Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Roy Tuscany. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Roy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

On April 29, 2006, I suffered a devastating spinal cord injury while training in the terrain park at Mammoth Mountain, California. I sustained a burst fracture of his T-12 vertebrae, compromising 45% of my spinal cord after going 130 feet on a 100-foot jump. The accident rendered my lower body paralyzed. After having high hopes of becoming a world-class professional skier, I then had to re-learn everything in life from the ground up.

The skiing accident was truly life-changing but I eventually began making great progress in his recovery process. With the help of strong personalities, positivity, and plenty of high fives, I stepped into skis and loaded the lift at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe, California for the first time in March of 2008. The encouragement and inspiration I received during my recovery motivated me to start a foundation to help others overcome similar obstacles.

Roy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was pursuing my dreams of becoming a professional skier when I suffered a life changing spinal chord injury. The support I received from my community during my recovery inspired me to start a foundation to help others overcome similar obstacles.

High Fives focuses on preventing life-changing injuries and provides resources and hope if they happen.

As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization since 2009, High Fives has helped countless injured athletes and Veterans get back to doing what they love. The Foundation aims to be the leader of education and recovery of life-altering injuries in outdoor action sports.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Breaking the world record for the most number of High Fives in a 24 hour period was the beginning of my social media story and helped gain followers quick. It allowed me to share my story but also stay authentic and transparent. It then lead to us utilizing our networks, sponsors, donors, athletes as influencers which helped spread the good word. Building our social media presence has been a gradual process. Consistency, authenticity, and a genuine connection with your audience has ultimately helped us succeed in building a strong social media following.

Any advice for managing a team?

Managing a team and maintaining high morale is crucial for achieving productivity, fostering a positive work environment, and retaining talented employees. The piece of advice that has helped me effectively manage a team and keep morale high is summed up into a phrase I call, ADAPT AND DESTROY. Which can we seen as A New Way to Look at Obstacles. Most people see an obstacle, and they try to find a way to live with it. I believe you can see an obstacle, and then destroys it. See below for my 5 pieces of advice.

1. Stay Adaptable: Be willing to adapt your management style to suit the needs of your team. Different individuals may require different approaches.

2. Lead by Example: Be a role model for your team. Demonstrate the work ethic, attitude, and behavior you expect from your team members.

3. Set Clear Expectations: Clearly define roles, responsibilities, and goals for each team member. When everyone understands their role and what is expected of them, it reduces confusion and frustration.

4. Foster a Positive Work Environment: Create a workspace where employees feel comfortable and supported. Encourage camaraderie, teamwork, and respect among team members.

5. Work-Life Balance: Respect your team members’ work-life balance. Encourage them to take breaks and time off when needed. Avoid consistently overloading them with work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://highfivesfoundation.org/
• Instagram: @hi5sfoundation
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HighFivesFoundation
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roy-tuscany-9b880512/
• Twitter: @hi5sfoundation
• Youtube: @HighFivesFoundation

Image Credits
@jordan.alpinemedia @alpinemediahouse @justinjenny @generikal