Staff Biographies Randy J. Simmonds, Ph.D., serves as the program director for HorizonQuest. Randy, who is an ordained minister, has been a pastoral counselor for 25 years, and has directed counseling centers in Louisiana, Georgia, and Colorado. He and his wife, Clare, have been married for 32 years, and have two daughters in college. "The call of this retreat ministry has been rumbling deep in my soul since I was a youth minister in the late 1970's. It's like God has been preparing me my whole life for this mission. The encouragement and the strength I have found in my "Band of Brothers" has been unbelievable. We have worked together, laughed together, cried together! We want to provide the space for other men to listen more deeply to God's movement in their lives, and to discover the immense strength and hope that is available when we band together!" Tom Walker serves as our chef/food minister. Tom has worked in the culinary industry for over 36 years. He grew up in Santa Barbara and completed a two-year culinary program at Santa Barbara City College. His real culinary experience came from working at the Santa Barbara Biltmore. After working for the Marriott Corporation as executive chef in Vail, Colorado and Overland Park, Kansas, he decided to leave the kitchen and take on a specialty foods sales position in the Mountain territory of Aspen and Vail. Recently, a very Godly opportunity came Tom's way. Having in his heart for many years feeding people and sharing his faith, HorizonQuest approached him to join their ministry. Tom believes, with a passion, how sacred and biblical "breaking bread" is for all people. Tom has been married to his wife, Sarah, for 20 years and has twin sons, Ryan and Tyler. The kitchen is the heart of a home and such a blessed environment to share the love of Christ. "It's Time To Eat!" Michael Marsee serves as the assistant food minister for HorizonQuest. In 1996 Michael attended Carson-Newman College in Tennessee with an instrumental scholarship for the saxophone. Hearing God's call to ministry, Michael traveled to Vail, Colorado to be part of Alpine Resort Ministries, a ministry that conducts mountaintop worship services at ski resorts across the country. Over the next ten years Michael has ministered and worked on rivers, mountains, the corporate world, and restaurants. Recently graduating from New England Culinary Institute Michael was awarded the most creative in his class and has worked alongside Chef Chris Parsons of Catch Restaurant in Boston. Michael is also the co-developer of THE OUTDOOR BIBLE® and co-founder of Bardin & Marsee Publishing. Michael not only loves to cook for the creative joy it brings but for what happens during the time spent around the dinner table. "God shows up at the dinner table! And it's amazing! And it's been happening from the days Jesus spent living here!," he says. Michael loves to encourage people to reach for a greater purpose of living mentally, physically and spiritually. "At HorizonQuest, it is my desire to stimulate people around me to seek more out of the experiences that life holds, and to take the time to hear God speaking to us," he says. Two of Michael's life verses are: 1 Corinthians 9:23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. NASB Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. NASB Patrick L. McConathy is the founder and President of Phoenix Oil and Gas Company of Vail Colorado. A native of Louisiana, Pat and his wife Tricia have lived in Colorado since 1991. They have three adult sons, all living in Colorado. Pat has been active in community service for many years, serving on numerous boards and committees. It has been Pat's vision to create Yarmony Creek Ranch which serves as the setting for the HorizonQuest ministry. His love of the wilderness along with his deep passion for reaching men with the message of freedom in a daily walk with Christ has served as the foundation for the hopes and dreams of the HorizonQuest team.
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