“TOUCHING PEOPLE’S LIVES IN A POSITIVE WAY”
“We believe that philanthropy brings good karma” Brad Ball explained after his company made the largest unrestricted gift ever received by Willow Bend. Brad and his partners, brothers Steve and Scott Cundy, started The Wildland Trekking Company in 2005. This summer they hired 13 new people expanding their business to 65 employees. The business specializes in guided backcountry hiking tours, as well as lodge-based and camp-based hiking tours. They offer trips in national parks such as Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, and throughout the Colorado Plateau including Zion, Bryce, Glen Canyon, and the Grand Canyon, which is their most popular destination.
Brad Ball stands in front of one his company’s fleet vehicles. The Wildland Trekking Company supports Willow Bend because of our focus on children and environmental education. Brad said that he and his partners “believe in the power of individuals and small organizations in making change and having an impact.”
The business was originally based out of Brad’s garage; expanding to the “shed-stage” as Brad described it, “was a major milestone.” After 5 years of over 100% growth, in 2010 they moved into their current location, a warehouse on Huntington Drive.
“One of the keys to our success is the lateral communication we encourage from the staff. We surround ourselves with the very best people we can find.” The three partners also have different perspectives on the business and “that helps us make successful decisions.” Brad and Steve met while working for the New Mexico State Forestry Department. Previously, Brad had 10 years of mountaineering experience as an instructor at NOLS. Scott was an English major and was working as a motivational speaker for Klemmer and Associates before the partnership. All three are true outdoorsman and share a love and passion for the mountains. Flagstaff and Willow Bend are fortunate to benefit from their success and commitment to our community.
For more articles, please see our complete Annual Report for FY 2012-2013