The Leadership Challenge has been improving the leadership and teamwork capability of leading companies since 1986. We understand the challenges businesses face because we are business people. Over 175 years of solid business experience coupled with strong outdoor skills uniquely qualifies our faculty to design practical, business-focused and results-oriented experiential programs. Our professional support team provides expertise in first aid, safety assessment and monitoring, and a wide range of outdoor skills to ensure a safe, fun and challenging outdoor experience.

CLYDE DILDINE, PRINCIPAL
Clyde Dildine is a co-founder of The Leadership Challenge, Inc. Clyde brings a strong business orientation and operational focus to his work based on a 23-year career at Weyerhaeuser Company, the world’s largest forest products company. There he served as an operations manager, internal management consultant and executive development expert, managing Weyerhaeuser’s renowned Leadership Institute, a benchmark for excellence in executive development. Clyde has extensive experience working at the executive level, coaching top management in the execution of key business strategies. He has also served as a master change agent to businesses moving from traditional work cultures to high performing work systems and teams. He is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and holds a BS degree from Oklahoma State University. Clyde's also a commercial whitewater rafting guide, fly fisher and cyclist.

ANN RICHARDSON, PRINCIPAL
Ann Richardson has custom designed and taught leadership and teamwork courses for leading corporations for over eighteen years. In the course of her work, Ann has coached thousands of executives and mid-level managers to improve their leadership and teamwork skills. Ann also coordinates the innumerable details and the creative effort of our team to design unique, challenging and fun programs, targeted to the specific development needs of each of our clients. Ann holds a BA degree and a M.B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh. Ann is an avid cyclist, whitewater rafter, quilter & lover of all things dog.  In her spare time Ann is the Executive Director of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, the largest quilt show of its kind in the world.

SHARON LUNZ, FACILITATOR
Sharon Lunz brings a strong outdoor leadership background to The Leadership Challenge team. She has over 10 years of experience teaching leadership and teamwork skills to professional wilderness guides. Sharon is also the Co-director of Marketing for the Sleeping Lady Conference and Retreat Center, an executive conference center in Leavenworth, WA. In her role as facilitator, Sharon draws on both her outdoor and business experiences to create, teach and facilitate unique and challenging outdoor experiences for our clients. Sharon graduated Magna cum Laude from the University of Washington. She has been a professional outdoor guide for 17 years, leading whitewater rafting, hiking and ski trips throughout the Northwest and the Americas. She is certified in whitewater rescue, first aid and is a PSIA certified cross-country ski instructor.

DENNIS SMITH, PROGRAM DIRECTOR
With a broad background in practical experiential education, Dennis brings to The Leadership Challenge extensive experience in program and exercise design, operational management and safety management. He has been highly involved in the development of the outdoor component of challenge exercises for over ten years in venues across the Pacific Northwest. Leadership and responsibility are reflected in his professional role as instructor/guide/environmental advisor for almost twenty years in kayaking ,canoeing, rafting, all-season mountaineering, back-country skiing and canyoneering. In slower moments he may be heard working out some Celtic passage on the tinwhistle.

JAN ALBIN, TEAM MEMBER
Jan Albin brings a wealth of human relations skills and business experience to her role. She is currently an elementary school counselor and is the founder of a private guidance practice. She also has a strong background in outdoor recreation beginning with work in wilderness settings with juvenile offenders. She enjoys utilizing the outdoors both personally and in settings that encourage personal growth. Jan's education background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Pacific Lutheran University and a Master's of Education in Counseling and Guidance.

DANE DOERFLINGER, TEAM MEMBER
Dane Doerflinger brings a strong outdoor leadership background to his role. He has over 17 years of experience teaching leadership and teamwork skills to people from all walks of life. He has also participated in a multitude of wilderness rescues over the past 22 years, which has reinforced his attitude towards safety and preparedness. Dane is also a professional photographer and is our resident webmaster. In his role as staff, Dane draws on his outdoor and rescue experiences to create and set-up unique, challenging and safe outdoor experiences for our clients. He has been a professional outdoor guide for 20 years, leading whitewater rafting, climbing and skiing trips throughout the Northwest. He is certified in whitewater rescue, first aid and is a PSIA certified telemark ski instructor.

JEREMY FREELAND, TEAM MEMBER
Jeremy Freeland combines a solid understanding of corporate organizations and business strategies with extensive outdoor skills and experience. He has over 10 years working in various law firms and is currently the corporate counsel for a Seattle software company. In addition, he has over 15 years of experience as a professional river guide and climbing instructor. Jeremy obtained an MA from St. Andrews University, Scotland and a law degree from The College of Law, London, England. Jeremy has climbing experience in Scotland, Nepal, the Karakorum, the Alps, the Cascades and Patagonia, and has rafted whitewater rivers throughout the Western U.S. and Chile. He also is certified in wilderness first aid.

PEPI GERALD, TEAM MEMBER
Pepi Gerald is one of The Leadership Challenge's original team members and has an extensive background and training in alpine and watersports activities. In his position as program director, he has designed and directed unique and challenging experiential activities from Canada to the southern reaches of Argentina. He holds a BA in Outdoor Recreation Management from Western Washington University with an emphasis in outdoor leadership development, and minor studies in social psychology. Pepi is a commercial whitewater rafting guide as well as a windsurfing and snowboarding instructor. He holds certifications in first aid, CPR and water safety.

GREG LUNZ, TEAM MEMBER
Greg Lunz, having eighteen years experience as a commercial whitewater guide and river manager, brings a "seat of your pants" ingenuity and innovation to his role of designing, setting up and safely running team building and leadership exercises. This U.S. Marine Corp veteran views the seemingly impossible as an opportunity and sees the outdoors as his workshop. Greg is certified as a cross-country ski instructor, as well as swiftwater rescue and first aid.

JAMES MOORE, TEAM MEMBER
James Moore brings an extensive business background and solid outdoor skills to his role. His role is to design challenging experiential activities that meet our customer's learning objectives, and then set ups and monitors those activities with a special focus on participant safety. James is the founder and President of Orion Expeditions, Inc., one of the oldest commercial whitewater rafting companies in the Pacific Northwest. He has trained hundreds of people the technical and people skills required to safely guide commercial whitewater trips. He has personally guided numerous Grand Canyon voyages and has rafted Class V rivers throughout the U.S, Costa Rica, Turkey and Chile. James holds a BA degree in Parks & Recreation from Western Washington University. When he's not rafting James enjoys rock climbing, telemark skiing, softball and reviewing restaurants for a Puget Sound area publication.