When Larry Warren was at the start of his career in the late 1960s, he was certain of his professional path. He was working at an accounting firm in Boston and was on his way to becoming a certified professional accountant. A trip to Sugarloaf changed everything. He fell in love with Maine and was soon making the trip up every weekend. By the early ’70s, Warren was working as the controller of the Sugarloaf Mountain Corporation. “Work was an adventure that focused on converting a backwoods ski area to a viable resort community and in the process attempting to maintain the down-to-earth Sugarloaf attitude and friendliness,” he says. Over the past few decades, Warren has remained focused on development and outdoor recreation. He was one of the founders of the town of Carrabassett Valley and helped propel the development of the region between the ’70s and ’90s. Warren’s crowning achievement came in 1999 when he founded Maine Huts and Trails. Located in Kingfield, the nonprofit operates a system of multiuse trails and lodges and takes people on guided adventures, such as canoeing, skiing, and hiking. Warren says he’s always believed in the importance of finding adventure through outdoor activities. “It broadens one’s appreciation of our natural environment and provides exposure to wild and scenic places,” he says. For Warren, the most meaningful part of his work is the “significant land conservation and public access it provides for existing and future generations.”