Company Information

Inner Passage was founded in 2001 with the intention of facilitating once in a lifetime adventures to reconnect individuals with their leadership potential in their professional and personal lives.

Our vision is to help individuals, families, teams, and organizations make a connection with their full potential in a way that leads to significant impact within themselves and their relationships.

Staff

Matt Walker

Inner Passage's founder and principal, Matt Walker, received his Master's Degree in Applied Behavioral Science from Bastyr University in Seattle, WA. He has worked as an outdoor educator and mountain guide for the past decade. This work has allowed him to travel and climb throughout the world.

Matt has focused his work teaching and facilitating leadership development through outdoor adventure.

Matt Walker photo

Matt is a certified Single Pitch Instructor by the American Mountain Guide Association and has completed the AMGA Rock Instructor training. He is as comfortable rock climbing in the mountains of Southern Arizona as he is climbing ice and snow at 24,000 feet in Nepal. Matt has held Wilderness First Responder medical certification since 1995.

Matt is an instructor in Adventure Leadership and EcoPsychology for Prescott College. He lives in Tucson with his wife Elizabeth, their daughter Elaine and their canine climbing partner, Zora.

Chris Tatum

Chris started rock climbing in Michigan in 1998. After earning a B.S. in Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management from Northern Michigan University, he decided the winters were too much for him and moved to Flagstaff. In 2007 he earned his Rock Instructor Certification from the AMGA and is now an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Program Director. Chris teaches AMGA programs for Inner Passage and is a key member of our Climbing Camp staff. His energy is infectous. When Chris isn't teaching or guiding, he can be found climbing and exploring across the southwest.

Scott Ayers

Scott has spent decades pursuing the classic rock faces and mountains climbs throughout the western United States and Canada. From nearly 100 ascents of major peaks in the High Sierra (the majority of which were by lengthy 5th class rock climbing routes), to dozens of ascents of Grade III and IV routes in Yosemite, Red Rocks and alpine routes in the Canadian Rockies, Scott has dedicated half his life exploring the wild and beautiful landscapes most often seen only in coffee table books.

Adrian Ballinger

Inner Passage is proud to partner with Adrian Ballinger and Alpenglow Expeditions for our International High Performance Leadership Expeditions. Adrian holds the highest level of mountain guiding certification (IFMGA/UIAGM) and has summited Mt Everest and many of the highest peaks in the world. And yes, Adrian is an amazing climber and athlete. But what sets him apart from his peers is his infectious enthusiasm, ability to coach and support adventurers of all levels, and depth of understanding of personal and group leadership development. Adrian is an asset at Inner Passage and being a part of an expedition with him is an amazing experience. Plus the guy has some great stories from his climbs all over the world and he can brew a mean cup of coffee too. A good man to have around.

Steve Benson

Steve is a Senior Executive with 25+ years in leadership roles, being accountable for the successful operation of both publicly traded and privately held entities. Steve's skills are unique - he combines financially grounded, pragmatic business operating experience with a deep academic foundation in and a mastery of applying human and organizational development theories and methodologies. In his past, Steve has many leadership experiences of successfully navigating complex initiatives - many with initial outcomes so uncertain that others viewed them as unworkable. As a result, Steve works with others in a way that allows them to see a greater range of possibilities and then supports the development of skills and competencies that allows them to produce results that are meaningful to them and their organizations.

Steve received a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Eastern Michigan University and a Masters Degree in Organizational Development from Fielding Graduate Institute where he also completed postgraduate studies in Human and Organizational Systems. He has held senior management positions with both public and private companies including positions as S.V.P. of Operations, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and President. As a Principal with Inner Passage, Steve connects coaching, consulting, and outdoor experiences for supporting organizational and individual development. Steve is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Integral Coach; he lives with his wife in Scottsdale, Arizona where they enjoy golf, outdoor activities, a wonderful family...and chasing those occasional windmills!

Andy Wise

Andy Wise has been working in the field of Leadership Education for 15 years. As a Senior Field Instructor at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), Andy has lead major expeditions to the most remote regions on the planet. He has lead groups across the Indian Himalayas, up to the summit of North America's highest mountain and sailed extensively throughout Mexico and British Columbia. He is a certified U.S. Coast Guard Captain.

In addition to his passions in the wilderness, Andy has been studying the ancient wisdom traditions of the East. He blends his experience with Yoga and Ayurveda into his leadership training with the hopes that the participant will take away a holistic framework that allows them to gain a new perspective on the health of themselves, their role in the health of group/organization and their role in the evolution of consciousness.

Amber Whittier

Amber is a central member of the Inner Passage Mindfulness and Movement team. She has made it her mission to dedicate her life energy toward the study of movement and holistic wellness and to educate and inspire others with her findings. We are proud to have her as an instructor and leader on our Retreats.

Amber credits her yoga practice for what inspires her the most. Her practice is a challenge and asks the most from her in her efforts to be flexible, strong, mindful and present for the work she does with her clients. Amber first discovered yoga in 2000 while she was working in Thailand as an English and dance instructor. She knew she had found her true healthful self-discovery and self-empowering practice and since her first class she has pursued a steady yoga practice and continuous study of it's endless health benefits.

In 2007, she completed an Anusara Immersion and Teaching Training with her senior Certified Anusara teacher Darren Rhodes. Amber currently teaches at Yoga Oasis in Tucson, AZ. In addition, Amber is a certified Acupressure Practioner and Massage Therapist.