Name: Conor Frantzen
Role: Business Manager
1st ALE Season: 2026
Nationality: USA
Q: Where are you coming from, and what’s your background?
I’m coming to ALE after spending most of my career in expedition and adventure travel operations. Right after college, I worked at Overland Summers, first as a guide leading student trips in Colorado and California, and then year-round doing logistics planning, sales, marketing, and helping run the summer season. That was where I learned how much steady, behind-the-scenes work it takes to make complex programs run well.
After that, I spent more than twelve years at Natural Habitat Adventures in a range of operational and leadership roles. During that time, the company went through a period of rapid growth, and my work focused on helping teams scale while keeping trip quality and the guest experience consistently high. Much of what I enjoy is identifying problems early, fixing what isn’t working, and making things simpler and more reliable for the people doing the work. While working full-time, I completed my MBA at the University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business, building upon my economics degree from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.
Q: What was your first experience in Antarctica?
In 2023, I traveled to Antarctica on a seven-person sailboat as part of a Nat Hab trip. What stood out to me was how quiet and expansive the place felt, and how quickly that stillness could be punctuated by moments like humpback whales surfacing right next to the boat. Being able to move slowly through such a remote place, with a small group and very little noise, was something I hadn’t experienced anywhere else.
Q: What are you most looking forward to as you join ALE?
More than anything, I’m looking forward to getting to know the people who work at ALE and learning how the operation functions day to day. I’ve always enjoyed working with experienced teams who take pride in what they do, and I’m excited to learn from people who know this environment inside and out.
Q: What brought you to Utah?
My family and I moved to Salt Lake City in July 2025 after many years in Denver. My wife got a job opportunity as a pediatric emergency medicine physician here, and the move made sense both professionally and personally as we looked for a place to put down roots with our two young boys.
Q: What do you enjoy outside of work?
Endurance sports have been a big part of my life for a long time. I was a competitive triathlete and distance runner for many years, and more recently I’ve been focusing on cycling, both on the road and on trails. I’m looking forward to when both boys are old enough to come mountain biking with me
Q: What’s the highest elevation you’ve ever been to?
The summit of Huayna Potosi in Bolivia, a little over 6,000 meters. I climbed it in 2013 with a friend from college, and we were the only pair to make the summit that day. We hired an exceptionally experienced guide—someone who had previously guided a former Bolivian president and one of President Obama’s daughters—while every other team turned back after fresh snow covered the route. It was a good reminder that experience matters.
Q: You spent a lot of time working on Galapagos programs at Nat Hab, any favorite memories?
I am fortunate to have visited the Galapagos many times. One of my favorite memories was being able to bring my mom on a trip there, which was a really special experience for both of us. And while the temperatures are very different from Antarctica, both places are home to penguins, something that still surprises people.
Q: Anything else people should know?
I grew up in Maine, and I like to think that shaped both my comfort with cold, remote places and a strong New England work ethic. I tend to take a practical, hands-on approach, and I enjoy figuring things out and fixing what needs fixing.
