Maria, joins the team as our Outreach Coordinator. She brings new creative ideas, energy and passion for nature and the Jackson Hole community:
“I came to Jackson in 2018 From Chicago, Illinois. With very little understanding of life in a ski town, I moved here to work as a Graphic Designer for a local ski-apparel brand. It may have been the job that brought me here but, it is the deep love I have for the wilderness and this mountain town community that keeps me here.
I was born and raised in Vermont, where I learned just enough about rural life and harsh winters to believe it wasn’t for me. After high school I attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York where I graduated with a degree in Industrial Design. Being generally appalled by the environmental repercussions of large-scale manufacturing, I enjoyed working for smaller design studios producing quality goods locally.
After 6+ years in the city, I began to crave new adventure and reconnection with nature. This desire took me to Seattle, Washington. With the Cascade Range in my backyard, I rediscovered my love for the outdoors. I began pivoting away from designing physical products toward User Experience and Graphic Design. These forms of design better align with my goal of effectively communicating ideas with minimal environmental impact.
I moved to Chicago in 2017 in order to be closer to family. From the moment I arrived in the Midwest I desperately missed the mountains. After only one Chicago winter I begin looking for work anywhere west of the Mississippi. The first interesting job offer I received came from a company I had never heard of, based in a place I had never even seen. I decided to take a chance which led me here.
After only four years I recognize the fragility of this unique environment. We have a responsibility to protect this delicate ecosystem and promote responsible stewardship now and in the future. I look forward to joining The Alliance and engaging with the community in a meaningful way.”
