Marmot ambassadors are a diverse cadre of social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, advocates, writers and photographers. Their international outdoor experiences inspire them to reach across borders, cultures and boundaries to raise consciousness and positively impact the lives of others. Marmot ambassadors have represented Marmot for decades; they embody Marmot’s values and capture the spirit of People-Product-Planet™.
Ben Ayers lives in Nepal as the Nepal Country Director for the dZi Foundation, splitting his time between the twisted streets of Kathmandu and the remote backcountry trails that lead to the dZi Foundation project areas. His work is pioneering a new approach to community-driven change that addresses the causes of poverty from the roots up.
Since his 2002 journey to attempt 22,880-foot Sepu Kangri in remote eastern Tibet—a landmark expedition for Marmot—Jordan Campbell has been representing the brand on numerous climbing sojourns and adventures around the world. Having enjoyed a successful international mountaineering career for more than two decades, Jordan’s passion for global stewardship and philanthropy has become the next “big idea” in a lifetime dedicated to adventure. Today, Jordan is Director of Public Relations for Marmot. He also serves as an Ambassador Athlete, exporting the brand’s values and the spirit of People Product Planet™ in his travels abroad. Through a blend of writing, photography, video and volunteerism, Jordan’s goal is to reach across borders to raise consciousness and positively impact lives.
Dr Luanne Freer is the founder/director of Everest ER, a nonprofit medical clinic at 17,600ft Mt Everest, Nepal. An emergency physician and past president of the Wilderness Medical Society, she “pays the bills” working for Medcor Inc and is the medical director for Yellowstone National Park. Luanne says she gets warm fuzzies every time a Sherpa friend calls her Lulu didi (sister) – a reminder that her heart lives in Nepal even when she’s working at home in Montana.
From Minnesota to Colorado to Verbier to the Himalaya. The journey truly is the destination. Ace originally was drawn to the mountains for skiing and the friendships that were forged there have defined his life and career. Getting his ass kicked on huge mountains began to seem pointless when what really affected him were the remote mountain cultures he'd come to love. He began working with the organizations that are giving back. Traveling with eye doctors that restore sight in Africa and Asia has become a personal vision quest. It's an attempt at being part of the solution rather than the problem. Now his imagery has become a tool to help raise awareness. When not traveling Ace makes his home on an organic farm in the remote canyon country of Utah with his dog Genghis. In his own words: "The older I get the more awesome I was."
Jim Nowak is co-founder and president of the dZi Foundation, a non-profit organization that partners with underserved communities in remote regions of the Himalaya to build sustainable, locally-driven programs that improve quality of life through advancing education and health while reducing poverty. Since 1997, Jim’s leadership has taken the dZi Foundation from a grassroots organization—originally formed to save girls at risk in Kathmandu—to a thriving non-profit now serving over 21,000 individuals in the remote villages of eastern Nepal. The dZi's growth from a kitchen table operation to one of the Himalayan region's most respected non-profits is a direct result of Jim’s knowledge, passion and commitment to those the dZi Foundation serves today.
Heather has a diverse history in skiing, she has excelled in alpine racing, telemark racing, big mountain freeskiing, skier-cross and endurance randonee races. Heather is founder of Ultimate Groove, women’s telemark adventures and is a member of the K2 Women’s Alliance Team. Heather is a former US World Cup Telemark Team member and 2 time National Telemark Champion. Heather lives in Crested Butte with her husband and 2 children, Addison (4) and Rowan(7).
My name is Sue Purvis and I save lives… and I teach others to do the same.
Sean Swarner has broken through defined human limitation in order to redefine the way the world views success. Sean was diagnosed with two different and unrelated forms of cancer, once at the age of thirteen and again at the age of sixteen. Despite a prognosis of just fourteen days to live and having been read his last rights, Sean astounded the medical community when he survived both these brutal diseases.Sean realized that after defeating cancer twice, no challenge would ever be too great, no peak too high.
