Rich Daileader is a life-long lover of the outdoors, its splendor, and its restorative properties. A veteran marathoner and ultra runner, Rich turned to hiking when the mega miles of long-distance training jeopardized his long-term goals to remain active and out on the trails.
In 2009, Rich was downsized during the last financial crisis. This ‘forced’ sabbatical provided him the opportunity to thru-hike the 2,189 mile Appalachian Trail. Over this five month experience, his eyes were again opened to the restorative powers of nature.
Since his AT thru-hike, Rich returned to the world of banking and finance, and has remained an active member of the larger outdoor and hiking communities through his involvement on the Board of Directors of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the North Carolina Outward Bound School, and Warrior Expeditions. He is a supporter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and a nine-year ‘Big’ for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Charlotte.
Rich is a graduate of St. John’s University and Fordham University. And having recently concluded a forty-year career in banking, principally in New York City and Charlotte, NC, Rich has found new purpose in preparing executives of all types for the rigors of the trail, its curative effects, and the perspective it provides.