For nearly 12 years, Willie Ford has wanted to work at the National Ability Center.
“My wife, Caroline, and I and our son, Walker, have walked many times past the NAC campus in Round Valley with our dog Rudy,” he said. “I’ve always been impressed with what they do, and I’ve told my wife many times that if a leadership position opens up I’ll need to find a way to get my name in the ring.”
On July 15, Ford’s dream came true when he was named the recreational nonprofit’s chief executive officer. And the National Ability Center, which provides recreational opportunities for people of all abilities, is just as thrilled to have him aboard.
“After an extensive eight-month search and reviewing over 100 applications, Willie stood out through his deep connection to our team, mission and values,” the center said in a statement. “His exceptional leadership and extensive background in the outdoor industry make him an excellent fit for our organization.”
Ford comes to the center with more than 10 years of experience in the outdoor industry.
He co-founded Givego, a company that connects athletes with professional coaches, and he has held senior roles at Cake, a Scandinavian maker of premium lightweight electric motorcycles and mopeds that inspires a zero-emission society by combining excitement and responsibility.
He also worked for POC, a Swedish protection brand and manufacturer of helmets, eyewear, protection and apparel in snow sports and cycling, where he earned recognition as a Sporting Goods Business 40 under 40 honoree.
It was through POC that Ford found his way to Park City.
“They moved me out here from New Hampshire when Black Diamond acquired us in 2012,” he said. “And here we are 10 years later, and the ‘sun is brighter and the snow is lighter’ as I always say.”
Ford also has extensive experience working with people with disabilities through the High Fives Foundation, an adaptive sports organization out of Truckee, California.
“They get people back outside after life-altering injuries, specifically spinal cord injuries,” he said.
While serving on the High Fives Foundation board, Ford’s favorite program was Military to the Mountains, a camp where wounded veterans would experience skiing and snowboarding.
“You don’t understand the experience until you are part of it,” Ford said. “These veterans, who have sacrificed so much for our country, finally get some wind in their faces and experience everything that you and I enjoy skiing in the mountains.”
Skiing and winter sports mean a lot to Ford, who is a two-time NCAA All-American skier.
“I attended Holderness School, a small private boarding school,” he said. “I grew up on a campus where my dad was dean, math teacher and football coach, and my mom was also a ski coach. So, sports, mountains, recreation and skiing has been the heartbeat of my family.”
The family skied in the White Mountains in New Hampshire through the Holderness program, before Ford was able to attend the University of New Hampshire on scholarship.
“I was fortunate to have performed reasonably well as a two-time All American,” he said.
Ford’s three sisters are also known in the sports world.
One sister, Julia, is on the U.S. Olympic Team and competed in the slalom at Sochi in 2014, and his other two sisters are All-Americans.
“Mattie ski raced for Middlebury College, and Lilly played Division One lacrosse at University of New Hampshire,” he said. “So the minute I stepped on the National Ability Center campus, it felt like home.”
Although Ford has been National Ability Center’s CEO for only a few weeks, he felt the responsibility of the job and of the organization from day one.
“The responsibility is big, because the impact we have on our participants is monumental,” he said. “But more importantly and more impressive is the impact we have on the families of those with disabilities.”
The National Ability Center, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this autumn, serves between 5,000 to 6,000 individuals on a yearly basis in about 30,000 programs, including rock climbing, equestrian, snowboarding, skiing or rafting, according to Ford.
“I’ve met several families who have moved to Park City because of the value and impact we’ve had on their members with disabilities,” he said. “To uproot their lives and move to Park City for our services shows (us) how big our responsibility is. There are 40 million people living in the United States with a disability, and I told our team that what we do is not only an opportunity for us to touch more lives and increase impact. It’s truly our responsibility to do everything we can do to empower more families and individuals.”
Ford looks forward to working with the NAC team.
“The minute you start interacting with the team, you can feel their passion, their competence and their ability to relate, coach and inspire our participants,” he said. “It’s truly incredible.”