Leadership Team

Together with our entire staff team, our leadership team focuses on driving our operations forward with dedication and passion. We invite you to get to know the experienced individuals who lead our initiatives with vision and a love for the sport. Scroll their profiles to discover more about the faces behind Edgeworks and learn how each of us contribute to making your climbing experience more exceptional.

  • Truc Allen

    Office
    Director of Retail

    Truc started climbing 31 years ago and started climbing at EW when it was SG back in 2008. Whenever he's asked the question about what he loves about climbing, he likes to think that he loves the process, or a specific list of climbs, but it's the places it takes him that always truly comes to mind. When Trus isn't climbing, he's either surfing, spending time with the family, working on his photography, or doing a variety of different backcountry and mountain things.

    When he first started climbing, his fear of heights was pretty intense. But over the decades, while the fear is still there, he sees it as a pretty big part of what makes the experience (would it be boring if it wasn't scary/exciting?). Focusing on breathing, believing in himself (no matter how much he may be lying to himself) and understanding/trusting the the gear he uses helps too. Truc's favorite place to climb in all of the world would be his home country of Vietnam, with a pretty close second in Fontainebleau, FR. As far as favorite sending snacks? Salami, tin can fish, or good old fashioned trail mix!

  • Owner, General Manager, IFMGA Guide

    Wilderness Medicine InstituteAmerican Mountain Guide AssociationInternational Federation of Mountain Guides AssociationTod Bloxham was born and raised in Washington State, spending his adolescence exploring the mountains of the North Cascades. By the age of 18 Tod had logged well over 500 miles of North Cascades trails and backcountry and had hiked 2,700 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, becoming the youngest solo through-hiker to travel the entire PCT from Canada to Mexico. As a climber, Tod has been climbing and skiing the backcountry since 1991, logging hundreds of ascents of rock, ice and ski routes in North America and abroad.

    Life in the outdoors and work must coexist for Tod; professionally, Tod has been guiding since 1999, is an IFMGA Mountain Guide, and as the owner of Edgeworks Climbing, Tod is either helping his beautiful wife show the wonders of the outdoors to their two girls, sharpening his skills on the alpine and trad climbs he pursues, or helping people discover that the outdoors and climbing can be a lifelong pursuit that is inspiring and invigorating.

    Certifications / Qualifications:
    IFMGA / AMGA Licensed Mountain Guide
    AMGA Alpine Guide
    AMGA Ski Guide
    AMGA Rock Guide
    AMGA Rock Instructor
    Wilderness First Responder
    AIARE L1/L2 Avalanche Course Leader
    AIARE L3 Avalanche Forecaster

  • Kurt Hicks

    Office Guide Instructor
    Director of Climbing School + Guiding, IFMGA Guide

    Wilderness Medicine InstituteAmerican Mountain Guide AssociationInternational Federation of Mountain Guides AssociationKurt grew up in Oregon, started backpacking at age four, and began climbing when he was eight. Since then, he has climbed, skied, and guided throughout the Cascades, Alaska Range, Sierra, Rockies, and the mountains of New England, Canada, Norway, and the Alps. He loves exploring and putting up new routes the Cascades in all seasons.

    Kurt is an IFMGA Mountain Guide and has been guiding since 2003. He is an instructor for the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) and has served on their Board of Directors. Kurt has also worked as a climbing ranger at Mount Rainier National Park. He founded the Washington Anchor Replacement Project, which replaces aging climbing hardware across the state. Kurt is the author of the climbing guidebook Snoqualmie Rock and a co-author of Backcountry Skiing: Washington.

    Kurt loves helping people along their own paths in their outdoor adventures. Whether it’s sharing key beta, technical skills, or teaching his children how to ski, he loves seeing people expand their skill sets, gain self-confidence, and have fun in the outdoors.

    Certifications / Qualifications:
    IFMGA / AMGA Licensed Mountain Guide
    AMGA Alpine Guide
    AMGA Ski Guide
    AMGA Rock Guide
    Wilderness EMT
    AIARE L1/L2 Avalanche Course Leader
    AIARE L3 Avalanche Forecaster
    Leave No Trace Master Educator

  • Christian Horton

    Office
    Finance & HR Manager

    Originally from Massachusetts, Christian moved to Seattle in 1998 and has been climbing and skiing throughout the Northwest ever since. From ski descents of Mt. Rainier to long slab climbs in Darrington, he has always looked for new adventures and new places to explore. His favorite place to climb is Index.

    Christian started at Stone Gardens back in 2001 and managed the Seattle gym for the last decade before moving into his current role. He remains committed to making the gym an open space where everyone from brand new to experienced climbers can have fun, challenge themselves and learn new skills.

  • Abbie Madlem

    Office Front Desk
    Director of Operations

    Abbie was raised in the Puget Sound, where she was instilled with a love of the outdoors. She spent her days backpacking, snowshoeing, kayaking - you name it. She first came into contact with climbing as a kid at the pinnacle in REI. It looked super high and super scary, but she got over that fast and once on the wall she didn't want to come back down.

    When not climbing, Abbie can be found hiking, biking, crafting, finding new places to explore, or curled up on the couch with a good book.

  • Michelle Scheele

    Office
    Owner, Marketing Director

    Michelle has been involved with Edgeworks since the spark and the dream planted itself in Tod’s mind while on their honeymoon in New Zealand in 2002. After spending 10+ years working in non-profit fundraising and adding two beautiful daughters to their family (Hailey and Kayla), Michelle officially joined the Edgeworks staff in 2013.

    While you won’t often see her sending routes and pulling plastic in the gym, you will find her in yoga classes or belaying/chasing her kids up and around the wall. On weekends she can be found running around the North End in Tacoma, adventuring with Tod and the kids, skiing, or visiting family in Bellingham. Cooking, photography, and travel top her wish list of “hobbies”.

  • Justin Wright

    Office Setter
    Director of Route Setting

    USAC Route Setter Justin began his routesetting journey back in his home state of Massachusetts in 2008. Fast forward 14 years: His passion for climbing evolved into a career. He is a level 4 USAC certified routesetter that has developed routesetting teams across the country and set at high-level climbing competitions all over the US.

    His focus over the last few years has revolved around the professionalization of route setting and the creation of mentorship and education programs. He strives to constantly push the bounds of commercial and competition style routesetting to expose climbing communities to new styles of movement.

    When Justin isn’t setting or climbing, you’ll find him behind the lens of a camera or kiteboarding in the wind.

    Certifications / Qualifications:
    USAC Level 4 Route Setter