Owner's Bio

Thomas Hutchings:
Managing Partner
Thomas founded The Antarctic Connection in 1998 in the midst of managing science projects for the United States Antarctic Program. After a 22 year career with the United States Antarctic Program he pioneered the virtual polar regions again by founding The Arctic Connection in 2012. Tom has been a project manager for large telescope and science projects in both the Arctic and Antarctic.

His love of these unique, spectacular, and fragile regions are what continue to steer his business ambitions. "I want others to have the opportunity to visit these spectacular areas, but in an eco-friendly manner. That is why we partner only with educational and environmentally-conscious tour operators, and offer quality and functional clothing."

Managing Partner
As managing partner Gloria brings over twenty years of retail, merchandise and management experience to both The Arctic and Antarctic Connection stores.

Gloria's retail career includes Manager of Retail Operations for the U.S. Antarctic Program as well as Merchandise Manager for The Appalachian Mountain Club.

A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, she began her 8-year Antarctic career in 1990. Her "on-ice" tours includes six summer seasons at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, a summer at McMurdo Station, and a winter season at Palmer Station on the Antarctic Peninsula.