BIG RAPIDS - The Mechanical Service Contractors of America Student Chapter is pleased to invite the campus community to hear Stacy Allison speak during a free presentation at 6 p.m. Sept. 18 in G. Mennen Williams Auditorium. Even though the event is free, people interested in hearing Allison speak should pick up tickets at the Williams Auditorium Ticket Office.
Allison brings a vast range of experience and knowledge to her energetic and dynamic presentations. As president of Stacy Allison General Contracting, a residential building company, her mission is to motivate people to move beyond limitations and reach for their dreams. She challenges her audiences to lay the foundation for risk taking by accepting full responsibility for their lives. She also emphasizes the importance of recognizing and valuing everyone's contribution as a team member in life's pursuits.
"Mountains, though seemingly a planet apart from the world of business, are a rich source of practical insights for executives, managers and individuals alike," Allison said. "They are high-altitude laboratories for leadership, team dynamics, risk-taking, vision and change management."
At the age of 21 Allison began major alpine climbing in earnest and achieved rapid success. Within a year, she reached the top of Alaska's Mt. McKinley, the highest point in North America, and was part of the first successful women's ascent of Ama Dablam, the 22,495 foot peak known as Nepal's Matterhorn. These accomplishments provided the groundwork for much greater accomplishments.
She returned to Mt. Everest with the Northwest American Everest Expedition. On Sept. 29, 1988, after 29 days on the mountain, Allison became the first American woman to reach the summit of Mt. Everest, the world's highest mountain at 29,028 feet. She then went on to lead a successful K2 expedition, the world's second highest mountain, one of the most difficult peaks on Earth to climb. However, her experiences extend well beyond mountains. With Stacy Allison General Contracting, she and her team of builders specialize in high-end restoration. She also serves on the Board of Trustees of National University and is a successful author and committed mother of two. The Williams Auditorium Ticket Office is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and the night of the presentation from 11 a.m. until one half hour after the program begins. Seats will be general admission (no reserved seating). Attendees needing special assistance should call 591-3676 in advance if possible, or contact an usher the night of the event for assistance.