RICK CRANDALL

This site is a collection of articles on subjects that may be of interest to researchers.. They are all copyrighted, however abstracting and quoting may be done without my permission (although I’d like to know!) and literal copying may be allowed, contact me.

Givray CEO Reference

HENRY S. GIVRAY
President & CEO
Tel: 972.830.7799
Fax: 972.443.9717
hgivray@justiclink.com

To Whom It May Concern:

I was first introduced to Rick Crandall in early 1996 when I was considering a position of senior vice president of corporate development for Giga Information Group, an information technology (IT) advisory services company founded in 1995 by Gideon Gartner, founder and former CEO of Gartner Group. In addition to serving on Giga’s board of directors, Rick was also providing strategic and operational assistance to Gideon and other key executives within Giga. While I had the benefit of Rick’s counsel upon joining Giga, it wasn’t until I was appointed Giga’s president and chief operating officer three months later that I can to appreciate what an invaluable and unique resource he really was.

Rick offered me direct, insightful, thoughtful and practical advice and counsel on a broad spectrum of issues and problems that I was facing as a new chief executive within an intense, ambiguous, constantly changing and fast-paced environment typical of any young, start-up company. In particular, Rick helped me frame and analyze complex, difficult and often times politically charged issues on business strategy, board governance, CEO-Board relations, evaluation of executive talent, finance, technology vision, CEO-COO relations, strategic alliances and organization structures.

In addition to providing me, other executives on my team and other board members with valuable insights and advice, Rick also played the role of professional “question-asker” or “issue-raiser.” However, Rick was also never shy about being direct and to the point, when needed. He was very effective in drawing out the gut issues so that they could be appropriately addressed. Rick always appeared to be independent from, yet knowledgeable of, internal prejudices and biases that allowed him to be more objective and thus extremely effective.

Rick’s approach in working with me was individualistic and personal; his style with me and with the company was neither intrusive nor challenging but instead facilitating and engaging. This, in turn, fostered trust, cooperation, and openness between the two of us which made our interaction that much more valuable.

I highly recommend Rick Crandall to any CEO. I am confident that he would make a valuable and lasting contribution to the growth and capacity of any chief executive and to the company and board of directors that he or she serves. This is especially true for a new CEO as they tackle their responsibilities today and challenges tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Henry S. Givray
President and CEO

Welcome

This site is a collection of articles on subjects that may be of interest to researchers.

They are all copyrighted, however abstracting and quoting may be done without my permission (although I’d like to know!) and literal copying may be allowed, contact me.

See Hiking and Climbing Equipment Checklist HERE

New Articles

African Safari

Climbing a New York City Skyscraper

In Hudson Yards, NYC there is a building called the Edge that has the highest cantilevered deck in North America at the 100th floor. We elevatored to there and then went outside to climb to the top!

Eight Days Rafting the Entire Grand Canyon

Mt. Sherman Revisited

After four years passing from finishing climbing all 58 fourteeners, I am back at a summit on Mt. Sherman with Mona Long.

Brother Wayne Doing More Than Just Dancing with a Dolphin

My Favorite 14er Climb Stories

Pikes Peak – Summiting My 58th and Final 14er

Pikes Peak is the 2nd most visited mountain in the world. I saved it for last because it has a road to the top so that some friends could climb with me and others could ride to the top to begin the celebration completing a 9-year mission to climb them all. We chose the Crags Trail, and then we had quite a party!

K2 and Capitol Peak (“The King”)

Capitol Peak is undoubtedly the standard bearer of all the fourteeners in Colorado. It features a very long boulder hike/climb to a sub-summit called K2 at 13,688’ followed by a knife-edge ridge crawl to the Capitol summit cap. The final push is a 550’ Class 4 climb to summit.

Little Bear Peak – Bad Boy of the Colorado Fourteeners

This is a pure climbing story because this mountain is a skilled-climbers’ mountain that most recognize as one of the two most difficult of all 57 Colorado fourteeners.

Crestone Peak … and a Self Rescue!

“Crestone Peak, or “The Peak” as known among many climbers, is one of the “double-black diamond” 14ers for climbers. It and its companion fourteener, Crestone Needle were the last of all the fourteeners to be scaled back in the 1920’s. This remote and rugged mountain was once thought impossible to climb.”

Blanca Peak – Sacred Mountain of the Navajo

with a 130-year old Eagle trap at summit …and close encounters with hungry bears.

North Maroon Peak – Going Technical

Climbing North Maroon with Andy Mishmash changes a dangerous climb into pure joy. This peak is notorious for casualties but with care watching for loose rock and someone experienced in route finding, North Maroon becomes one of the most beautiful fourteener climbs. The views on the way up and from summit are stunning

Pyramid Peak – a Dream Climb

Pyramid Peak near Aspen, one of the most challenging fourteeners with its narrow ledges, Leap of Faith, Class 4 Green Wall and the impressive Amphitheater; climbed during fall aspen colors with climbing expert Andy Mishmash.