Meet the Cornerstone Advisors: Mark Vermeal
At Cornerstone Safety Group, we’re honored to have industry leaders as our volunteer advisors and thought partners. Our advisors across a wide array of disciplines provide perspective, guidance, and industry insights to our staff and members.
Throughout this blog series, we’ll be introducing some of our advisors and learning more about how the travel industry captured their attention.
This April, meet Mark Vermeal.
Tell us about how you began in your industry and your connection to your specialty.
“I bring 20+ years of experience in organizational risk management and a proven track record of safely managing high-risk activities. As a mountain guide, educator, international traveler, and nationally recognized authority in the outdoor and adventure industry … I’m able to provide a fuller perspective of the industry that allows me to help my clients achieve their goals.”
When speaking with Mark, it takes only moments to register his genuine passion for strengthening the outdoor and adventure community. His empathy, compassion, and sense of humor comes through as he discusses attracting and retaining staff, behavioral care, and providing unforgettable outdoor travel experiences.
Previously serving as the leader in safety for adventure and outdoor travel organizations himself, Mark has personally answered late-night emergency calls, he’s walked through the crisis plans, and he’s been on the other end of receiving coverage. An avid climber and outdoorsman himself, his work with Fred C. Church provides a direct opportunity to fulfill his mission.
How do you serve organizations differently at Fred C. Church?
“Many outdoor and adventure organizations will tell you obtaining the right coverage can be difficult. Underwriters often perceive the risk to be much greater than it is and don’t understand the professionalism with which these organizations conduct their operations … but I’ve lived my client’s risks.”
As former VP of Safety at Outward Bound, Mark was tasked with response to life-threatening safety issues as they arose and understands the deep importance of a protocol that works. He and his colleagues are subject matter experts not only because they’ve done their homework, but also because they’ve been on the other side when things inevitably “go wrong.”
“Behind every loss, there’s a person. These individuals are experiencing loss, stress, or navigating this new challenge, not as a policy, but as a person. Proactively meeting these challenges with empathy and understanding is a key component of how we address things differently.”
As risk can be a huge deterrent to entering the travel industry or creating meaningful programs to change student or participant lives, Mark and his colleagues work to help organizations manage that risk appropriately with first-hand knowledge of where mitigation is most needed.
“Fred C. Church has provided insurance and hazard assessment services for 150+ years, building lasting relationships with clients, insurance partners, and the community. Our clients benefit from the tailored solutions our niche experts provide and from an invested and passionate employee group.”
Why did you decide to volunteer as an advisor to Cornerstone and how do you hope to serve our members?
Mark joined Cornerstone’s Advisory Board as an Insurance Advisor, providing guidance and support to members when it comes to managing risk and safety.
“I have great respect for Dave and what he does … one of my primary takeaways [from Cornerstone’s Networking Group] is the opportunity to learn by being in the room with operators solving today’s challenges or working through new problems as a team. From a place of integrity, transparency, and vulnerability, it’s wonderful to see how organizations can share information to elevate the industry.”