Heath Rowland
TN, NC, SC
I have always built things; literally built things. After spending 13+ years in the construction industry, I somehow found a chance to work in the outdoor industry. I was offered a position with Rab USA as an in-house sales rep. This was vastly different from my other jobs; coal miner, welder, carpenter, millwright, electrician. It was there that I cut my teeth and learned how the business works. It was also there where I developed an opinion of how the business should work. I felt like a good agency should connect the community with their local retailers and coalitions.
Around the same time that I started working at Rab, I found a love for establishing traditional rock climbs with a ground up ethic. It was this love for development that would ultimately lead to starting this agency. Three years into my job with Rab I was offered the opportunity to work with SCARPA and that marks the beginning of Ground Up Sales. We soon began working with Petzl and that shored up the foundation of this group.
Building this agency has been one of the greatest projects I have ever worked on. It has been the most fun build yet.
Elliott brown
TN, AL, GA, FL, AR, MS
Growing up, I was fortunate enough to be able to spend a lot of time in the backwoods of Tennessee camping and exploring. As I grew older, my fondness for the outdoors only got stronger. A friend of mine introduced me to climbing and have been hooked ever since. I have been climbing since the early 2000s and working in the outdoor industry since 2014. I am excited to be working alongside such hardworking team members and being able to work with some of the best outdoor brands there are. I look forward to working with you.
Jovany Cuesta
OH, IN, MI, VA, WV, KY
Since I can remember, the outdoors has been a huge part of my life. My early years spent camping with my family in the cool mountains and at the warm beaches. I’ve always been the type of person that would rather sit outside eat than inside.
With only climbing for 4.5 years, I quickly learned how amazing the climbing and outdoor community is, so amazing that I quickly applied to work at my local climbing gym. Super ambitious in learning all that I could. I became the gyms buyer and later their Director.
Long story short, here we are. I’m stoked to be part of the Ground Up Team!
Looking forward to meeting you.