LETTER

Welcome from Harmony

Hello, Climb Nittany community!

My name is Harmony Schmidbauer, and I'm so excited and honored to serve as the Executive Director of Climb Nittany!

For most of my career, I've worked in the tech industry, primarily at fast-paced startups, including leading software engineering teams and working with nonprofit organizations like the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers. In these roles, I’ve learned how to bring people together around a shared vision, navigate competing priorities, communicate across many stakeholders & perspectives, and help people do their best work. 

Stepping into this role represents a pretty significant life change for me.

Earlier this year, I realized that the tech industry wasn’t the right long-term fit for my career. I missed being around others in person every day. I was yearning for work where I could have a more direct, tangible impact and feel closer to the people and places my efforts were supporting.

When it was announced that Climb Nittany was closing, like many of you, I remember feeling heartbroken and unsure what came next. But my husband Alexander’s voice (both in my head and out loud) kept bringing me back to one of his favorite mantras: “The obstacle is the way” (thanks, Ryan Holiday). 

It almost felt like fate. I had been asking myself what I wanted the next chapter of my career to look like, and suddenly this opportunity arose to help preserve something I cared about so deeply. I couldn't ignore the irony, nor the chance to be part of making it happen.

For me, this gym wasn't just somewhere to exercise. It was a sanctuary. When work was stressful, climbing was one of the few places where my mind simply couldn't focus on Slack messages or what I wish I’d said differently in a meeting that day. You have to be present when you're on the wall. Many nights, Alexander and I would only make it in for thirty minutes before closing, but those thirty minutes were enough. They got me out of the house, away from a computer, and reminded me what life is really about: community, movement, challenge, and being fully present.

I also want to acknowledge something that I think is a completely fair question: why is someone who wasn't previously part of the Climb Nittany team and doesn't have a background in the climbing industry serving as Executive Director?

The honest answer is that I’m here because of a combination of experience, circumstance, and a lot of people believing in this opportunity. I recognize the incredible amount of privilege that allowed me to be here, and I don’t take that for granted. However, I also believe I bring a set of skills and experiences that can meaningfully support this next chapter for the gym. I’m proud of the skills I’ve built in my career and believe I can help create an environment where our staff are supported, our community feels connected, and this gym can flourish.

At the same time, I recognize that I am not the expert in running a climbing gym.

The amazing leadership team and staff here at Climb Nittany know this community and this work far better than I do, and I see that as one of our greatest strengths. My role isn’t to tell experts how to do what they already do exceptionally well. I see my role as being a connector. I've seen firsthand the incredible amount of thought, discussion, and care that has gone into bringing this gym back, and I want to help share that context so the “why” behind decisions and strategy in both directions is clear, consistent, and transparent. In tandem, I want to make sure the voices and expertise of our staff are thoughtfully incorporated into the conversations that shape the future of the gym so everyone has the context and support they need to spend more time focusing on what they do best, what they love most, and what makes Climb Nittany such a special place.

I'm incredibly grateful to our partners, whose passion and commitment made reopening the gym possible, and to this community for caring enough to step up to do the work & fight for it. Thank you for trusting me with something that means so much to this community.

I know that trust is earned, and I’ll work my butt off to continue earning it.

My door will always be open.

Harmony

BIO

Executive Director

Harmony brings a background in technology, leadership, and community-building to her role as Executive Director of Climb Nittany. Before joining the gym, she spent most of her career in the tech industry, primarily leading software engineering teams at fast-paced startups. Much of her work focused on creating alignment across teams, solving complex problems, fostering strong communication, and helping people thrive.

Harmony believes those skills can help create an environment where Climb Nittany’s staff are supported, its community continues to thrive, and the gym can grow sustainably. While she is not a lifelong climbing industry professional, she recognizes and values the deep expertise of Climb Nittany’s leadership team. Her role is to listen, learn, and serve as a connector between the vision of the ownership group and the expertise of the staff, helping to create alignment, clarity, and support so everyone can focus on what they do best.

Climb Nittany has been an important part of Harmony’s own life for years. During a demanding chapter of her career, the gym became a place of connection, movement, and presence - a reminder of the importance of the relationships and experiences that exist beyond work. When the gym’s closure was announced, she felt called to help preserve something that had meant so much to her and so many others.

Outside of Climb Nittany, Harmony lives in Boalsburg with her husband, Alexander, and their German Shepherd, Liberty. She serves as the Harris Township representative for the Schlow Centre Region Library Board and enjoys singing as a proud student of Sohum Studio and Dr. Val Flamini. 

Harmony is incredibly grateful for the trust placed in her and is committed to continuing to earn it every day. She welcomes questions, conversations, and ideas, and her door is always open to anyone who wants to help shape the future of Climb Nittany!