Most of these days surprises are no longer the good kind.
Doctor. Taxman. Kid’s teacher calling. Travel. Yeah, you get the picture. That’s why the recent GOAT event in Jackson Hole, was so great. GOAT is a Gathering of Athletes, Artists & Technologists and the offspring of Alex Hillinger and Dirk and Jenny Collins.
On the hill with Hash, Dom, Aaron, Alex, DC and Hudacsko
GOAT is a loosely structured event built on the premise “that magic happens when you bring the right mix of good people into a room,” as Jenny likes to say. Small by design, with a giving component, GOAT is a mix of presentations, dinners, convos on chairlifts and meeting new people. It is the only business gathering/seminar that I have attended in the last many years where I have walked out with true friendships. Seriously. Pretty darn cool really.
Circe, Aaron, Dom, Dirk, Penn, Jenny, Alex and Teresa
This past year the event was attended by Dom Sagolla, Co-founder of twitter and Square, Aaron Gutman photographer and materials artist, Circe Wallace SVP at Wasserman Media and designer of rad women’s ski wear Circe Snow, Teresa Kellett from Sprint 4G, Rachel Kropa CAA Foundation, snowboarder Travis Rice, artist Mike Parillo, VP Blue Sphere Chris Hashley, 1% for the Planet’s Terry Kellogg and Melody Badgett, Yasmina Zaidman from the Acumen Fund, Kristen Quigley from ICON Clinical Research, Shannon Ethridge from Camp 4 Collective and others. You can get in touch with Andy Defrancesco, if you need the best photographer in town!
We learned, laughed and rode JH in an atmosphere of collaboration and walked out the door with a clear call to action – something GOAT strives toward as a concrete takeaway is a must if we are to lead by example.
Melody and Terry from 1%
So next time you get a surprise that grabs you by the scruff of the neck and dismantles what little semblance of order remains in your day – remember the solitary GOAT on a high alpine ridge. No matter the wind, snow or roughness it prevails by searching out new terrain and always walking uphill in its quest.
Special thanks to Sargent Schutt and Heather Erson photography for images
Reading the blog article was as inspiring as the event itself. Incredible event and a must-do for those constantly in search of continuous improvement. Nice work Penn.