Adventurer and Expert on Teamwork Co-Founder, K2 Adventurers
Kevin Cherilla is best known as a prominent businessman, international mountain guide, philanthropist, and motivational speaker. He has addressed hundreds of international corporations, foundations, universities, and schools, and his presentations include breath-taking expedition photos and award-winning video footage of his expeditions, inspiring and leading teams, and reaching individual and team goals. In his presentations, Cherilla addresses leadership, overcoming adversity, shattering expectations, goal-setting, and motivating a group.
Adventurous Spirit. Cherilla has led expeditions on six continents and in more than 20 countries. His teams have been featured on the front cover of TIME, Outside, Climbing, and Weekly Reader magazines, and on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Jay Leno, and many other news programs, including CNN.
Since 1997, he has led more than 300 people on international trips and expeditions. In 2001, Cherilla served as base camp manager for the 2001 National Federation of the Blind Everest Expedition. It was during this expedition that Erik Weihenmayer became the first and only blind person ever to summit Mount Everest. The team broke five world records and TIME magazine hailed them as the “greatest team in history to summit Mount Everest!” Six years later, Cherilla personally reached the summit of Mount Everest. In 2008, he led a wounded paraplegic to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Later that year, he led a group of blind climbers to the summit of that same mountain, breaking four world records. The Governor of Arizona awarded the team the Courage Award for their accomplishments. In 2010, Cherilla led a group of 13 wounded soldiers up the 21,000-foot Mount Lobuche in Nepal. He is also featured in the movie Soldiers to the Summit, which documents wounded soldiers and their mission to summit Mount Everest.
Nonprofit Initiatives. In 2004, Cherilla started KC Summits, an adventure organization that challenges all individuals to push themselves while reaching their goals around the world. Many of his clients have disabilities such as blindness, paralysis, and muscular dystrophy. His teammates have ranged in age from 11 to 80 years-old, and they have had a phenomenal success rate – over 92% – for summiting the mountains they ascend. (Comparatively, of the 25,000 people from around the world who try to summit Mount Kilimanjaro each year, only about 40% succeed.)
In 2009, Kevin Cherilla co-founded K2 Adventures Foundation, which benefits less fortunate and disabled children throughout the world. He currently sits on the board of directors for the Foundation for Blind Children in Phoenix, Arizona, and has organized and participated in multiple community service days in third-world countries. Cherilla has raised more than $600,000 for children around the world, and, in June 2011, K2 Adventures Foundation will build a $50,000 health center at the Mwereni Integrated School for the Blind in Tanzania. It will aide more than 600 students, including 74 blind children. Over the last three years, K2 has donated $125,000 in supplies to the school. Project CURE will also provide a $400,000 medical canister that will be used to supply three local hospitals.
Prep members for the Hill with a customized video.
Request More Info
Download Speech Topics: Kevin Cherilla Topics
Kevin Cherilla draws from his academic background and personal and professional encounters as he tailors his program to meet your organizational realities, challenges, and conference themes. His presentations include breath-taking expedition photos and award-winning video footage of his expeditions, inspiring and leading teams, and reaching individual and team goals. In his presentations, Cherilla addresses leadership, overcoming adversity, shattering expectations, goal-setting, and motivating a group.
Teamwork: Working with People of Diverse Backgrounds. Kevin Cherilla has led more than 300 people on international trips and expeditions across six continents and 20 countries. His teammates have ranged in age from 11 to 80 years-old, and they have had a phenomenal success rate of summiting the mountains they ascend of over 92%. (Comparatively, of the 25,000 people from around the world each year that try to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro, only about 40% succeed.) In his presentations, Cherilla discusses leading diverse teams successfully, goal setting, learning from failures, taking risks, making sacrifices, persevering through tough times, and accomplishing monumental goals.
Shattering Expectations: Overcoming Challenges and Obstacles. Kevin Cherilla has led teams of disabled people to summit the world’s tallest mountains. Many of his clients have disabilities such as blindness, paralysis, and muscular dystrophy and vary widely in age. During his presentations, he addresses how he leads and motivates people past their perceived boundaries in order to achieve the seemingly impossible. He also addresses goal setting, learning from failures, taking risks, making sacrifices, persevering through tough times, and accomplishing monumental goals.
Recipe for Success: Leadership, Trust, and Courage. Kevin Cherilla has led more than 300 people on international trips and expeditions across six continents and 20 countries, including some of the world’s most grueling and demanding terrain. Cherilla shares his leadership secrets and how he is able to successfully lead groups even during challenging times. He also addresses goal setting, learning from failures, taking risks, making sacrifices, and accomplishing monumental goals.
Vision/Goal Setting: Power of Positive Thinking. With his background as an adventurer and philanthropist, Cherilla has seen people at the best and worst times of their lives. He discusses how the power of positive thinking affects everyone – from the disabled teams he leads up the summits of the tallest mountains to the children he helps in third-world countries. He also addresses goal setting, learning from failures, taking risks, making sacrifices, persevering through tough times, and accomplishing monumental goals.
Charity Work: Being of Service and Starting a Non-Profit. With his experience as a philanthropist and volunteer, Kevin Cherilla discusses charity, what it means to be service-oriented, and starting and running a non-profit. He weaves his amazing stories of summiting the world’s tallest mountains with disabled climbers and stories of K2 Adventurers Foundations’ successes into an inspiring conversation about the reasons behind and the logistics to operating a charitable organization.
Travels FromArizona Local Fee Range$5,001.00 to $10,000.00 West Coast Fee Range$5,001.00 to $10,000.00 East Coast Fee Range$5,001.00 to $10,000.00
This specific fee falls within this range. Ranges are presented as a guideline only. Speaker fees are subject to change without notice. For an exact quote, please contact your Leading Authorities representative.
“We were delighted at the presentation that you gave as our keynote speaker to the 2009 TCA Annual Convention. Your message was the first non-industry presentation that we have scheduled for this event and to a person your message was inspirational and energizing. Your ability to combine the unbelievable experience of climbing Mt. Everest with stunning photography and real life video made this presentation something that we all could believe. As a presenter, we found your wit and charm a great balance to the severity of emotions that your message created. A job well done for certain and one that we feel anyone should be allowed to experience no matter their industry or background.” James R. Baty II,President, Tilt-Up Concrete Association, Mount Vernon, IA
“The best corporate presentation in 21 years in the business. Kevin is truly an inspiration and his presentation will move you beyond belief.” Laurie Lamson, Area Manager ,Aventis Pharmaceuticals ,Phoenix, AZ
“Kevin’s presentation was extraordinary! The spirit of his story, the energy he created with our audience, and all of his accomplishments will have a lasting effect on us for a long time.” Arnulfo Aguirre, President, Nike International, Guadalajara, Mexico
“The underlying theme of your presentation, your message about your friendship and teamwork with Erik Weihenmayer, and the abilities of people who have disabilities was a seldom shared and a unique perspective. Together, with your talent for speaking, the public presentation was a captivating and inspirational presentation.” Debbie Naucke, Executive Director, Delta Gamma Center. St. Louis, MO
“I wanted to take this opportunity to personally thank you for the motivational and moving presentation that you made to my sales team. I especially appreciated you taking the time to customize your presentation based upon my specific needs. The analogies that you used in your presentation truly exemplified what I was looking for. You clearly highlighted the importance of teamwork and how to keep the “inner fire” alive.
“I truly do believe that the passion and drive to win that you demonstrated will have a positive impact on our sales results. Your burning desire to win and, ultimately, the success that you accomplished on Mt. Everest is incredibly motivating to my team and will help us to drive from #4 in the US affiliate to #1!” Margin Larkin Curry, Eli Lilly and Co., District Manager, Cleveland Women’s Health Division
“Kevin, I have heard nothing but great job from the 1,200 people in attendance! So, its official, you were a big HIT! Thanks to you for an excellent job.” Jim Perrine, President and CEO, Business Clubs of America
Speakers Bureau
Keynote Speakers
Political Speakers
Leadership Speakers
Business Speakers
Inspirational Speakers
Motivational Speakers
Corporate Entertainment
Corporate Speakers
Video production
Event Production
Speakers Bureau FAQs
Public Speakers
Professional Speakers