Teaching Teams
Executive Team
Frank AbissiCEO
WFR, OEC Tech, High Angle Rescue Tech, NYSDEC Lisc. Guide.
As a Professional Rock Climber, Frank has over 40 years of experience in the vertical. Having competed as a National and World Class climber, Frank has also climbed some of the highest mountains in our hemisphere. With climbs of mountains such as Mt. Robson in Canada, and Cotopaxi and Chimborazo in South America ,Frank needed first aid training. His first formal training was in 1967 with the Boy Scouts of America. He was introduced to the American Red Cross First Aid training while training to receive his Guide Certification (AAC) in 1973.
Frank organized the Ralph Stover Rescue Team in 1975 in response to accidents that had occurred and the inability of local rescue to adequately respond to the vertical rescue situations.
Frank is a Instructor with the American Red Cross and The Emergency Care and Safety Institute. He is also a member of the National Ski Patrol, skiing at Canonsburg Ski Area. Frank is currently in training to climb Ama Dablam in Nepal in April of 2009.
Lena Abissi
Business Manager
Asst. Guide
Lena
has been the business manager for Higher Ground since its inception
in 1994. She also works as a Certified Financial Planner®
and as a Tax Accountant. Without Lena, neither business could
function properly. Lena began climbing in 1981 while in college. In
1983 she took on a lifelong position as Frank's belay partner.
Since then, she has climbed all over North and South America.
We are always looking for new qualified employees. If you have certification to teach Any of the courses we offer please give us a call