2014 ANNUAL REPORT www.adaptivespirit.com “A new addition to our executive team sponsored the event in previous years. He wanted to continue the tradition with us and I have to say, I am thankful he did. We brought clients and they thoroughly enjoyed the event and are already hoping they are on the guest list for next year.” “Overall, the event gets better and better every year!” “Over the last four years, Adaptive Spirit has incorporated great educational panels. People come not only for the on‑mountain activities but also to hear what other people in the industry are saying.” 2 A Message from the Adaptive Spirit Board Chairperson About Adaptive Spirit The focus of Adaptive Spirit remains steadfast: We aim to unite Adaptive Spirit’s partnership with the members with resources that enhance the business outcome, cable industry and U.S. Paralympics stimulate innovative networking opportunities resulting in growth is facing an important milestone and success of the telecommunications industry and share best over the next twelve months. The practices with our members. Also an important goal, Adaptive Annual Event (aka SkiTAM) will Spirit provides the industry a way to give back to the community celebrate its 20th Anniversary in through the organization’s venerable annual event. 2015. You, as part of that industry, can look forward to a special Adaptive Spirit is a not‑for‑profit trade association which focuses on weekend that will celebrate our building business relationships and effective networking practices past and look forward to the future. in the telecommunications industry. Through initiatives that focus We are planning some new events on education and ways to interact with the event and networking, attendees. We are also expanding Adaptive Spirit the Event Committee to include champions the new volunteers who will bring new strength of business ideas for the event. We appreciate relationships and your feedback and encourage the end result of your continued involvement in the creating a more planning process. profitable industry. To that end, Finally, what an amazing year for Adaptive Spirit the Paralympic National Ski and provides education, Snowboard Teams and what an recognition, amazing year for Adaptive Spirit! information For all of you who attended the and networking 19th Annual Event in Vail, we hope opportunities for you enjoyed hearing the athletes cable companies, talk about their experience at the content providers Sochi Paralympic Games and how and others who important it is to have the support of supply products cable industry behind them as they and services to the represent Team USA. That support industry. led to bringing home 18 Paralympic medals overall. Highlights included Adaptive Spirit ADAPTIVE SPIRIT’S GOALS our first medals in women’s Nordic strives to serve skiing in 20 years and a sweep in as the premier • Unite members with vendors the inaugural Para‑Snowboard networking and resources that enhance event for the U.S. Men’s Paralympic and business the outcome of their business Snowboard Team. relationship‑ dealings building • Stimulate innovative We hope to see organization in the networking resulting in the all in Vail, April telecommunications growth and success of the 9 to 12, 2015 industry. We telecommunications industry to celebrate 20 develop and years of cable support business • Sharing best industry practices industry support relationships with our members and partnership. providing our Steve Raymond, Chairperson, members with Adaptive Spirit Board of Directors better results than they would have without Adaptive Spirit. www.adaptivespirit.com 3 Financial Overview In the organization’s third year, the addition of Snowboarding, the Adaptive Spirit’s financial plan is we continued to serve as a great board anticipates an additional to maintain an investment account networking and educational donation to the team may be which creates a “safety net” in the resource for the broadband industry. approved during the 2015 fiscal year. event an additional team donation The 19th Annual Event (aka SkiTAM) During the event, the silent auction or unexpected expenses are generated record‑breaking total brought in a net amount of $65,005. incurred. Last year, the board chose revenue of $1,239,046. After paying The silent auction funds are used Waddell & Reed to hold and invest event expenses, the board approved to support the Athlete Partner the fund. Monte Meier, former a donation of $500,000 to the U.S. Program which is administered by alpine team member, is the fund’s Olympic Committee to benefit the No Excuses Unlimited to benefit financial advisor. We are happy Paralympic National Ski Team for its the team’s athletes. In addition, a to report the fund had a return of 2014‑2015 season. With the growth donation of $4,500 went to the 14.4% and an additional $100,000 of the Alpine and Nordic teams and Empire States Games. One part of was allocated to the fund. Sources Uses of of Funds Funds Membership Educational Charitable SkiTAM 2014 dues event Other SkiTAM 2014 donations Organization $1,240,846 $49,100 $6,320 $1,202 $562,889 $504,500 $19,357 95.64% 3.78% 0.49% 0.09% 51.80% 46.42% 1.78% 4 SKITAM DONATIONS STATE OF FINANCIAL POSITION TO THE PARALYMPIC SKI TEAM June 30, 2014 1996 $100,000 Assets 1997 $130,000 Cash and Cash Equivalents $431,534 1998 $171,600 1999 $268,400 W & R Investment Account $214,743 2000 $290,000 Promotional Assets $1,200 2001 $310,000 Pre‑paid Expenses $2,000 2002 $327,295 $649,477 2003 $350,000 2004 $365,595 Liabilities 2005 $410,000 Accrued expenses $ 2,000 2006 $414,010 2007 $455,469 2008 $506,171 Net assets $647,477 2009 $463,400 2010 $520,689 2011 $601,770 STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES 2012 $600,000 July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 2013 $500,000 Revenue Sources 2014 $500,000 SkiTAM 2014 $1,240,846 Membership dues $ 49,100 No Excuses Educational Event $ 6,320 Unlimited Other $ 1,202 To maximize the charitable contribution made to $1,297,468 the Paralympic Ski Team, Adaptive Spirit partners with No Excuses Unlimited to allow sponsors and Expenses participants to make tax‑deductible charitable donations to the team. In addition, No Excuses SkiTAM 2014 $562,889 functions as the administrator for Adaptive Spirit’s Athlete Partner Program (APP). The APP supplies Organization $ 19,357 athletes with a funding opportunity for expenses $582,246 associated with ski training and competitions. Funded primarily by Adaptive Spirit and administered by Charitable donations No Excuses Unlimited (NEU), APP funds are granted based on an application process. No Excuses Empire State Games $ 4,500 Unlimited also administers the Jack Benedick US Paralympics $500,000 Memorial Fund which provides funding for the Jack Benedick Leadership Award and Victory Incentive $504,500 Program. The board and advisers of No Excuses Unlimited include a number of longtime SkiTAM supporters, Adaptive Spirit event committee members and former team members. No Excuses Profit from operations $210,722 Unlimited is a 501(c)(3) organization and meets the public support tests of IRS Standards Section 509(a) (1). More information about No Excuses Unlimited, In‑kind services value received $ 85,094 including a secure online donation process, is available at NoExcusesUnlimited.org. 5 ADAPTIVE SPIRIT MEMBERSHIP An Adaptive Spirit membership creates: 1. Access to knowledge sharing, collaboration and networking opportunities at all Adaptive Spirit events; 2. Connections to operators, suppliers, vendors and other telecommunications industry professionals via the members‑only directory; 3. Member‑only access to Adaptive Spirit research; Adaptive Spirit Organization Leadership and, 4. Access to member‑only Steve Raymond, Chairperson Cable in Fairfax County. Her non‑ events. profit experience includes serving Working for DIRECTV Sports as co‑chairperson for Cable Positive Membership is open to Networks as vice president of any individual engaged in Denver and president of the Denver affiliate relations, Steve is based in alumni chapter of Virginia Tech. She the telecommunications the Root Sports Rocky Mountain industry including has served as Communications Chair Regional office. He is responsible on the event committee since 2001. multisystem operators, for developing and implementing independent system affiliate marketing strategies, Amos Smith, Treasurer operators, programmers promotions, affiliation agreements and suppliers of equipment and all aspects of distribution for the As GVP Technical Operations, Care & or services to the industry, regional sports networks in Seattle, Payment Services for Time Warner but not including direct Denver and Pittsburgh. Previously, Cable Residential Business, Amos is broadcast satellite, Steve spent 25 years in affiliate sales responsible for financial planning and incumbent local exchange at the Walt Disney Company. Steve analysis and is a key strategic partner carriers, electric utilities has won numerous awards for his working to ensure optimization of or municipally‑owned volunteer work in the adaptive skiing financial returns, accurate expense cable systems and arena such as the CTAM Chairman’s planning, budgeting and forecasting. subsidiaries and affiliates Award and ESPN Volunteer of the He is also responsible for residential of the foregoing. Honorary Year in 2003. Steve was named “Chef payment services and signal memberships may be de Mission” for the 2010 Winter security. Amos began his career at conferred by the board of Paralympics. Time Warner Cable in 2002 as Vice directors upon any person President of Finance for National who, in the opinion of the Deborah Flippo, Secretary Division. Prior to joining Time Warner board, has provided to the Cable, he spent seven years at AT&T success of Adaptive Spirit Senior director of affiliate sales at Broadband (formerly TCI) in various and/or the well being of the Vubiquity (formerly Avail‑TVN), financial positions from Analyst to industry. Deborah has more than 20 years of Executive Director of Finance.