Alvah Simon

Explorers are a special breed of people blessed with courage, determination, and an instinct for survival. Alvah Simon is regarded as "one of the great and authentic adventurers of our time." While most people seek security and comfort, Alvah prowls the thornier edges of our world. "Only by testing the borders of human potential can we expand them," he says. "Yes, there are risks, but there are even greater risks in not doing it."

In his spellbinding presentations, Alvah chronicles his expedition -- a treacherous exploration with his New Zealand wife Diana, high above the Arctic Circle to face this last frontier on its own terms. For Alvah, the Arctic expedition was the fulfillment of a lifetime dream. Despite meticulous preparation and a 13-year circumnavigation building the necessary skills and outlook, he could never have been prepared for what lay ahead.

Unexpected events would leave Alvah to face the Arctic alone, his boat trapped in the crushing polar ice and with a kitten as his only companion. His world was reduced to the icy hull of his sailboat and soon circumscribed by minus 65-degree temperatures, killing blizzards and marauding polar bears. Alvah withstood more than five months of isolation, temporary blindness, and the space-like blackness of the polar winter fighting a solitary battle for life and sanity.

With his masterful storytelling accompanied by spectacular photography, Alvah vividly communicates why and how people do extraordinary things. His remarkable story is a real-life tale about the many facets of achievement - vision, fortitude, adaptability, and resourcefulness. He not only inspires others to test the borders of their potential, he prompts them to think anew about life.

Today, business and life challenge us to go places we've never gone before. Alvah proves we are up to the test.

Alvah's riveting saga was chronicled in the book, "North to the Night: A Year in the Arctic Ice", and on CNN's "Business Unusual," a broadcast devoted to the art and discipline of business creativity, inspiration, and leadership. Alvah and Diana were the subjects of a two-hour Discovery/Travel Channel documentary titled "To Survive", which enjoyed prime-time airing to a massive audience and received exceptionally high ratings.

Alvah's presentations are powerful and memorable with a profound and universal message relevant to a wide range of audiences.