Gain the Ridge Consulting

05/30/2026

And another one down - a regular highlight testing my fitness. One mile run followed by 100 pull ups, 200 push ups, 300 air squats and then finished with another mile run. 48 minutes and some change - first mile in 7:14. Pleased to be able to join in this ritual and in honor of those who serve and have served this country and those who paid the ultimate price. - thanks for your role in my health and fitness!

05/19/2026

🤦‍♂️ Another medication error.

😧 But not just any error. A big one. A student given another student's medication - a major, hard-hitting psychotropic with real side effects.

💁‍♂️ It was my duty to call the family after this serious medication error.

✅ What I thought would simply be a difficult conversation unexpectedly became an important leadership lesson — I learned more about trust than I had ever anticipated.

What I thought would simply be a difficult conversation unexpectedly became an important leadership lesson — I learned more about trust than I had ever anticipated.

04/01/2026

💁‍♂️ Trust is the central issue in human relationships...

And yet, what does it entail? What are the elements of trust? or the attributes of a trusting relationship?

🎙️ Check out my recent conversation with Beth Hillman, parent coach and colleague, and learn about the anatomy of trust.

Podcast Episode · Parenting Post-Wilderness: Parenting a Struggling Teen Before, During and After Treatment · March 31 · 57m

02/27/2026

Great conversation with Beth Hillman, podcast host of Parenting Post Wilderness and owner of Beth Hillman Coaching, a parent and life coach who supports families and parents of struggling adolescents and young adults.

We explore what made Open Sky distinct and our why behind it. As well, we discuss important matters for parents considering an out of home placement and what distinguishes a great program from an average one.

Enjoy and share your comments with me.

Podcast Episode · Parenting Post-Wilderness: Parenting a Struggling Teen Before, During and After Treatment · February 24 · 52m

01/12/2026

Check out one of my latest articles about what a crisis taught me about leadership. https://www.gaintheridgeconsulting.com/leadership-blog/when-things-go-wrong-what-a-crisis-taught-me-about-trust-and-leadership

01/12/2026

Check out one of my latest newsletters

🫤 Leaders don’t get to choose when a crisis hits—but we do get to choose how we respond.

➡️ In my career, one incident pushed Open Sky to the edge and exposed something as worrisome as the crisis itself.

💁‍♂️ What happened next taught me critical lessons about trust, culture, and the hidden cost of the blame trap.

✅ If you lead in a high-stakes environment, this is a story—and a shift in mindset—you won’t want to miss.

🤟 And, if you are attending NATSAP's annual conference in February, I will be presenting a 90 minute workshop on this very topic!

🫤 Leaders don’t get to choose when a crisis hits—but we do get to choose how we respond. ➡️ In my career, one incident pushed Open Sky to the edge and exposed something as worrisome as the crisis itself. 💁‍♂️ What happened next taught me critical lessons about trust, culture, and...

10/21/2025

What? $13,000 and you tell me "Don't worry"???

A lesson in communication... Respect > Reassurance

I opened a health insurance statement recently and saw the words: “Don’t worry – it’s not a bill.” Just below the fold, I then saw "What you owe: $13,000." It was a reminder of something leaders too often forget: when the topic is compensation, benefits, or employment status...reassuranc

10/11/2025

Got to meet the one and only Michael Easter, author of The Comfort Crisis…. An inspiring book that perfectly articulates the profound growth-inducing impact of purposefully challenging experiences like . May our society not fear challenge to build resourceful and resilient and fulfilled young people. Thanks for authoring this book…🙏

Thanks YATA!

09/04/2025

I am honored to be selected as a trustee for Deer Hill's board. Deer Hill has been in operation over 40 years serving young people by creating wilderness immersion experiences in the greater Southwest and a reciprocal service experience with many of the indigenous communities in our region. Their work is both educational and transformative.

To learn more about this storied organization, it's founders and it's mission, check out the website:

Find outdoor adventure near Durango, CO at Deer Hill Expeditions' overnight summer camps. Explore youth summer wilderness programs for teens

08/27/2025

Insights from Joint Replacement Surgery - part 2. Check out my latest blog.

Real resilience isn’t built from laminated reminders or slapping a sign (or bracelet, in my case) on something — it comes from how leaders empower staff, create redundancy, and design systems that catch mistakes before they cause harm.

Real resilience isn’t built from laminated reminders or slapping a sign (or bracelet, in my case) on something — it comes from how leaders empower staff, create redundancy, and design systems that catch mistakes before they cause harm.