Erickson - Raising the Bar

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This is my first book. Since it tells the story not only of Clif Bar but also of my life, there are many people to thank. Ive been fortunate to have great traveling companions.

Thanks to Susan Williams of Jossey-Bass for believing in this book and the story of Clif Bar. Thanks to many others at Jossey-Bass who were enthusiastic about Raising the Bar s message, including President Debra Hunter, Rob Brandt, Byron Schneider, Paula Goldstein, Ralph Fowler, and Jeff Wyneken. Amy Rennert, my high-powered, incredibly bright and talented agent, guided me through the publishing process. Thanks to Mark Tauber, who was the first person in the publishing world to help me negotiate its unknown terrain and encourage me to write this book. Teresa Walsh polished this work with her astute editing. Leslie Henrichsen, my Head Sherpa (personal assistant) at Clif, not only greatly contributed to this book through fact checking, editing, and logistics but also stood by my side every day since I decided to walk away from the sale of Clif.

Jay Thomas, my white-road companion, continues to teach me how to be honest and to pursue life to its fullest. Thanks for all the great tours in the Alps and on rock, snow, and ice! Im also fortunate to have traveled Europes white roads with Paul McKenzie, Clem Donahue, Michael Kelley, Tom Bowman, Barry Schwartz, Darren Mar-Elia, Bill Morris, and Nick Zvegintzov. Thanks too to Jobst Brandt, the inventor of traveling light in the Alps. Many friends inspire me with their white-road journeys through life: Kelton (Tad) Cobb, Heidi Gehman, Deb Murray, George McKinley, Mark and Spider Cantley, Dave Willis, Jim and Lori Elliot, Nina Birnbaum, Greg Bagni, Cathy Tagudin, Wendy Diamond, the late Sally Peterson, Steve Reed, Julie Christinson Carlson, Bruce Hendricks, Sheila Ilsicin Hendricks, the late Greg Vette, Laurie Vette, John Tounger, Dave Estes and Kate Bevington, Steve and Sonia Chang, Casey Shaw, Pat Reedy, Herb Masters, Michael Moore, Garth Jaehnig, Doc, Daniel Stebbins Park, Ron Kauk, Mike Cobb, Dan Kaufman, and all the Sierra Treks crew are just a few traveling companions. To the Mastrodicasa family in Florence; Paolo and Nene in Bassano del Grappa; and Guiseppe Bigolin and his family in Rossano Venetothanks for teaching me how to savor life the Italian way.

Many have guided me: coaches, teachers, entrepreneurs, mentors, bosses, even people who offered words of wisdom during brief encounters. I have learned from Lanny Vincent, David Batstone, Frank Mangiola, Richard Levin, Larry Jonutz, Jay Rizzetto, Yvon and Malinda Chouinard, the Baja boys, Harold Rothman, Bill Ross, Bill Roland, Dick Butterfield, Ben Cohen, Greg Steltenpohl, Ken Grossman, Jeremiah Pick, Mo Siegel, Gil Pritchard, Al Springer, Bob Gamgort, Tom Ritchey, Jim Gentes, Rob Roskopp, Tracy Wong, Jim Collins, Patrick Lee, Michael Funk, Guru Dhan Klasna, Melodie Schneider, Lorraine Kaiser, the late Andrea Martin, Keith Kato, Doug Frank, Tyler Hamilton, Julia Butterfly Hill, Jeanne Rizzo, Sam Harrosh, Bill and Joan Keyser, Dennis Delatori, Lorenzo Petroni, and Jay Hammond.

Ive received excellent legal counsel along the way. My attorney and confidant Bruce Lymburn has been at my side every step of the way since I decided to keep Clif Bar. Ive also received valuable legal advice and assistance from Dick Lyons, Walter Turner, David Gaw, Lynn Perry, and David Goldman.

We were all saddened by the untimely death of Brian Maxwell, the founder of PowerBar. Brian made an enormous contribution to our industry by creating the energy bar category.

To the people of Clif Bar, past and present: Without you the company and this story would not exist. I wish I could mention each of you by name, but Lois said the book would be too long! Thank you for believing in the vision and for knowing that we could get through difficult times. Your enthusiasm, spirit, creativity, hard work, and passion for life inspire me.

Doug Gilmour trusted in my vision from the early days to the present: thanks for your never-ending incredible contribution to the Gary Bar... I mean Clif Bar journey, and to this book. Thanks to Sheryl OLoughlin, Stan Tanka, and David Jericoff, for being such trusted stewards of the company and for your contributions to Raising the Bar. Paul McKenzie, Thao Pham, Cassie Cyphers, Janet Minix wrote sidebars for us and made sure we got our facts right. Leif Eric Arneson rates special thanks for his creative designs for the book proposal, jacket cover, images, and layout for Raising the Bar. I will forever thank Elysa Hammond for introducing me to Kit and for guiding Clif on our journey to sustainability. Thanks for your passion and friendship.

To my dear friend Lois (a.k.a. Zoe, Zo, Loie, Purchase, Sybildont ask): Who would have thought that twenty-five years after we first met, while guiding junior high kids together high in the Sierra with Sierra Treks, that we would actually write a book together? Our friendship has grown ever since and it made perfect sense that we would write Raising the Bar together. Lois knows me, and the story of Clif Bar, very well; it seemed like a perfect match. Her brilliance and creativity added to this bookthanks for keeping my voice. Thanks for your passion and incredible devotion over the last many months to make this story come alive.

My YaYa (grandmother) left us in 1989, four years after I named the original company after herKalis. I still miss her. My brother Randy has taught me much about business, creativity, engineering, cooking, and life. Thanks bro, for all you contribute to Clif Bar on a daily basis and for helping me with this book. My brother David has taught me much about life through his determination and never-give-up attitude. Im amazed at his ability to make art express who he is. My parents, Cliff and Mary Erickson, taught me how to be free and independent, and never held me back from exploring the world and my place in it. Momthanks for teaching me how to bake, play the piano, and appreciate art. Dadthanks for introducing me to the outdoors, and especially to the Sierra Nevada range of California. Your commitment to each other has been a model for me in my relationships to the world, my friends, my business, and especially to my family and life partner.

Kit and I are blessed with extended families who never waver in their support. Im grateful. My beloved children, Kate, Clayton, and Lydia, humble me and teach me what life is about daily. Kit continues to amaze me with her patience, bravery, and kindness in all that she is and does. Im thankful every day for her commitment to me and to our wonderful company.

Lois thanks the great people at Clif Bar who were patient, kind, and helpful as she pestered them while working on this book. Doug Gilmour, Paul McKenzie, Sheryl OLoughlin, David Jericoff, Stan Tanka, Randy Erickson, Thao Pham, Cassie Cyphers, Janet Minix, and Clif attorney Bruce Lymburn generously gave their time to read portions of the manuscript, talk with me, and make sure I got it right. Leif Eric Arnesons creativity is evident through his design of the proposal, jacket cover, chapter, and images in Raising the Bar. A big thanks to Leslie Henrichsen for being my own personal Pace Team. I first met Elysa Hammond while roaming the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and its been a gift to work with her again after all these years. Mark Tauber graciously read proposal drafts, answered e-mail, and offered his considerable wisdom of the publishing world. Thanks to Amy Rennert, agent extraordinaire, for enthusiasm and knowledge. The Jossey-Bass crowd provided consistent support and assistance. Thanks to Rob Brandt, Byron Schneider, Jeff Wyneken, and especially to Susan Williams: your enthusiasm for this project motivated us.