Who We Are
Trek for Trevor was formed to honor the life of Trevor “Microsoft” Laher who died on March 27, 2020 in his attempt to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail; a 2,652-mile trail which spans from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington.
Mission and vision statements
Mission
We promote safe hiking and exploration through preparation, awareness and education.
Vision
We aspire to create a culture in which hikers are empowered to explore safely, ensuring that every adventure becomes a journey worth remembering.
Our values
Safety
We celebrate the spirit of adventure, but prioritize safety above all else, ensuring that every hiker has the knowledge to return home unharmed.
Compassion
We will not judge - we approach our mission with compassion and empathy, recognizing that every hiker's journey, education, and knowledge is unique and deserving of support and understanding.
Courage
We celebrate courage in the face of adversity, inspiring hikers to “Hike Their Own Hike” and take ownership of their own self-interests and preservation of safety.
Collaboration
We prioritize the combined impact that collaboration with other stakeholder groups can have on our community, placing the benefit to the hiking community above the interests of the foundation.
Respecting the environment
We respect nature and the beauty it holds. We believe in the principle of “Leave no Trace”. Valuing wildlife and the environment reinforces safety.
Decision-making
Decision-making: We are committed to making a framework of decisions which represents the best interests of our community (even when unpopular), as a cornerstone of our commitment to the difficult decisions hikers must make every day while on Trail.
Education
We are committed to the promotion of hiker safety and trail etiquette education as this is a requisite for safe recreation of the outdoors.
“…I hope this experience was greater than anything that you could have ever imagined.”
Trevor (Microsoft) Laher
Board of Directors
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Douglas Laher
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/EX-OFFICIO
Doug and his wife Karen are co-founders of Trek for Trevor. Doug is an experienced non-profit executive and oversees the administrative functions of the foundation.
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David Laher
PRESIDENT
Dave is retired with extensive non-profit experience serving on the Board of Directors for the United Way in Wooster, OH. He and his wife Marilyn enjoy retirement in Peoria, AZ.
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Russ Hepton
VICE PRESIDENT
Russ is an award-winning Digital Product Designer and avid long-distance hiker. He lives in the Lake District in the UK. Russ thru-hiked the PCT in 2022.
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Joann Hazlett
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Joann is an Administrative Assistant at Oberlin College in Ohio. Joann worked closely with Trevor’s mother; Karen to start “Trevor’s 100 Day Trek” - a 100-day celebration of Trevor’s love of hiking.
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Brian Schneider
DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
Brian Schneider is a banking analyst living in Olmsted Falls, OH. He is an avid cyclist who has cycled over 1,000 miles through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Most recently he spends time on the local disc golf courses. -
Christopher Nelson
DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
Chris is a career non-profit executive serving in local, state and national United Way CEO roles for 42 years. His specializations include resource development, grant writing, public policy, crisis preparedness and response. -
Sherry Babic
DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
Sherry is a Respiratory Therapist and friend of the Laher family. She serves on the Ohio Respiratory Care Board. In her free time, she and her husband enjoy visiting zoos, and exploring local parks.
STAFF
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Douglas Laher
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Doug and his wife Karen are co-founders of Trek for Trevor. Doug is an experienced non-profit executive and oversees the administrative functions of the foundation.
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Kolbie Kaminski
SOCIAL MEDIA
Kolbie is a social media influencer and childhood friend of Trevor's. She is a sales and marketing professional with a passion for driving impactful campaigns. She enjoys to spend her free time out on the water, swimming and fishing.