My non-guiding professional background includes working for and with government agencies at the city, county, state, and federal levels. These roles involved permitting, land management, and environmental impact analysis. Outside of environmental consulting, I have also worked in marketing and sales, both online and customer-facing.

My volunteer leadership experience includes serving on the board of the Alpine Club at the University of Colorado Boulder, where we allocated funding to best serve our membership, organized events and large meetings, promoted membership, and managed business partnerships and sponsors. I also served on the CU Men’s Rugby Team board, organizing events that required fundraising, managing member input, and working within budgets. Other experience includes volunteering with the Washington Climber’s Coalition, American Alpine Club and the Access Fund.

I believe a unified voice for our trade in working with land managers, government agencies, and other influential entities would be a major benefit of the WMGA. Advocacy around timely infrastructure repair, access issues, and improving guides’ access to government-sponsored financial benefits are examples of areas where a collective voice could make a difference. Ultimately, the membership should drive our priorities by identifying what matters most to them.

Increasing the legitimacy and visibility of our profession can benefit both guides and business owners. A well-organized organization such as the WMGA may increase confidence among clients and insurance providers, potentially helping businesses manage costs and allowing wages to increase with less fear of raising prices. As with other skilled trades, people are often willing to pay more when they have greater confidence in the professionals providing a service.

I plan to use my experience working with government agencies, along with my sales and marketing background, to work with the existing board on solutions to the foundational challenge of fundraising. First and foremost, we need to keep the lights on and build a sustainable organization.

Beyond the important and multifaceted issue of livable wages, I see land manager–guide relationships as a priority. Guides should be viewed as an asset and benefit to land managers rather than a hindrance, as it can sometimes feel. Communicating the benefits of guided groups, maintaining healthy anchors, and demonstrating positive examples for the recreational public are all areas where we can strengthen those relationships.

I have been a Washington resident for 15 years and a year-round, full-time working guide for the past eight years. I am currently working toward completing my IFMGA credentialing. I do not own a guiding business and I rely on guiding for the majority of my income. I believe it is important that the board maintain a healthy balance of business-owning and non-business-owning guides, as well as representation from those still working through the AMGA credentialing process.

I am passionate about cultivating a unified voice that can improve the experience of guides operating in Washington, and I offer my time, experience, and dedication to the goals established by our membership.

Thank you for your time, and stay safe out there!

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