A bit more about Chez…and then some.

Chez Chesak has more than 20 years experience forging corporate partnerships, fomenting (yes, that’s a word) business development, and in organizational leadership within the travel and outdoor industries.

Chez graduated with a B.A. in English and International Politics from Wesleyan University and earned four varsity letters in football — he thinks he remembers most of it.

As you heard in our podcast with Chez Chesak, he spent the summer of 1993 driving solo in a VW around the U.S. (and hit as many national parks as he could). Believe it or not, he worked for a year at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. (where he occasionally worked in Justices’ chambers – and even shot hoops with a Justice one night — he won’t disclose who won.)

He’s been employed by outdoor associations such as the American Hiking Society (where he managed the National Trails Day program) and the venerable, 100 year-old The American Alpine Club.

Chez experienced real adventure travel with a deployment in the U.S. Army National Guard in 2005 to Iraq where he spent a year with a line unit as a machine gunner.

Following that he spent nine years helping guide the Adventure Travel Trade Association to its current position as a  galvanizing force for the adventure travel industry, then did similar work for three years for the Family Travel Association (where he continues to serve on their board).

But, what Chez Chesak really enjoys is ‘blowing the minds’ of his young daughters with family adventures to Costa Rica, Normandy, China and Panama – and he can’t wait to start sharing every national park with them soon too … no word on if this will also be in a VW van.

Chez is an avid skier, biker, backpacker, and writer, having published fictional works in several literary quarterlies and non-fiction in national publications. Chez Chesak currently lives with his wife Sally and two daughters in the American heartland.

Chez Chesak Pinterest