Born in the Mountains
The seeds for Level 11 were sown in the mountain town of Mammoth Lakes.
Mammoth had a long history of world-class skiing, boarding, hiking, biking. What those activities had in common was that people were who they wanted to be while they were doing them - courageous, hopeful, kind to others, connected with the wider world. So we built a division at Mammoth Resorts focused on bringing leaders to Mammoth to discover their best selves through adventures in an amazing place.
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We developed the concept of Peak Adventures - activities that challenge the body and mind that stimulate self discovery and interpersonal connection.
We started taking leaders through Peak Adventures. We worked with with high achieving individuals, high performing teams, professional groups, influencers. We found that Peak Adventures were transformational. Participants learned about themselves, formed deep relationships, developed a new skill. They went home a better version of themselves. People and teams that were high achieving went to the next level. To level 11.
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So Level 11 Research was born. An entity focused solely on leading Peak Adventures for successful people.
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Methodology
We believe that human performance can be enhanced through Peak Adventures. Our approach has 4 elements:
Place
Level 11 leads events in amazing places. No conference rooms, no urban hotels. We work with resorts and destinations nationwide.
People
Level 11 programs intentionally create and deepen relationships. We promise that participants will leave with a transformative connection. Perhaps it's with someone on their team they have come to know better. Perhaps it's with someone they've never met. Level 11 endeavors that connections with people are not accidental, but part of the program.
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Programming
Whether we're skiing, biking, rafting, climbing, hiking, Level 11 events embrace the outdoors. But gatherings are designed in ways that recreation is complemented with thought provoking discussions, creative sessions, skill building. Level 11 programs challenge the mind as well as the body.
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Science
Level 11 activities are evidence-based. Our approach is grounded in science that demonstrates the connection between immersive gatherings in an amazing places and human transformation.
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Level 11 Team
We're like you. Tech CEO's, lawyers, PhD's, bankers, refugees from Corporate America.
We found something special in wild places. Our mission is to spread that to others through Level 11 Research.
Rudy DeFelice is a former New York and LA lawyer. He made partner then promptly gave away everything and lived in a van for a year. After that year, he took a warm, indoor shower, apologized to his mother and started an enterprise software company. Eventually this venture-backed, INC. 5000 company was sold and Rudy moved to Mammoth Lakes for an intended 1 year mountain vacation. He never left. He was hired as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Mammoth Resorts to build the adventure series that eventually became his life's work, Level 11 Research.
Rob Freelen has held a variety of leadership positions at Silicon Valley Bank, currently including Head of the LA Region and Managing Director. Don't let that fool you though, he's an awesome athlete and a great connector of people. In addition to being an intimidating road cyclist, solid snowboarder he's a wine expert, on the path to owning his own vineyard some day. Rob is the co-creator of The Outpost, an annual tradition where the leaders of the SoCal tech community come to connect, challenge themselves in the mountains and build community.
Scott McGuire is a legend in the outdoor recreation industry. He's been a product manager at leading brands, a frequent speaker at industry gatherings and founder of a leading outdoor conference. He's currently CEO of The Mountain Lab, a branding and strategy company based in Mammoth Lakes. He's led groups kayaking, diving, backpacking and skiing and is a great storyteller.
Dr. Andy Walshe, PhD, is one of the world's foremost authorities on human performance. As head of the High Performance program at Red Bull, Andy worked with best of breed athletes, executives, military and professionals to enhance outcomes through the science of human potential. In addition to helping the best in the world get better, Andy is a committed husband and father and enthusiastic mountain athlete.
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Dr. E. Lee Rice has more than thirty years of experience as a family and sports medicine physician. Dr. Rice is the founder of The Life Wellness Institute in San Diego and is one of the premier medical experts on wellness, both in the United States and internationally. He is a frequent speaker for executive organizations including Young Presidents Organization (YPO), World Presidents Organization (WPO), Chief Executives Organization (CEO) and Vistage International as well as for private and public companies. He has authored numerous medical texts and journal articles in the areas of wellness and sports medicine.
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