MH&H LIFE SPOTLIGHT

Anthony Ficara, Partner and Chair of the firm’s Condominium and Cooperative Services Group, was recently selected to compete in the North America Qualifier for Land Rover’s Defender Trophy competition in Mission, British Columbia. He was selected as one of only 90 competitors from the US to try and earn a spot on the North American Team, out of over 10,000 applicants.  Anthony answers questions on what this experience means to him below.

What Inspired You To Apply For The Defender Trophy, And What Does Being Selected Mean To You Personally?  

Growing up in the 80s and 90s, the Camel Trophy Competition was a big deal, right up there with the Paris-Dakar Rally (now the Dakar Rally). Having been raised in the suburbs of Long Island, seeing those teams in yellow Land Rovers competing and making their way through some of the world’s most challenging and remote locations seemed so foreign and crazy to me. I started getting into outdoor adventure travel, camping, and off-road driving/navigating about three or four years ago as a way to challenge myself, alleviate stress, and get in touch with nature. While it can be daunting to drive through difficult terrain for hours to end up camping in a wild, remote location with no cell service, the excitement, total focus and sense of accomplishment you feel as you take in the views and experience places most people will never see make it all worth it.

When I saw that Land Rover was bringing back the Camel Trophy, rebranded as the Defender Trophy, with a race through rugged African terrain, I immediately felt like I had to give it a shot and try to qualify. Being selected for the qualifier event and having a chance to earn a spot on the North American team to compete in Africa is an affirmation that I have what it takes to be in the same room with some pretty amazing outdoor competitors. It means a lot to me to have been selected for this event, and I’m really looking forward to getting out there and giving it all I’ve got.

What Skills From Your Career At MHH Will You Take With You Into This Challenge?  

The Defender Trophy Competition is all about teamwork, perseverance and making sure everyone you’re working with makes it through each stage of the challenge safely. Based on that, leadership, teamwork and organization are the top three skills that come to mind. Being the youngest member of the Firm’s management committee has helped hone my leadership skills over the past two years. My position on the management committee as one of this law firm’s leaders involves thoughtful day-to-day decision-making. Further, as Chair of a practice group for over six years, I routinely build and work with teams of attorneys on client projects, so teamwork comes naturally to me at this point. Lastly, I have been spearheading the renovation of the firm’s nearly 40,000-square-foot Garden City office for the past year, acting as the de facto owner’s rep, and working alongside the construction team and various trades. Coordinating a project of this magnitude requires focus and organization, skills that have really been bolstered by this experience.

What Kind Of Preparation Have You Been Doing To Get Ready For The Competition?  

The Defender Trophy is a competition that combines physical and problem-solving challenges with driving, navigation and general outdoor survival. For physical conditioning, I started training outdoors in February: hiking, rucking and endurance training in the elements. I just completed a long-distance round-trip drive to North Carolina to build my driving stamina and have been brushing up on my vehicle recovery skills by digging my Defender out of various off-road situations. I still have to take a land-based navigation course to work on my compass and map-reading skills in preparation for the chance that Land Rover disables the navigation systems in the Trophy Edition Defenders that will be used for the qualifier competition.

The Defender Trophy Emphasizes Adventure With Purpose And Conservation. What Does That Mission Mean To You As A Participant?  

For me, “Adventure with Purpose and Conservation” is the perfect combination of exploration and environmental and social responsibility, both of which I’m extremely passionate about. Having the opportunity to take my love of adventure travel and expand it to helping others is an ideal situation.

What Do You Hope To Take Away From This Experience?  

Being asked to compete in the Defender Trophy North America Qualifier has become a goal for me in many ways. Most of us will never make it to the global competition, as they only take four competitors from the qualifier to comprise the North American team. So, focusing on the qualifier, I hope to leave there knowing I did all I could to be the best competitor possible. By “best competitor,” I mean a great teammate and someone who makes lasting relationships with people who similarly value adventure, exploration and making an impact. In my mind, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I’m going to soak it all in and make every second count.