Munich, Germany
Stefan Hänisch
Stefan is the publisher of the EPIC ROADS book series and the author and co-author of several books. His passion for sports cars goes back already to his childhood days. Later at university, while studying business and engineering at Karlsruhe University (KIT), a side job as Croupier at the Bad
Dürkheim Casino earned him a first curve-ready vehicle, a red Mazda MX5. He soon took the roadster into the mountains—the first big road trip taking him from Switzerland down the Route Napoléon to the Côte D’Azur.
After graduating, Stefan perused a career in the software industry at SAP, and held executive management positions for more than two decades. Touring the Alps with his Porsche 911 quickly turned into a true passion, as did bringing along cameras and drones to capture pass adventures in pictures. He also enjoys the Alps for hiking and skiing. In 2025, Stefan left SAP and turned this passion into a profession—founding EPIC ROADS and the SH Media Group and publishing his first book “Driving the Alps – Your Guide to the best Passes”.
Stefan is originally from the beautiful Deutsche Weinstrasse, the “Tuscany of Germany” in the Pfalz region. He lives in Munich with his wife and three children.
Heidelberg, Germany
Thomas Mattern
Thomas is business partner, as well as the author, co-author, and image editor of several EPIC ROADS books. He is a multidisciplinary artist drawn to the landscapes and rhythm of the Alps, where nature, light, and movement shape his visual language. Trained as a mechanical engineer, Thomas has spent over 25 years in the software industry, including roles at startups and at SAP, shaping narratives in marketing and communication. His work has evolved through music composition and production, film, photography, and collaborative art projects.
A lifelong connection to the Alps since early journeys with his father to South Tyrol has evolved into a deep appreciation for nature, light, and movement on the road. His 911 Targa (1984) reflects this sensibility, combining a deep admiration for engineering, design, and emotion. Through photography and writing, he explores the silent tension between machine, light, and landscape, while remaining closely connected to and fascinated by each driver’s personal air-cooled story.
Thomas has two children and lives with his partner in the Heidelberg region.