Giovanni (Gio) de Luca
Position: Chairman of the Board
Current Residence: Carmel, IN
Favorite Muir Valley Memory: Bolting the extension to Indecision (The Stadium) with Rick Weber and Barry Brolley
Favorite Route in Muir: Preemptive Strike (The Hideout)
Professional/Work experience: 30 year career in financial management (US & abroad)
What you’re most looking forward to during your next 2 years on the board: To invest to a greater degree in the protection and preservation of Muir Valley so it can continue to offer world class climbing to all levels of climbers.
Michael Bond
Position: Treasurer
Current Residence: Mt. Sterling, KY
Favorite Muir Valley Memory: On my first visit to Muir, I met Rick and Liz Weber and enjoyed hearing the details of how they acquired the land and established the preserve. Their vision and generosity were inspiring.
Favorite Route in Muir: Cell Block Six
Professional/Work experience: I am a CPA and have worked in a variety of roles in accounting, audit, finance and investor relations.
What you’re most looking forward to during your next 2 years on the board: I look forward to continuing to refine and improve our financial processes. Also, I want to contribute to our land management and sustainability efforts.
Jayson Deese
Position: Board Member
Current Residence: Indianapolis, IN
Favorite Muir Valley Memory: First time outdoor climbing and going up Boltergeist
Favorite Route in Muir: Pre-emptive Strike
Professional/Work experience: International Higher Education
What you’re most looking forward to during your next 2 years on the board: Preserving and protecting MV and making it a sustainable climbing area. I also look forward to welcoming new climbers of many backgrounds.
Ken Delap
Position: Board Member, Guiding Contact
Current Residence: Seymour, IN
Favorite Muir Valley Memory: Many memories there. I guess climbing with Rick Weber early in my climbing days and all the friends I have made in the Red.
Favorite Route in Muir: Go West -enjoy all the trad routes, but enjoy bolts as well.
Professional/Work experience:
What you’re most looking forward to during your next 2 years on the board: Working on improvement to facilities at Muir.
Alli Esker
Position: IT Director
Current Residence: Variable- All around the US!
Favorite Muir Valley Memory: My first outdoor lead climb: Trundling Kentucky and helping to create the Muir Valley Legacy Film!
Favorite Route in Muir: Send Me on My Way
Professional/Work experience: Technology Strategist
What you’re most looking forward to during your next 2 years on the board: Giving back to the climbing community and being an advocate for sustainability and accessibility within the sport.
Bobbi Fischer
Position: Vice Chairman
Current Residence: Brownsburg, IN
Favorite Muir Valley Memory: 11 years ago my husband and I coordinated a mini trail day with about 10 people. Rick and Liz owned the land and provided us guidance but then turned us loose. It was rewarding but exhausting… Afterwards we enjoyed a few hours of climbing.
Favorite Route in Muir: It’s cliche but I love Return of the Manimal! It was my first clean 10+ outside
Professional/Work experience: Distribution Operational Manager
What you’re most looking forward to during your next 2 years on the board: Expanding our impact on land conservation and maintenance as well as climbers education by leveraging the talent we currently have on the board.
Dave Foster
Position: Board Member
Current Residence: Cincinnati (60%), Rogers, KY (40%)
Favorite Muir Valley Memory: First lead climb (and send!) Dyn-O-Mite – with Rick Weber’s coaching!
Favorite Route in Muir: Thrillbilly or Shock & Awe
Professional/Work experience: Financial advisor for 30+ years
What you’re most looking forward to during your next 2 years on the board: Working with our new members, spreading out & delegating responsibilities to more capable people!
Emily Foster
Position: Education/Outreach/Social Media coordinator
Current Residence: Rogers, KY
Favorite Muir Valley Memory: My first outdoor climb was Kokopelli’s Dream! Dave basically hauled me up the bottom half, but I had a blast.
Favorite Route in Muir: Boltergeist 5.10a/b
Professional/Work experience: Former Environmental Scientist, currently working at Red River Rockhouse and running a small scale vegetable farm in the beautiful Red River Gorge.
What you’re most looking forward to during your next 2 years on the board: I am most looking forward to working climbers of all experience levels and backgrounds, and sharing with them the beauty of Muir Valley and the joy of spending time outdoors!
Crystal Fryman
Position: Board Member
Current Residence: Louisville, KY
Favorite Muir Valley Memory: My first lead climb on Prehistoric Extermination
Favorite Route in Muir: 59″ DrillBitch
Professional/Work experience: Working as an attorney until I can afford a sprinter van. What you’re most looking forward to during your next 2 years on the board: Giving back to my community and protecting Muir for future climbers.
Esha Khullar
Position: Secretary
Current Residence: Maple Grove, MN
Favorite Muir Valley Memory: My very first outdoor climbing experience was at Muir Valley! I was lucky to have a group of climbing friends take me to Great Wall and that got me hooked to the feel of real rock. My first experience there, with friends, was surely my favorite one.
Favorite Route in Muir: Boltergeist, 5.10a/b, Hideout
Professional/Work experience: I lead an R&D team at Cargill, working on developing sustainable solutions using biology.
What you’re most looking forward to during your next 2 years on the board: Looking forward to getting involved in giving back to the amazing Muir Valley. I am also excited to get more involved in the various projects we have on our wish list.
Rob McCrea
Position: Board Member
Current Residence: Indiana
Favorite Muir Valley Memory: Meeting Rick and Liz after I joined the board to learn about all of the work they did with the help of other climbers and volunteers to clean up Muir Valley and turn it into a preeminent and accessible climbing destination.
Favorite Route in Muir: Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’
Professional/Work experience: Attorney
What you’re most looking forward to during your next 2 years on the board: Enhancing stewardship at the crags to minimize erosion and other environmental effects caused by climbers. It’s time for the climbing community to step up and be accountable for the impacts they cause.
Mark Robinson
Position: Financial Secretary
Current Residence: Maple Grove, MN
Favorite Muir Valley Memory: First climbing trip with my partner!
Favorite Route in Muir: Send Me On My Way
Professional/Work experience: I have spent my career working in Supply Chain for several food & consumer goods companies. I currently work for Corteva Agriscience.
What you’re most looking forward to during your next 2 years on the board: Being able to give back to the Muir climbing community and help maintain / enhance one of the best places to climb in the USA!
