About Us
Like many of our friends in Colorado, we were always looking for the next event to attend and athletic pursuit to challenge ourselves.
Dan, an avid outdoorsman and Ironman, began to ask himself, why not combine the two experiences into one…bringing together the high-energy atmosphere of a festival with the most badass race we could think of?
As we expanded on this idea, we realized that there were very few events in the endurance space that pushed athletes to race toward an elevation goal vs. a set number of miles. With that came Elevation Everest - a race to endure, summit, and celebrate. A race that brought participants into the beautiful mountains of Colorado, hosted a lineup of live entertainment and activities and created a space for teams and athletes to come together for a day of fun.
Beyond wanting to be an event that athletes return to year after year, we also wanted Elevation Everest to have a positive impact on the environment as well, which is why a portion of each ticket purchased will be donated towards planting trees in our national forests.
It’s been an epic journey bringing Elevation Everest to life, and we’re excited to be partnering with Winter Park on our first event, The Half Everest, taking place on September 28th, 2024.
We hope to see you there!
Meet the Team
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Dan Mosko
Founder & CEO
Dan is an avid outdoorsman, Ironman, and big brother. During the warmer months, you can find him tearing through front range mountain bike trails on his enduro bike, losing flies on the Eagle River, or searching for a new campsite in his old truck. Winter brings first chair laps at Winter Park, back country exploration on Vail Pass and backyard bonfires. Dan’s professional background ranges from creating go-to-market strategies for startups to leading enterprise sales teams. His favorite quote is “Life is too short to spend weekends on a couch”.
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Alex DeSantis
Co-Founder & Head of Finance
Alex joined the EE team with a background in corporate finance, venture-backed startups, and strategy consulting. Outside of work, you can find him in the Rocky Mountains chasing powder on his snowboard, hiking to new peaks, camping with his friends, or napping in his hammock.
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Kayla Mackay
Co-Founder & Head of Marketing
Kayla comes from a career in product marketing and has experience organizing philanthropic events. Coupled with her love for the outdoors, she’s excited to be leading the marketing efforts for Elevation Everest. Outside of work, you’ll find her taking part in all the activities CO has to offer, from hiking, backpacking, and mountain biking in the summer, to skiing and watching Dan ~ attempt ~ backflips on the mountain in the winter.
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Michael Raspatello
Strategic Advisor
Mike founded Rivalfish at the University of Michigan in 2003, later taking on roles such as producing a prominent national radio show, co-founding major music festivals, and earning an MBA from Kellogg. His work at AB-InBev included launching a joint venture with Condé Nast and directing "Festival," a documentary that explores the impact of music festivals. In 2023, Mike turned his full attention to Raspatello & Co., aimed at driving industry innovation and enhancing brand connections. He currently leads Kinsfield, offering cannabis-friendly hospitality in Michigan, and his consultancy assists notable clients like Outside Interactive in developing experiential events and strategies across the hospitality and CPG industries
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Loni Peterson
Event Production and Logistics
Loni has over ten years in event production experience and is a full-time college professor at the University of Colorado Boulder in the Advertising and PR Department. When she is not executing her client's events she is freelancing for a major ad agency and has had the opportunity to produce for Coachella and the Super Bowl. In her free time she likes to take walks with her pup Dax, and hit the trail with her horses Dusty and Sarge. She is excited to be a part of the EE team and looks forward to welcoming all the athletes and supporters at Base Camp!
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Derek Spence
Base Camp Operations
Derek is an Event Producer and Operations Director with 20 years of experience working to develop ideas into experiences for brands from Red Bull, Mr. Beast, Google and more. Organizing logistics for intimate gatherings to large-scale human gatherings for countless music festivals (Coachella, Lollapalooza, Ultra, etc) and government-run relief efforts with FEMA and Refugee Camps. His passion is creating new experiences for people to enjoy, be challenged, and feel inspired.
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Chris Gabayan
Media Director
Chris is a U.S. Army Veteran turned filmmaker and photographer with an affinity for endurance events. He is an ultra-marathon runner who loves anything to do with fulfilling one’s purpose, passion, and happiness. While building his business, “Gabayan Media” Chris returned to service in the U.S. Army Reserve as a leader in an Airborne Combat Camera unit. On the weekends, you can find him parachuting out of aircraft documenting our nation’s service members.
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Nicki Coghill
Training Coach
Nicki is a dedicated trail running coach with 20 years in strength and conditioning and run coaching. Starting as a novice runner, she became a serious competitor and firefighter, later leading a nonprofit supporting first responders’ mental health.
Nicki’s coaching philosophy emphasizes both physical and mental wellness, helping athletes find purpose and balance. As a mom, she understands the challenges of juggling family and training, and she’s eager to share her love for adventure with her son. Her approach combines scientific training with mindfulness techniques, building both physical strength and mental resilience for peak performance on the trails.