Specs: 6-foot-3, 210 pounds
Whereabouts: Philadelphia, PA studying at Wharton MBA

Below is a bio sketch, some photographs to make you smile, and some press clippings.

How did Neal get started climbing?
He was one of those kids who grew up pushing the envelope. He had knee holes in all his Sears jeans and was always eager to show you his latest dog bite scar or go swimming for golf balls at the golf course. He built tree forts 50 feet in the air and swam across lakes with balloons tied to his ear to warn boaters. His sense of adventure began early in life and hasn't stopped. After some beginner's rock climbing in college Neal took a job with frequent travel to Zurich. "I would gaze out the plane window at the Swiss Alps, and it became my focus." His first climbs were in New Hampshire and the Alps. WIth the help of books and advice from fellow trail goers Neal began tackling larger and larger peaks.

Recent trips
2001 - Matterhorn, Zugspitze, Dreitorspitze, Washington
2002 - Mount Elbrus, tallest Europe
2003 - Mount Kilimanjaro, tallest Africa
2003 - Mount McKinley, tallest North America
2004 - Mount Aconcagua, tallest South America
2004 - Mount Rainier
2005 - Mount Vinson, tallest Antarctica
2005 - Mount Everest, tallest Asia
2005 - Mount Kosciuszko, tallest Australia (7 Summits!)
2006 - Nipigon Ice Fest, Thunderbay Canada
2006 - Mount Rainier North Face (Liberty Ridge)
2007 - Winter attempt of Grand Teton Exum Direct
2007 - Winter traverse of Presidential Range

Worth the risk?
Neal has walked away from mountains that were too avalanche prone, too windy or too tall for him at the time, but he's always returned. "The concept of no-fear is hokey", says Neal. "I feel it more than most, and that has kept me alive. Moderation in all things, including moderation."

Any stories?
Over time Neal has climbed some of the world's challenging summits, including ascending the tallest mountains on all seven continents. By completing the 7-Summits Neal is among 125 other mountaineers to complete this goal, and only a handful did it on the first try as he did. HIs expedition to Mount Everest lasted 73-days. During this expedition Neal lost 50 pounds while recovering from a stomach infection, helped carry the corpse of a fallen climber, and performed a high-altitude medical intervention to save a climber's life. He reached the summit on June 2, 2005 and endured fifty-minutes on the summit of the world's tallest mountain in order to enjoy the view. There is a 360-degree video from the summit in the videos tab.

Why does he climb?
According to Neal, "Climbing for me is about entrusting myself to exceed my own expectations. With each mountain I push my edge and see how much higher I can climb. My expeditions have taken me to the far reaches of the earth; from Antarctica to the Rockies, and from the Alps to the Himalayas. The mountains have been my classroom and laboratory for the past 5 years. Expeditions have taught me lessons about fortitude, trust and excellence -- these lessons help high in the mountains and also down here in the business world. Corporate America has much to learn from mountain teamwork, my favorite being the ability of mountain teams to agree and commit, even when we are not unanimous in our thinking. The agreement not to act is often the worst decision. In the mountains inaction means freezing to death, to companies it means not innovating, coming late to market, and getting bloated."

Does this guy have a job?
Not right now -- and he sometimes even misses it. He is on the speaking circuit and is studying full-time at Wharton Business School. In Spring 2008 he'll finish his MBA and reenter the work force. Before this Neal spent 7-years in strategy management consulting and venture capital; respectively PRTM Management Consulting and RedShift Ventures. He graduated college from the University of Pennsylvania with honors.

Quotes from Neal:

• "What you got here is a story of ordinary people people producing extraordinary results."
• "Overcoming the impossible transforms us into who we really are."

7 Summits	Everest Map	Photo