MEET THE FOUNDERS

The story of New Wave Adventures begins in a place far from whitewater thrills, far away from the peace and beauty of the wilderness, and farther away still from an extravagant adventure. It begins with two young men on the south side of Chicago.

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Thomas and Mike who both grew up on the south side of Chicago were introduced to each other through a chance encounter with a mutual friend. The two became instant friends. Mike had just graduated high school and was working as a carpenter and at a car wash in the evenings.  Thomas however had just returned from his first year rafting on the Chattooga River, in the Southeast USA. He was filled with the excitement and joy that only a few know and only white water rafting can bring. After seeing this it didn't take long for Thomas or “Chicago” the name some of his rafting buddies from the southeast have bestowed upon him, to convince Mike to head on down to the river. This opportunity forever changed their lives. Both of the boys were instantly hooked on whitewater and adventure.

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 These city boys have made a name for themselves in the whitewater industry and have created a company that incorporates the passion, energy, and edginess that these two have to offer.  

After a couple of seasons on the Chattooga River, Thomas set out for Alaska and the Nenana River. There he would meet an adventurous young woman named Sheila. Sheila was an aspiring Photographer, who just finished her degree and was shooting photos for one of the local rafting companies. Long story short they have been together since the day they met, literally. With the love of travel, people, and photography, Sheila encouraged Thomas to explore the world with her. He wanted to pursue his passion for whitewater so each place they visited he found rafting companies to work for. They encountered bizarre experiences that made them learn and grow as one and ultimately opened their eyes to the opportunity of adventure tourism around the world. Never losing their passion for adventure, they raised a family in Alaska all while enjoying and working the summers in Denali.  

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Mike first worked his way up and down the east coast on a variety of rivers enjoying the culture of the whitewater rafting industry. He then got the opportunity to come to join Thomas in Alaska to raft on the Nenana River and Six Mile Creek. He quickly fell in love with the beauty and wilderness of the state and ended up spending several summers managing a rafting company in Denali. 

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This group of friends saw an inconsistency in adventure tourism in the state of Alaska and a void that they knew they could fill. They have a passion for sharing the true beauty of Alaska with others and saw that commercialization within the industry had taken away from the true meaning of the adventure. They dreamed of creating a product that would reach the heart and minds of all who visited, and that would instill the passion for the freedom of the wilderness and the responsibility we have to protect it for future generations.  So, they decided to team up and make their dream a reality. Their passion for whitewater and their urge to share the world’s beauty was the baseline of how New Wave Adventures began, where the Best Trip is Every Trip. 

A  Message from the Owners

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“We dreamed of running a river company for ourselves,  so we have dedicated ourselves to perfecting our skills in customer service, river safety, and etiquette. We are very excited to share our passion with you. New Wave Adventures is the brainchild of Thomas “Chicago” Concannon, Michael “Peacock” Ferrero, and Sheila “She-Ra” White. We have immersed ourselves in outdoor adventure, health and wellness, and the ability to engage people in the natural beauty of the world. We have combined the best of everything we have learned to create a unique company that offers up original and exceptional trips. Each trip has to be better than the last one to create the "Best Trip Every Trip". This understanding is one of the driving forces of our culture at New Wave Adventures. Thank you, for riding the wave with us. ”

Sincerely, 

New Wave Adventures Management

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Core Values

Safety "is always in season." 

Teamwork "makes the dream work."

Gratitude "is the attitude."

Health & Wellness "living your best life."

Environmental Stewardship "you are what you leave behind." 

Excellence “Best Trip Every Trip”

Mission Statement

         Our company will provide opportunities to access remote areas in Alaska and around the world. Our goal is for people to have a fun, safe, and memorable experience outdoors. We will conduct all operations with safety and environmental stewardship at the forefront. 

Purpose

         Our purpose is to share our passion for the outdoors, to show the beauty and excitement of a wilderness adventure and, and to share the exhilarating feeling of achievement it can bestow upon you. 

Vision

          Our vision is to create a timeless and trusted brand that is recognized as a safe and fun way to explore new adventures, one that can outstretch into affiliated industries, one that instills confidence and excitement. This Company will become the new trendsetting Adventure company by taking the lead in all aspects of outdoor recreation. As we become an icon in the industry, we will grow with the industry and influence generations with great memorable experiences.

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