The Marketers
 
 
 

Russel "Holly" Hollenbeck

Owner, aka "Boss"

Lisa Hollenbeck

Owner, aka "Boss Lady"
     
 

Holly and Lisa pilot this good ship Alpine, but they know that the wind in her sails comes from the hard work of their outfitters and their support staff.  Take a moment to get to know your local outfitters and sneak a peak past the "Employees Only" door to meet the buyers, marketers and other behind the scenes characters.  Choose a category below:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Todd Oswald

Marketing Director

Alpiner Since: 2001

 

What's Your Passion? 

I love to paddle. Haven't been able to do it as much as I used to be able to due to the birth of my daughter in 2005. I got started, as many Missourians do, on the Meramec (and it's tributaries), the Current and the Big Rivers as a kid with the boy scouts. In 1999, while in Santa Rosa, I began kayaking extensively along many of the rivers along the Northern coast of California. I started white water kayaking in 2000 and fell instantly in love.

 

My family loves to camp so we try to get everybody out into the "wild" a few times a year (as time allows us). I've also hiked and backpacked extensively in Yosemite National Park in California. 

 

Over the past five years, though, my passion has really turned to trail running and pushing my special needs daughter on road courses. I've run six half marathons and one marathon on the road and countless other distances on trails.

 

Favorite place to "Get Outside Yourself:" 

Yosemite National Park in California. There is no other place in the world like it. I'll never forget the first time I took my family there. Watching the kids' mouths drop open as we came around the bend and Yosemite Valley spread in front of them. It was priceless.

 

I discovered more about my self in that place then probably any single location I've ever visited. Yosemite taught me that my body could handle 16-20 miles of hiking in a single day, that I could take on the mountains and be okay, that I could accomplish things I had only dreamed about.

 

A close second place would be the Saint Francis River near Fredericktown, Mo. The "home" whitewater river for most St. Louisans. A gorgeous taste of rushing water less than the 100 miles from our home.

 

Favorite Book: Not sure I can pick just one... Jonathan Franzen's "The Corrections"; Ernest Cline's "Ready Player One"; Stephen R. Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" and Stephen King's "Bag of Bones".

 

Little Extra:  I'm married to my wonderful wife, Michele, with six kids, including our youngest who is one of only a handful of people in the world with a specific deletion on chromosome 6. She has been a constant inspiration for our family and for people around the globe. If you do any running, you may find us all on the course with "Team Katy" bibs on our backs and a big stroller in front of me.

 

Favorite Gear:

 
 

Jarrid Snyder (Rowdy) 

Events and Race Director

 

Alpiner Since: 2019

 

Bonus:

  • NOLS Wilderness First Aid
  • Certified in All Things Summer Camp
  • Dog dad to Shiloh

 

What's Your Passion? I love working in outdoor education setting. I got my start working at Wyman Center in Eureka!

 

Favorite place to "Get Outside Yourself:"  Boundary Waters Canoe Area

 

Favorite Book: Mike and Allen’s Really Cool Backpackin’ Book

Favorite Gear: Patagonia

 
 

Perry Whittaker

Race Director

 

Alpiner Since: 2012

 

What's Your Passion? I'm a kayaker, a hiker, and a biker (road and mountain). I'm also heavily involved with organizations that clean our local rivers and build hiking trails.

 

Favorite place to "Get Outside Yourself:"  I paddle on the Mississippi River a lot. I frequently paddle between St Louis and Cape Girardeau and there aren't words to describe the peace I find while I'm out there. I've taken a bunch of Scout troops on that trip and I really enjoy teaching them about the history of our awesome Mississippi (native Americans, early explorers, steamboats, and ghost towns).

 

Favorite Book: I mostly read books about science or history, but I'm a huge fan of Mark Twain.

 

Favorite Gear: My garage and basement is full of the awesome products we sell! I can't pick a favorite.

 
 

Rachel Meyer

Assistant Marketing Director, Social Media Director

 

Alpiner Since: 2019

 

What's Your Passion? I am fortunate enough to have parents who love sports and the outdoors and who encouraged me to try new activities as a kid. We all love water and snow skiing, paddle boarding, and playing golf. I also enjoy taking my pup (Aurora) shed hunting and hiking all over the metro St. Louis area.

 

What's your dream advenure?  A long excursion through Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming doing all of the things (Large game hunting, fly fishing, hiking, horseback riding, camping).

 

Favorite Book: "The Automatic Millionaire. It's a book that teaches very simple and practical ways to set yourself up for financial success and stability no matter how much or how little you make. Totally unrelated to the outdoors, but the less time we spend stressing about money the more time we can spend doing the things we love and enjoy!

 

Favorite Gear: