Jim Whittaker

Jim Whittaker, internationally renowned mountaineer, adventurer, and environmentalist, is best known as the first American to summit Mt. Everest, on May 1, 1963. A visionary business leader, Jim was the first full-time employee of one of th country's largest outdoor retailers, Recreational Equipment, Inc.-REI-retiring as its president and CEO after twenty-five years with the company. Jim is a talented and inspirational public speaker who has given presentations to hundreds of corporations and organizations for more than four decades.