Eric Steele — Founder of Epic Ultras | Founder of EJS Ventures LLC | Endurance Leader, Speaker, Storyteller
Eric Steele is a project and event architect, ultrarunner, trainer, speaker, and business operator whose path has always centered on relationships, driven teams, and tangible results. For more than three decades, he has worked where endurance sport, leadership strategy, marketing execution, and operational systems meet…transforming ideas into momentum, communities into culture, and digital platforms into living ecosystems.
He is widely recognized as the founder of Epic Ultras, an endurance brand launched in July 2012, and as the founder of EJS Ventures LLC…a portfolio-based holding company dedicated to building and scaling digital businesses across SaaS, marketing, ecommerce, publishing, and consulting.
Forged through miles, leadership challenges, and real-world execution, Steele’s philosophy is direct: keep moving forward, build what matters, and leave stronger systems, stronger teams, and stronger leaders behind you.
Epic Ultras — Ultramarathon Leadership, Community, and Endurance Culture
Epic Ultras has never been just about events. From the start, it represented a mindset grounded in courage, resilience, and shared growth. Under Steele’s leadership, Epic Ultras evolved into a respected endurance events brand built on authentic athlete experience, disciplined operations, and a loyal community powered by volunteers, staff, and runners willing to push beyond perceived limits.
The culture surrounding Epic Ultras was shaped through real miles, real obstacles, and real connection…where runners faced fear at the starting line and discovered deeper strength at the finish. That same endurance mindset now drives Epic Ultras 2.0…where ultrarunning principles intersect with leadership development, business strategy, and personal transformation.
Ultrarunning Background — Athlete, Race Director, Organizer
Eric Steele entered ultrarunning in 1994 and quickly immersed himself in every level of the sport. By 1995 he founded the Kansas Ultrarunners Society and directed his first ultramarathon, the FlatRock 50K…the oldest trail ultramarathon in Kansas still active today.
Across more than 30 years, Steele has completed over seventy ultramarathons ranging from 50K distances to extreme endurance challenges beyond 135 miles, including the Badwater 135 followed by a summit of Mount Whitney…a 146-mile effort considered one of the toughest endurance feats on Earth. He has finished the Leadville Trail 100, crossed the Grand Canyon multiple times, and climbed numerous high-altitude peaks including repeated ascents of Pikes Peak.
His experience isn’t theoretical…it’s built mile by mile through heat, cold, logistical chaos, volunteer leadership, and the unpredictable realities that define ultrarunning at its core.
Business Leadership — Database Marketing, Operations, and Sales
Alongside his endurance journey, Steele built a strong foundation in business operations and marketing leadership. As a Database Marketing Analyst and Account Manager at Mail Marketing Plus, he led national direct-mail campaigns for brands including Bridgestone/Firestone, Midas International, and Carmerica…overseeing large-scale data strategy, segmentation, logistics, client relations, and contract execution while blending analytical precision with persuasive communication.
Earlier experience in restaurant operations shaped his leadership style from the ground up…progressing from busboy and dishwasher into management roles where communication, service standards, accountability, and team culture determined success every day.
Today, that fusion of endurance discipline and operational experience defines his approach…building scalable systems, high-performance teams, and strategies rooted in execution rather than theory.
Public Speaker — Trainer — Distinguished Toastmaster
Eric Steele is a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM)…the highest recognition awarded by Toastmasters International for leadership and communication. Over the years he has delivered more than one hundred presentations to schools, civic groups, running communities, and professional audiences…sharing lessons shaped by decades on the trail and inside real-world leadership environments.
His speaking style blends authenticity, intensity, humor, and lived experience…challenging audiences to step into discomfort, lead with integrity, and pursue goals that demand personal growth.
Education, Discipline, and Personal Evolution
After leaving high school early, Steele returned to education with renewed focus…earning an Associate degree from Butler County Community College and graduating with High Honors from Friends University with a Bachelor of Science in Management. He later developed and taught original Internet Marketing coursework…reflecting a lifelong commitment to learning, teaching, and evolving beyond conventional expectations.
That path reflects a core belief: transformation happens when you step into challenges rather than avoid them.
EJS Ventures LLC — Digital Business Operator and Portfolio Builder
Beyond endurance sports, Steele leads EJS Ventures LLC, a digital holding company focused on launching and managing a growing network of online brands, tools, and services. EJS Ventures develops projects across SaaS platforms, marketing solutions, ecommerce ventures, publishing initiatives, and consulting engagements…built on lean systems, automation, transparency, and scalable infrastructure.
Each venture maintains its own identity while benefiting from shared operational frameworks designed for long-term growth and sustainability.
No Arrival — Philosophy of Endurance and Transformation
Later this year, Steele will release his upcoming book, No Arrival: A Journey of Endurance, Self-Discovery, and Transformation…a work exploring how endurance sports, leadership trials, and lived experience reshape identity over time. The philosophy behind the title is simple…the journey itself transforms you in ways the finish line never can.
That mindset continues to guide everything he builds…from ultrarunning events to digital ventures to leadership training.
Builder, Operator, Founder
Eric Steele doesn’t chase titles…he builds infrastructure.
He doesn’t follow trends…he engineers systems.
He doesn’t wait for permission…he launches.
Across both Epic Ultras LLC and EJS Ventures LLC, his work blends endurance psychology, operational discipline, and entrepreneurial vision…creating platforms designed to evolve, expand, and inspire.
The journey isn’t over…it’s evolving.
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