Bill Banta

Ketchum, ID

From as early as I can remember, I wanted to be a fighter pilot. Fully committing to my dream, I joined the U.S. Navy after college. Going into my final flight physical, the doctors uncovered a minor issue with one of my eyes which meant I could never fly for the military. This was hugely disappointing, but as Walt Disney said: “You may not know it at the time, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing for you."

Over the next several years, I was lucky enough to travel abroad while working for Apple and Amazon. My time outside of the US allowed me to meet new people, experience different cultures, and learn a great deal about how products go from visionary concept to reality. I discovered a passion for my work that I never would have found had I stayed in the Navy. This experience cemented my belief that good things will happen if you take your frustrations and focus that energy into something positive.

When I'm not working, I find peace and excitement right out my backdoor in the Sawtooth Mountains. Just like it says on the roof of Pioneer Cabin - "The higher you get, the higher you get."