Musey’s Everest Uplink To Downlink Funds To American Red Cross

There are few greater rewards in life than working hard, attaining a measure of success, and then using the benefits so obtained by offering a helping hand to others. One such an individual happens to be J. Armand Musey…. He may be used to the ups and downs of the stock market, but Wall Street’s J. Armand Musey will soon be walking on new terrain—climbing Mt. Everest in an adventure that completes a personal goal as well as raises critically needed funds for the American Red Cross’ International Response Fund (IRF).

Musey, an avid climber since graduating from business school in 1995, is a long time and widely respected securities analyst in the satellite and telecommunications industries. He was the lead industry analyst at Bank of America and later Solomon Smith Barney. In 2003, he partnered with a colleague to form the boutique investment banking firm Near Earth, LLC. Musey left the presidency of Near Earth in 2007 to train full-time for his attempt to scale Mt. Everest, the world’s highest peak.

Musey is paying the entire cost of the Mt. Everest expedition from his own funds; all money donated will go directly to the American Red Cross‘ International Response Fund. Sponsors and supporters can follow Musey’s expedition and obtain information concerning the donation process to the Red Cross in support of his challenge at www.museyeverest.com. “This expedition is the culmination of an incredible challenge and adventure for me personally,” said Musey. “But given the significance of the challenge, I want to make it more than about me by using my Mt. Everest expedition as an opportunity to raise money and awareness in support of the Red Cross.”

A number of satellite industry firms have committed, or have signaled their intention to support, Armand’s climb with contributions to the Red Cross IRF. Global satellite operators SES and Intelsat signed on as challenge sponsors at the “Summit” level. Dulles-based GeoEye, a satellite imaging company, is a “Katmandu” level sponsor. Iridium and Vizada, leading global satellite communications providers, are donating SIM cards respectively for phone and BGAN applications that will allow Armand to send reports, photos and maintain a blog of his summit attempt.

“SES applauds Armand for taking on this arduous challenge to support such a worthy goal,” said SES chairman Romain Bausch, “His expedition will raise awareness of the role of satellites in global disaster response, and as such, we are pleased to make a challenge grant of $15,000 in hopes that other companies in the satellite community will match or exceed our contribution to this laudable organization.”

Intelsat CEO Dave McGlade said, “Intelsat is excited to be returning to Mt. Everest 10 years after our 1998 demonstration of the efficiency of satellites in connecting the world, even from the most remote locations on the planet. The satellite industry is always among the first to respond to disaster scenarios, because of our ability to provide rapidly deployable infrastructure. A long-time supporter of the Red Cross, Intelsat commends Armand’s altruistic commitment to raise funds for the organization.” Musey began climbing in 1991 and he has scaled the highest peaks on six of the seven continents in the world. With his ascent of Mt. Everest this spring, he will complete the mountaineering challenge of the Seven Summits. Musey climbed Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in 2002 and has since climbed Mt. McKinley (AKA Denali) in Alaska, Mt. Elbrus in Russia, Acconcagua in Argentina, Mt. Rainer in Washington, Mt. Vinson in Antarctica, and the Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia. As part of his training for the cold weather of Mt. Everest, he went on a ski expedition to the South Pole in 2007, dealing with -30 to -35 degree Centigrade weather almost the entire journey. The Mt. Everest expedition is scheduled to depart from Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 29th, with the return scheduled for June 1st. Musey and his group will ascend the south side of Mt. Everest, up what is known as the South Column Route. This is the same route used by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on their first ascent in 1953.