North
America Executive MBA students celebrate their
arrival at the summit of Mt. Rainier. Left
to right, Damon Doelger, Rob Ziegler and Mark
Slaughter. Photo by Thom Dusek.
Executive MBA Class 2005 - Mt.
Rainier Climbing Team
Rob
Ziegler
Chief Operating Officer, IHI Environmental
Mark Slaughter
Operations Analyst, Enstar Natural Gas
Damon Doelger
Process Engineer, Wacker Siltronic
Lanny Dusek
(not pictured)
Senior Director of Regulatory Compliance, Fluor Hanford
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| "The most successful groups
are the ones that are most in sync with each
other, despite their differences." Rob
Ziegler |
Teamwork takes North America Executive
MBA students to the top of Mt. Rainier
The values of collaboration learned in the classroom took on new meaning when
a group of Executive MBA students
climbed Mt. Rainier in 2004. "The elements of successful climbing and
business are the same," explains Executive MBA student Rob Ziegler, an
experienced mountaineer who led the team. Strategic planning, teamwork, communication,
vision – the mountain is a metaphor for reaching goals together as a
group, he describes.
The mountaineering team included four Executive MBA students – Rob, Damon
Doelger, Mark Slaughter and Lanny Dusek – along with Lanny's brother
Thom. Commencing with a strategic plan, the first day at Camp Muir was dedicated
to "snow school." Members had a chance to prepare for decision-making
during the ascent and practice safety and rescue techniques including rope
work, self-arrest and crevasse rescue.
"This climb
really helped break down barriers as teams,
we just climbed together as students and
friends," Rob says. "There is intense
synergy in the EMBA program – the program demands
it by the way assignments are organized," he
continues. "The most successful groups
are the ones that are most in sync with each
other, despite their differences. Our group
had great synergy, right out of the chute," he
observed. "By the second day, I felt
confident the team was ready to handle the
upper mountain."
The team began its midnight ascent via Disappointment Cleaver on the southeast
side of Rainier. The party crossed a total of 46 crevasse bridges and gained
more than 4,300 feet in elevation on its way to the summit. At 12,300 feet,
Lanny made the difficult decision to stop. The supplies and food he carried
and his positive attitude helped fuel the other members as they completed
the remaining hours of the climb. Mark, Damon, Thom and Rob continued to
14,410 feet and reached the summit at dawn. Their unfurled banner and jubilant
expressions say it all: "UW Executive MBA North America 6 - See You
at the Top!" |
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The
Executive EMBA team reached the summit
of Rainier just after daybreak. Pictured:
Damon Doelger, foreground, Thom Dusek,
center and Mark Slaughter, left. Photo
by Rob Ziegler.
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