Exceler8s II Event Summary

Exceler8s is looking for 6 students to plan and execute the Exceler8s II Winter Festival. We will have fun, work hard and learn. Team members should also be prepared to take the independent study program management class in the second semester.


Motivation: The "Exceler8s II Winter Festival" is planned for February 24-26, 2010 in Grand County, CO (Winter Park, Berthoud Pass).

·  The primary purpose of the event is to compel people to give back. All funds raised will benefit the Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Colorado River Basin project – the program is based in Boulder, CO and one of only 20 global TNC programs.

·  The second objective of our event is for participants to appreciate and celebrate the life experience of accomplishing achievements not thought possible by extending one's self physically and mentally in a team environment.

·  Create an event that inspires people to participate on an annual basis.

Event Overview

•  Day 1: Half day for registration and TBD seminars. We will also host a kick-off Happy Hour at Winter Park base.

•  Day 2: Mountain awareness and skills training day at Winter Park and Berthoud Pass. Participants will pre-register for activities based on their ability and what they want to learn. To ensure safety and skills development for the Berthoud Pass portion of the event, we are currently working with a Boulder-based company for guiding services. .

We will close the day with a benefit dinner, awards and silent auction.

•  Day 3: Same as day 2. Ideally, we will have some kind of team competition for participants.

Background: Leeds, Cisco and TNC partnered for the first Exceler8s ski festival (www.exceler8s.com) in April, 2009 and raised over $14k for the TNC. Sponsors included Cisco Systems, Powerbar, Vitamin Water, Black Diamond, FlyLow, Patagonia, Peet’s Coffee and Tea, Snowforecast.com, Noodles and Company. And we delivered an epic experience for all participants!

Fundraising objective: We will raise money through corporate sponsors, a silent auction and individual sponsors. Our aspirational goal is to raise $30k from 120 event attendees, for the Colorado River Basin Program.


Leeds and Cisco WW Channel Sales partnership: Brian Allison is the Exceler8s co-founder and team’s executive sponsor. He will dedicate time on a weekly basis to working with the team to achieve our goals, as well as provide hands on experience with Cisco technologies (Web Ex, Telepresence) and management methodologies. Team members will also have the opportunity to meet numerous business leaders and executives from throughout North America.

Project team responsibilities: Based on the work done by last year’s team, we have a solid program base to build on and committed web development resources. Key team activities include: recruiting participants and sponsors; program and budget management; marketing communications. Please see last year’s program charter attached for more detailed information.

Project contacts:

Brian Allison
Director of Business Development, WW Channels,
Cisco Systems
408-853-7541 (w)
650-996-8803 (c)
/ Kathryn Zwack
303-482-2615 (w)
408-419-0808 (c)