The Funtleyders' small business, Boundless Adventures, is a calling to serve the community.
For Brian and Lorrie Funtleyder, owning and operating his small business isn’t just life-changing, it’s a calling to serve the community.
The Funtleyders are the owners of Boundless Adventures, an aerial adventure challenge course in Westchester County, with additional locations in Wisconsin and Massachusetts. Brian joined NFIB during COVID:
“I first learned about the NFIB in 2020. Ashley Ranslow apparently knew about Boundless Adventures and called to see if I would be willing to speak the press about our experience dealing with COVID. Of course, I was willing. Like everyone else, we were hurting from a business standpoint, and mourning those lives prematurely taken by this terrible virus.
“Boundless Adventures is located on the campus of Purchase College, which is a NYS Public University. Being a tenant of New York State added another layer of complexity when it came to getting back to business. There is no point in going into too much detail about our debacle (everyone had a debacle). Needless to say, somehow Ashley and her team were able to significantly expedite our re-opening. I didn’t ask for the details on how they ‘made the sausage,’ but I do know that there were some legal-eagles, and discussions with people from the state involved.
“The NFIB might have been the difference between a thriving business emerging from the pandemic stronger than before (this is my preferred option) or going out of business. I am embarrassed to say that I didn’t get more involved with the NFIB until recently, but now I am all in.”
After 17 years on Wall Street analyzing and evaluating other businesses, Brian and Lorrie left their careers to start Boundless Adventures. It was a family vacation that changed everything: they saw how their experiences in the outdoors with their kids gave them confidence and independence, and they wanted to give that same confidence to other kids.
Brian Funtleyder smiles in this group shot with some of the campers from Project H.O.O.D.
While their business is open to anyone who enjoys heart pounding experiences, there are special visitors they host at Boundless Adventures that to them make their small business more meaningful.
Brian recently hosted a group of around 80 children as part of an outreach program through Project H.O.O.D., an organization offering “an alternative to violence and hopelessness” to youth in Chicago and underserved communities. Brian patiently walked his new “campers,” many of whom had never seen a forest, through climbing, obstacle courses, and zip lines, while developing their confidence through problem-solving, and communication and leadership skills.
In Brian’s own words, the experience was life changing: “I never imagined what a profound imprint that the experience would leave on me for the rest of my life.”
Boundless Adventures in its Wisconsin location hosted about 80 campers this summer, many who had never spent much time outdoors.
Here’s just one of a few stories from the week in Brian’s words:
“There was a boy named Mario that was having a little trouble operating the equipment, so I offered to climb with him. As we were about to start our first set of obstacles, a boy named Jamar asked if he could join us. Mario and I both enthusiastically said ‘yes!’ Within about five minutes, Mario got the hang of the clips and was off, burning through the obstacles. Even though he was moving faster than us, no matter how far ahead he was, he kept turning around to make sure that his friend Jamar was ok.
“As for Jamar, I could tell by looking at him that he had more than enough strength and coordination to take the course by storm. Having said that, one could understand why being asked to climb though the tree canopy the first time that you have ever seen a forest, while being told to trust that their harness and clips would prevent them from falling, might cause a little anxiety. After said, step, Jamar said ‘I can’t do this, I want to get down,’ but through perseverance and a little coaxing from me, he pushed through. I am not embarrassed to say that I cried a little when Jamar cried. We could have taken Jamar down and called it a day at any point, but I knew that if he completed that obstacle, the experience would have a tremendous, lasting impact on his confidence.
“After a lot of sweat and tears, Jamar made it! I could tell that he was proud of himself, because within ten seconds, he went from tears and uncertainty to a beaming smile and self-assurance.”
Brian and Lorrie are excited to be new NFIB members. Like all small business owners, they don’t have time to keep track of what’s happening in Albany and D.C. and appreciate that NFIB is looking out for and advocating for them. Welcome Lorrie and Brian!
