We are based in a rural mountain community, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. We know well the challenges faced by rural communities and austere settings. We focus on areas where funding challenges threaten access to vital awareness and training.
"Vital Responders" is the term we use to describe those people vital to the well-being of our families, communities and culture. While we serve all first responders, health care workers and military and rescue personnel, we recognize that vital responders encompass many members of our communities who are on the front lines, serving the public and responding to challenges.
At the Responder Alliance Foundation we believe that all responders should be included in community-wide efforts to prepare and protect those we depend on the most. This includes teachers, public health workers, health care workers and non profit employees, to name a few.
Executive Director
For the past 20 years, Laura McGladrey has instructed for NOLS Wilderness Medicine and is currently a Nurse Practitioner with dual certification, practicing both emergency medicine and psychiatry across the lifespan. She is currently a clinician with the Stress Trauma Adversity Research and Treatment (START) Center and provides trauma support for Emergency and Wilderness Responders. She has a background in international and relief work, teaches courses to wilderness medicine providers, and lectures nationally on Psychological First Aid and Stress Injuries. She is the Stress and Resilience advisor for Portland Mountain Rescue and Eldora Ski Patrol, and consults with and advises several other rescue and patrol teams throughout the United States and beyond. She is the founder, and volunteer-in-chief- of Responder Alliance, and is profoundly grateful to work alongside the talented group of staff and volunteers at Responder Alliance.
Strategic Consultant
Stephanie Thomas has been a resident of Jackson since 2002. She is passionate about education, mental health access, and building inclusive, sustainable communities. Known for her innovative approach, she enjoys helping nonprofits and small businesses find creative solutions to everyday issues. Outside of her professional life, Stephanie loves mountain biking, open water swimming, traveling, and perfecting her bread-baking skills.
Board of Directors
A self-proclaimed "mercenary educator," Paul has worked with numerous organizations (including NOLS, Where There Be Dragons, High Mountain Institute, Watershed School, and numerous universities and colleges). Paul works throughout the world as a facilitator, presenter, curriculum designer, coach, counselor, expeditionary leader, risk management consultant, staff trainer, team builder, and remote medicine instructor. After many years as the CEO of Avid4 Adventure, Paul transitioned to full-time consultant work. He now supports multiple organizations, including Responder Alliance where he serves as a Thought Partner to inform strategy. Paul holds a Masters Degree in Counseling and is trained as a Wilderness EMT.
Board of Directors
Kurt Eifling grew up in the Ozark mountains of Arkansas. While attending medical school at Northwestern University, he joined the US Navy. After an Internal Medicine internship, he was assigned to serve with the US Marine Corps infantry as the Battalion Surgeon for 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines Regiment. He deployed twice with the Marines supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. It was there that he worked with psychologists and Chaplains to manage combat stress and the complex moral impact of war. Between deployments, he found camaraderie with the Wilderness Medical Society. He now lives in his hometown of Fayetteville, Arkansas with his two dogs, eleven chickens, two sons, and wife Carla. His academic work is now affiliated with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where he trains medical students and residents. To continue serving those affected by war and political instability, he volunteers with Canopy NWA, a refugee resettlement agency, and at Welcome Health, a free clinic in Fayetteville, where he leads a team of students, nurses, and physicians to provide free immigration medical screenings for refugees, low-income migrants, and unaccompanied minors who are pursuing permanent immigration status.
Board of Directors
Seth is the associate director of the wilderness medicine fellowship at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and has published widely in the wilderness medicine literature, including as coauthor of several Wilderness Medical Society clinical practice guidelines. He is an anthropologist, writer and physician, double-boarded in both emergency medicine and EMS (field medicine). Additionally, Dr. Hawkins serves as a medical advisor and director for the North Carolina (N.C.) Outward Bound School, N.C. State Parks, the Student Conservation Association, and the National Association for Search and Rescue. He is also the local emergency medical advisor for all U.S. Forests in N.C. and the National Park Service Outer Banks (Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras National Seashores).
Board of Directors
Kari is the Ski Patrol Director and Safety Coordinator at Diamond Peak Ski Resort on the Nevada side of North Lake Tahoe. Kari started her career in the ski industry at 2-months-old sleeping in a cardboard box under the ticket window of her Godmother’s ski hill, Ski Green Valley. With both her parents serving as the Volunteer Ski Patrollers at the hill, Kari naturally started skiing around with a 101 Dalmatians fanny pack filled with bandages trying to help fallen skiers. While it took many years of different jobs to find her way into a paid patroller position, once she started in the ski industry, she knew it was her career path. Kari started as a ski patroller in the 2012-2013 season and was a patrol director by the 2014-2015 season. Kari is also the President of two different non-profit organizations, Women of Patrol and the Sierra Nevada Resiliency Team. Her motivation in serving on the board of the Responder Alliance Foundation is seeing many great people leaving the ski industry through burnout and stress injuries. She wants to help those who work in the industry to have the tools to have a healthier relationship with work and maintain the qualified and passionate individuals who choose this career path.
Board of Directors
Jenn began her wilderness medicine career as a member of National Ski Patrol at age 15. Growing up in California, summers were spent in the Eastern Sierra – hiking, backpacking, and climbing. She attended the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed her Emergency Medicine residency at York Hospital - York, Pennsylvania. Moving to Alaska in 1997, she has never looked back. Joining the WMS in 1990 – she completed her FAWM in 2007 and DiMM in 2014. She was a founding faculty member for the WMS-DiMM and continues to serve as core faculty. Jenn co-chaired and chaired the 2019 and 2020 summer conferences, respectively, and joined the board of directors in 2018. For her “real job”, Jenn practices Emergency Medicine at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage. She also serves as the Medical Director for the National Park Service – Alaska Region; Guardian Flight Alaska, Alyeska Ski Patrol, and The Alyeska Pipeline. She works closely with multiple guide and rescue services, ensuring their field teams have the knowledge and tools needed to manage remote emergencies. If she’s not out running her dogs, she can usually be found skiing, climbing, or mountain biking – satellite phone in hand.
Board of Directors
Kristin is a seasoned litigator who has dedicated her career to defending ski areas, outdoor recreational providers, and adventure industries throughout California and across the United States. She has extensive experience litigating catastrophic personal injury cases and has been instrumental in the industry developing the doctrines of express and primary assumption of risk. In addition to litigation, she regularly advises her clients on risk management and liability avoidance and regularly speaks at local and national ski industry events. She was named Special Counsel to Ski California (ski area trade organization) in 2024. Kristin's motivation for serving on the Board comes from her first hand experience working with employees and colleagues who have endured trauma and stress related injuries either in the course of their employment or as a result of being directly involved in catastrophic accidents in the ski industry. In her free time, Kristin enjoys living in the mountains and spends her free time trail running, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, backpacking, and hiking with her husband and 11 year old rescue dog.
