ALEX KOSSEFF

LEADERSHIP
INDOORS & OUT

• RISK MANAGEMENT
• LEADERSHIP
• SAFETY

about.

CARING LEADERSHIP.

I am the interim executive director of Paradox Sports, former executive director of the American Mountain Guides Association, founder of the Outdoor Safety Institute, and an outdoor educator with thirty years of experience. As I wrote in the first 2003 edition of my book, the AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership, I approach my work with a caring leadership model. The outdoor recreation and education industry is vital to our society, and I have consistently applied this caring leadership approach to nurturing and improving it.

I did not plan to build a career focused on getting people into the outdoors, but my path has followed my passion. My interest in outdoor pursuits has synchronized with my desire to help more people of all backgrounds have positive outdoor experiences. Ultimately, these people will be voices to protect our ever more critical wild places. This same passion that drives me to explore the outdoors, develop climbing routes, and ski steep backcountry lines also propels my organizational leadership, risk management consulting, expert witness, and outdoor leadership work.

Thank you for visiting my website. If you’d like to get in touch, please visit the Contact Page or reach out through LinkedIn.

experience.

experience.

AMGA Logo

AMERICAN MOUNTAIN GUIDES ASSOCIATION
Executive Director · 2015-2023

Strategically advanced the mission of the AMGA, a 4,600-member internationally endorsed training organization.

  • Steered the association, its Board, and seventy full- and part-time staff through crises, advancing the quality of educational programming serving more than 2,000 students per year, and improving internal and external communications.
  • Nearly tripled revenue and recruited first corporate donors at $50K and $100K annual levels.
  • Conceived and launched AMGA’s advocacy and policy program supporting facilitated access on public lands, personally built a partnership with The North Face to secure funding.
  • Championed the interests of guides through direct communication with members of Congress, public officials, corporate leaders, peers in outdoor non-profits, and the media.
  • Partnered with community members to initiate the AMGA’s diversity, equity, and inclusion program in October 2015, three months after starting at the association.
  • Guided the Board of Directors in developing a new mission statement and strategic plan.
  • Proactively adapted through the COVID pandemic by offering new member services and developing innovative financial strategies to mitigate the loss of $2 million in course revenue.
  • Addressed international industry challenges and training standards as one of the twenty-seven member associations of the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations.
  • Recipient of the 2020 “Presidents Award,” first sitting executive director to receive the association’s top honor open to non-guides.
Outdoor Safety Institute Logo

OUTDOOR SAFETY INSTITUTE
Principal · 2010-2020

Founded and directed this leading outdoor risk management consultancy.

  • Founded and directed this leading risk management consultancy advising outdoor recreation, outdoor education, guiding, and conservation organizations.
  • The four-member team’s clients included Adventure Scientists, Boojum Institute, Colorado College, Colorado Mountain Club, Montana State University, Naturalists at Large, Pacific University, Sierra Club, The Mountaineers, University of Wisconsin, & Yellowstone Forever.

OUTWARD BOUND
Multiple Roles · 1996 – Present

Staff Trainer, Safety Reviewer, Course Director, Lead Instructor, and Board Committee Member.

  • Roles with Voyageur Outward Bound, Outward Bound California, Outward Bound Mexico, and Outward Bound USA.
  • Currently volunteer on the Outward Bound USA Safety Committee of the Board.

APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB
Leadership & Volunteer Relations Director · 1998-2004

Responsible for outdoor leadership training, risk management, and relations with 14,000 chapter volunteers.

  • Supervised a team of five responsible for outdoor leadership training, risk management, adventure travel, conservation volunteerism, and relations with 14,000 chapter volunteers.
  • As the first risk manager in the organization’s 125-year history, developed risk management and leader training systems for programs with 100,000+ annual participants (1998-2000).
  • Recognized for “exemplary service” in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2003.

AMC GUIDE TO OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP
Author · 2003, 2010

Wrote the first two editions of this popular and well-reviewed book.

  •  4.8 star rating on amazon.com based on 55 reviews (August, 2023)
  • “A thorough, field-tested examination of what makes the best outdoor leaders . . . and how one of them could be you” —Robert Birkby, author of the Boy Scout Handbook, Mountain Madness, and Lightly on the Land
  • “The AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership is an excellent resource for wilderness leaders new and old. Kosseff does a superb job of identifying the most important topics leaders should consider. His writing is clear and his recommended practices are consistent with industry standards. This is a well-written, enjoyable leadership resource that will be valuable to anyone responsible for leading trips in the outdoors.” —Dan Garvey, President, Prescott College (1st edition review)

services.

01. INSPIRED LEADERSHIP.

Caring leadership of organizations or programs on short- or long-term timeframes.

02. RISK MANAGEMENT & INCIDENT RESPONSE.

Deeply experienced outdoor risk manager available for proactive projects as well as crisis response and incident review roles.

03. PROGRAM & SITE DEVELOPMENT.

Conceptualization and implementation of outdoor education, recreation, or guiding programs. Planning and development of recreation sites, including climbing areas and climbing routes.

04. EXPERT WITNESS & LITIGATION CONSULTANT.

Ethically principled consultant and witness with experience working for both plaintiff’s and defense counsel. Also available to recruit experts with well-matched expertise.

more.

> OUTDOOR EDUCATOR
Sharing the outdoors with others is a passion of mine. Since 1992, as an eductor and instructor trainer, I have taught outdoor leadership, rock, alpine, ice climbing, backpacking, canoeing, and wilderness medicine.
> EXPERT
I am a leading expert in my field with over thirty years of experience as an outdoor professional, author, and organizational leader. I have advised and trained over a hundred organizations on outdoor safety and risk management, including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Colorado College, L.L. Bean, Outward Bound Mexico, The Mountaineers, and The Nature Conservancy of Canada. My work as an expert witness and litigation consultant has involved important legal cases around the U.S.
> POLICY ADVOCATE
By building coalitions, effective advocacy for conservation, access, and other issues is possible for organizations of any size. I launched the policy and advocacy program at the AMGA, helped found the Coalition for Outdoor Access, and managed the conservation volunteer program for the Appalachian Mountain Club.
> EXPLORER
I have an abiding passion for wild places. While much of my time is spent in the mountains, my first love was the ocean. I ski, climb, backpack, packraft, snorkel, fish and more. I have a particular interest in climbing route development and have established hundreds of traditional and sport climbing pitches.
> BOARD VOLUNTEER

Exposing more people to the outdoors and protecting our environment is critically important. This is why I have volunteered my time on Boards of Directors and committees with the National Science Foundation, Outward Bound USA, Access Fund, Montana Wilderness School, and Winter Wildlands Alliance.

contact.

LET’S TALK.

Whatever you would like to discuss, please get in touch. I look forward to hearing from you! — Alex