Success Story: Accounting
Climbing the Mountain
Mountain Link is a Bend-based international mountaineering guide service offering instructional seminars and guided expeditions. ìWe arrange climbing trips around the world, prepare mountaineers for their own personal Seven Summits course and teach the basics of alpine mountaineering,î said Robert Link, Mountain Linkís owner and president.
ìWhile Mountain Link continues to grow and change, our philosophy and priorities remain the same: quality instruction in the latest mountaineering techniques and remembering to enjoy the process of mountaineering. Our guides are not only world-class climbers, but also exceptional teachers. Their true talents lie in their ability to mentor others, giving our customers great memories and climbing experiences that will serve them on future adventures,î according to Link.
Mountain Link has over 20 year experience providing climbing information, expedition climbing trips with world class guides and expert logistics and teaching proper climbing and safety techniques.
Aside from standing atop the highest peaks, Linkís greatest excitement comes when he finds ìthe essence,î which he describes as a ìbunch of people who want to climb.î He welcomes them into his Greenwood Avenue store.
Mountain Link partners with Ground Wear, a cutting-edge gear and clothing manufacturer, to promote and authenticate the product through their use. ìWe test and consult for them and they provide us with the product,î Link said. He plans to introduce a catalog this month that will consist of recommended brands that can be ordered from the shop and will eventually carry an inventory of brands for retail.
Link moved his shop to the Bend location from the Bay Area in September 2003 after reading a survey that rated Bend ìone of the most adventurousî cities in the country.
The 26-time veteran of Himalayan peaks has also spent plenty of time on Northwest mountain summits, including 295 times atop Mt. Rainier, as well as 17 expeditions up Denali, and several others. His other most notable feats include the worldís last international peace climb of Everest and a historic summit of Mt. Kanchenjunga in 1989.
Partnership with COCC's Business Development Center
Mountain Link is beginning its second year of involvement with the Small Business Management Program at COCCís Business Development Center. ìThere were a number of ways that the Business Development Center helped our business,î said Mike Lindaas, chief operating officer at Mountain Link. ìNot only were we able to chat openly about our businessóthe one-on-one meetings and coursework provided us with client leads as well as new accounting partners, phone systems and human resources information.î
Our Greatest SuccessóìWith our wealth of experience and contacts in the industry, Mountain Link provides a first-class mountaineering experience,î Link said. ìTwenty-six years later, people still come back to me and remember the adventure.î |
