I have worked both as an employee of a mid-sized operation and as the owner of a small business in my sixteen years of guiding. The first twelve years, guiding was a secondary career as I focused on other work to make a living. The last three years I am primarily ski guiding learning if it is possible to make a living solely as a guide. The jury is still out.

Outside of my guiding career, I have relevant experience collaborating with diverse stakeholders to achieve shared outcomes. This occurred through various sized projects, whether managing the Environmental Impact Statement for the Summit at Snoqualmie’s Master Development Plan or easing conflicting intentions of city council members to make progress.

The Washington Mountain Guiding Association (WMGA) can help improve the lives of guides by representing our profession as a larger voice to land managers and elected officials. WMGA can also function as a community in which we can share and learn better practices from each other to progress our profession.

The two biggest challenges facing Washington guides today are climate change and livable wages. We can address both by getting more respect from elected officials by maturing into an organization of professional members. The public perception of our industry is improving and the WMGA is poised to strengthen our professionalism, which can yield better wages. We can also learn from existing members and members’ companies how to improve our own working conditions, which enhances career sustainability.

Thanks to all of you for getting this organization off the ground and I look forward to its growth.

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