteering for Outdoor Mindset because of the cool people (of course) and because of her belief in the power of connections and the outdoors.
Heather Nordquist - Member
After growing up in the Pacfic Northwest, Heather moved to Colorado after college. Following her passion for skiing, she now calls Breckenridge her home. After a close friend was diagnosed with a neurological challenge, she immediately wanted to help and support others throughout a combination of inspiration and adventure. She found Outdoor Mindset to be the perfect fit from it’s inception. When she is not planning events for a ski resort, Heather loves to play tennis, sail, ski and travel.
Adam was born and raised in Grand Haven, Michigan where he excelled at baseball throughout his life earning a scholarship to play at the collegiate level. After a knee injury ended his baseball career, he took a job in Yellowstone National Park where the outdoor experience filled the void that baseball had left. He found a sense of therapy in the outdoors and, after a few years of seasonal work in the park and Steamboat Ski Resort, decided to make Colorado his home in 2007. When not working for a local natural pet food/nutraceutical company, Adam spends his time fly fishing, backpacking, hiking, and snowboarding. His connection to Outdoor Mindset is derived from friends and family who have been diagnosed with neurological challenges. He is excited to share his passion for the outdoors and can't wait to see where this journey will take him!
Chris is co-owner of Windward Networks, an IT Services and Consulting company which specializes in the implementation, upgrade, conversion and maintenance of small business networks located in Boulder, Colorado. Prior to Windward, Chris worked in the Outdoor Industry for GoLite, LLC as their IT Manager. He loves to spend his afternoons and weekends on the single-track. Whether it is on his mountain bike or floating down the hard-pack with his trail-running shoes, Chris finds a heightened level of awareness and enjoyment when out away from the hustle of life. An avid adventure racer, Chris has competed in over 100 adventure races. In 2008, Chris lost his mother, Mary Ellen Boyd, at age 60 to a sudden and unexpected brain aneurysm. Her death was difficult for him and his family but Chris, like many others, is passionate about Outdoor Mindset and the goals it has related to helping those who are diagnosed with neurological challenges.
Wes Enicks - Member Wes grew up in the Boston area where at a young age he developed a passion for the outdoors by hiking, camping, and skiing throughout New England. After graduating from college, Wes moved to Breckenridge, Colorado to fulfill his craving for powder and backcountry skiing. After three years in Breckenridge, Wes moved to Philadelphia where he currently serves as the Director of Development for Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern Pennsylvania. His current occupational commitment to mentoring, continued love of the outdoors, and a friend’s diagnosis with a neurological disorder drew Wes to the mission of Outdoor Mindset. |
Volunteer StaffKyle Martin - President/Membership & Programs twitter: @kylewmartin
Chris Boyd - Director of Technology
Eric Ingebretson - Director of Finance
Will Riseley - Director of Marketing & Communications Born and raised in Connecticut, Will grew up seeking out open space and adventure wherever and whenever he could find it. A recent graduate of the full time MBA program at The University of Colorado–Boulder, he has spent his professional time working in two areas; outdoor, experiential education and marketing. He has lived on a boat in the Florida Keys teaching marine ecology to visiting student groups, worked for a promotions agency as a manager on the Heineken account, led a group of high school students on an adventure/service trip to Fiji and Australia, and managed public relations for Stratton Mountain Ski Resort. After years of living a transient lifestyle, Will is happily settled in Colorado where he enjoys fly fishing, skiing the deep stuff, trail running, world travel and living the good life with his fiancé, Tara. Will volunteers his time in honor of his late grandmother, Rita Wilhelmy, who passed in 1998 after a long struggle with MS.
Advisory Board
Doug Bonnette Doug is a Principal at Crestone Capital Advisors and is the firm’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Director of Portfolio Accounting. Doug joined The Eric J.Kramer Company, the predecessor to Crestone, in 1999. Doug has over 30 years of experience in financial and business management. Before joining Crestone, Doug was Vice President of Finance at Rental Service Corporation, an $800 million NYSE equipment rental company. Doug is a member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the Colorado Society of CPAs. Doug has also been actively involved in The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado, Inc. community mentoring program, is also a board member of Colorado UpLift and is a past chairman of the Career Education Committee of the Colorado Society of CPAs. Doug received his BS degree in Accounting from Miami.
Ronda founded S3 TalentManagement, LLC in 2006. S3 is a woman-owned full-cycle talent management firm based in Denver, CO. She holds an undergraduate degree in Consumer Science from the University of Illinois, as well as, an MBA. She worked for a global telecommunications company and held various HR positions including: Talent Acquisition, Organizational Development and HR Business Partner organizations. S3's sample client list includes: Vail Resorts, University of Colorado—Boulder, Quiznos Corporate, Crestone Capital Advisors, Newmont Mining, and Janus Funds. Ronda has a passion for yoga and attends retreats both domestically and internationally.
J. Galen Buckwalter, PhD Galen is a Research Scientist at the Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT). Dr. Buckwalter has had an extremely active career both as an academic research scientist and as an entrepreneur in the private sector. Dr. Buckwalter's academic career, with over 100 peer reviewed publications, has focused on psychological applications for virtual reality, psychoneuroendocrinology, advanced statistical methods and personality. In the private sector, two patents granted, Dr. Buckwalter has focused on the psychology of relationships and was the scientific co-founder of eHarmony.com. He is currently a scientific adviser to six high profile startups including Outdoor Mindset, BeachMint and HipGeo. Since going to ICT in 2009, Dr. Buckwalter has played a key role in developing the Stress Resilience in Virtual Environments (STRIVE) project. This project uniquely combines advanced analysis of biomarkers related to stress and the use of virtual reality to provide both stressful events and resilience training to individual war fighters prior to deployment. This effort to be able identify the person's unique response to stress and then develop individualized resilience training is a novel approach to the ever increasing problem of post-traumatic stress disorder.
James Vitrano James obtained his juris doctorate at Tulane Law School located in New Orleans, LA. He represented various healthcare providers, hospitals and private business while in private practice. He transitioned from private practice to a General Counsel role, based in New Orleans, and was responsible several corporate functions including: Human Resources, IT, Procurement, etc. He now serves as Associate General Counsel for Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc. located in Golden, CO.
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