Career Spotlights
PASSIONATE PROFESSIONALS
Vermont Career Spotlight: Meet Deegan at The Boot Pro
SKI TECHNICIAN
Deegan Aiken
Company: The Boot Pro
Location: Ludlow, Vermont
Industry Segment(s): Snowsports, Retail Service
Position Type: Full-Time/Year-Round
Educational Background: High School Diploma, In-shop training
My Story: Deegan grew up in Springfield, VT tinkering with small engines and racing motocross. He always felt the need to be working with his hands. He started employment in a retail ski shop in Okemo in 2021 selling goggles and helmets and gradually realized he loved the retail environment, particularly talking to people who loved outdoor recreation. Since joining the Boot Pro crew, he’s enjoyed quickly learning to become a snowsports technician as well as a mountain bike mechanic through in-shop training with high-tech equipment.
Job Details: Deegan’s job is to make sure customer equipment is functioning for peak performance so that everyone can have a safe and fun time shredding on the slopes. The shop environment is one of the most rewarding parts of the job–in addition to hanging out with the shop dog, daily interaction with passionate customers and coworkers provides a tight-knit community. The satisfaction of working with his hands, hearing positive feedback from happy customers, and continually improving at the art of ski tuning are what continue to get Deegan stoked about his career. Plus, in the off-season from snowsports, he’s begun to learn about the craft of being a retail bike mechanic, ensuring he has year-round employment and plenty of opportunities to recreate.
Advice: “My advice to anyone seeking a career in the outdoor industry is to have fun with it and absorb as much knowledge as you can. This is an industry where you can easily make memories doing what you love with like-minded people.”
Vermont Career Spotlight: Dem at Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sport
PROGRAM SPECIALIST
Dem Coppola
Company: Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, Non-profit
Location: Vermont
Industry Segment(s): Guiding/Instruction
Position Type: Full-Time/Year-Round
Educational Background: High School Diploma, B.S. Environmental Science and Political Science, PSIA Alpine Level 1 Instructor, PSIA Adaptive Level 1 Instructor, AMGA Lead Climbing Wall Instructor, AMGA Apprentice Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder, NSP Outdoor Emergency Care, SafeSport Level 1 Certified Adaptive Recreation and Sports Specialist, First Aid/CPR, Stop The Bleed
My Story: Demery’s career as an adventure sports instructor began in 2017 at St. Michael’s College while she was pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Political Science. She began leading rock and ice climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking, whitewater and sea kayaking, and hiking/backpacking trips and then became the student climbing coordinator and was able to mentor and facilitate training for new instructors. She realized her passion for skill sharing and the outdoors, and worked several outdoor jobs and volunteer positions, eager to learn more and help others discover the wonder of the outdoors here in Vermont.
Job Details: Demery’s job is to get people of all abilities outside to recreate. Every day is different; one day she will be working with a person with one ability level and certain equipment, then the next day she’ll have someone new with a completely different diagnosis and new set of specialized equipment for a different activity. For her, the most rewarding parts of the job are getting work with the massive network of Vermont Apative’s passionate volunteers and athletes, feeling encouraged to continually learn and develop new skills, and knowing that she’s having a greater, direct impact on so many individuals and the community overall.
Advice: “My advice to anyone seeking a career in the outdoor industry is to learn wherever you can! Don’t let the concern of not feeling you know enough about something get in the way of pursuing what you’re interested in. There are so many avenues to accomplish your goals: volunteering, attending community events, introducing yourself to people at the places you’d like to work, etc. So many people have been in your position, and want to be able to mentor others. The more passionate people we have working on the same mission the better!"
Vermont Career Spotlight: John from Willard Mountain Guides
OWNER/LEAD GUIDE
John Willard
Company: Willard Mountain Guides
Location: Vermont, New Hampshire, Washington, Utah
Industry Segment(s): Guiding/Instruction
Position Type: Full-Time/Year-Round
Educational Background: High School Diploma, B.S. Mountain Recreation Management with concentration in Adventure Leadership, American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA) Rock Guide, AMGA Ice Instructor, AMGA Apprentice Alpine Guide, AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, American Institute for Avalanche Research & Education (AIARE) 1, AIARE 2, AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course, SOLO Wilderness First Responder, SOLO CPR.
My Story: John began climbing towards his career as a professional mountain guide in 2017 at Vermont State University-Lyndon. In the Outdoor Education, Leadership, and Tourism program, the only collegiate program in the U.S. accredited by the American Mountain Guide Association, he fell in love with climbing. As someone who had a hard time with traditional high school education, the focus of the program on field-based learning appealed to him, getting him outside to learn practical skills such as rock, ice, and alpine climbing, wilderness medicine, avalanche rescue and snow science, and expedition management.Through trips he was leading for friends and in school, he quickly gained the experience and certifications he needed to get professional guiding gigs right after graduating. In only a few short years, he started Willard Mountain Guides, leading climbing trips throughout the Northeast and Pacific Northwest.
Job Details: John’s job is to bring his clients on adventures through which they are challenged and grow, have loads of fun, get closer to nature, and return safely. It starts long before the actual day of the trip–he is constantly training to strengthen his body and mind through rigorous exercise, reviewing technical systems through which he uses gear and processes to mitigate risk to himself and the clients, lots of checking and practicing with equipment, and detailed planning to dial in trip itineraries. He loves the quiet zen that comes with focusing on the climb.His favorite part of the job is the shared experience of personal growth with his clients. Even just in one outing, he gets to help people work through their fear and anxiety to realize they are far more capable than they ever thought, and he loves being part of building a broader community of people challenging themselves to grow while experiencing the beauty of the outdoors. To him, his job is freedom.
Advice: “My advice to anyone seeking a career in the outdoor industry is to seek mentorship and guidance from other professionals and teachers in the role you aspire to have. If you think guiding could be part of your future, Vermont State University is the place to build the necessary skills needed and to have this sort of mentorship. The program is so well set up to help you succeed. From the professors to the courses, it really helped shape a younger me to prioritize my goals and get locked in. This career path requires lots of time in the field both training and learning so my other piece of advice would be to take every opportunity to dedicate lots of time to achieve your goals of being in the outdoor industry. I went all in on guiding and I couldn't be happier to have done that. Get outside doing what you love.”
Vermont Career Spotlight: Myrissa Fleury at Darn Tough
PRODUCT DEVELOPER
Myrissa Fleury
Company: Wide Open Brand, Cabot Hosiery Mills, Inc.
Location: Northfield & Waterbury, Vermont
Industry Segment(s): Manufacturing
Position Type: Full-Time/Year-Round
Educational Background: GED Credential, Leadership Essentials Limited, Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) Safety CPT 4.0, MSSC Quality Practices & Measurements CPT 4.0, MSSC Processes & Production CPT 4.0, Maintenance Awareness CPT 4.0, In-shop training
My Story: Ten years ago, Myrissa started on the floor of Cabot Hosiery Mills as a packer who was eager to learn as much as she could about the company and broader industry. Her curiosity, positive workplace energy, and open-mindedness to collaborating with coworkers in other departments gradually brought her promotion opportunities into new roles and responsibilities.Along the way, she was grateful to have a number of mentors and supportive coworkers cheering her on. She had always been a creative person, so when she was tapped to be a Product Developer for the new Wide Open brand, she was beyond thrilled to accept the offer.
Job Details: Myrissa’s work in other production roles at Cabot Hosiery contribute to the expert knowledge she uses every day to take a sock from a foggy idea in her head to a finished product on a customer’s foot. A typical day could involve her using technical design software, doing fit sessions for new designs, brainstorming new ideas, or working through issues with knitting machines. Having the opportunity to express her creativity at work is a dream come true. She loves that she is always learning new things every day alongside amazing people and feels truly blessed to go into work, forever with a smile on her face. Plus, she gets loads of cool socks!
Advice: “My advice to anyone seeking a career in the outdoor industry is don’t be hard on yourself when you are learning something new. Be confident in what you do know and if you want something, believe in yourself enough to make it happen!”
Vermont Career Spotlight: Frank Hoard III at Orvis
PLANT MANAGER & ROD DESIGNER
Frank Hoard III
Company: Orvis
Location: Manchester, Vermont
Industry Segment(s): Manufacturing
Position Type: Full-Time/Year-Round
Educational Background: High School Diploma, B.S. Mechanical Engineering
My Story: Shortly after graduating with his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, 4th generation Vermonter Frank Hoard III took a summer job rolling blanks at the Orvis factory in his hometown of Manchester, VT. With an ever-inquiring mind, working at Orvis has always allowed him to dive into a deeper level of how things work. 23 years later, Frank has since worked his way through the business to become the Plant Manager and Rod Designer.
Job Details: Frank’s work at Orvis is framed by the knowledge that they already have the best rod in the industry; his joyous challenge is to continue to innovate to solve customer problems to keep doing it better. He gets to work through an exciting research and development process by exploring new materials and techniques for assembly, then rigorously testing the product to ensure they’ve worked through the problem they set out to solve.He takes the most satisfaction from knowing that his team works for up to 5-6 years on new rod series just to be a small part of what allows customers to have an unforgettable experience when they land The Big One.
Advice: “My advice to anyone seeking a career in the outdoor industry would be to live the lifestyle. Fully connecting with the outdoors allows you to make a better product. Speaking specifically as someone who works in the research and development side of the outdoor industry, I would also add to not settle for what it is but strive for what it could be. Listen to your customer's needs, but at the same time look at the blue sky and don’t be afraid to try new things…Henry Ford said, 'If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse,' I approach my daily work with that mentality.”
Vermont Career Spotlight: Sarah from Red Clover Bikes
OWNER & LEAD MECHANIC
Sarah Pushee
Company: Red Clover Bikes
Location: Fairlee, Vermont
Industry Segment(s): Retail Service
Position Type: Seasonal
Educational Background: High School Diploma, B.S. History
My Story: Bikes came into Sarah’s life at a time when she was young, directionless, and struggling with her mental health. But the more she rode, the more she realized she felt stronger, more focused, and more empowered–biking was freeing. After graduating from University of Vermont, she worked various jobs in sales and management, gaining valuable business and communications skills along the way. She had grown up in a mechanically-inclined family, so when the opportunity presented itself to open a bike shop, a blossoming dream came true. She founded Red Clover Bikes in July of 2020.
Job Details: Running a bike shop is Sarah’s dream job. She loves the biking community and being able to share her love of biking is part of what makes the hard work of being both a mechanic and business owner worth it. Her goal with the shop is to create a space where people feel comfortable bringing their bike in for service or looking for one for purchase regardless of who they were, how they have to spend, or what their experience was. She takes pride in sending her customers off feeling prepared for whatever riding adventure they have in front of them.
Advice: “My advice for anyone thinking of working in the outdoor industry: It can be demanding work, but take the leap, you won’t regret it. Working in the Vermont outdoor industry is incredibly fulfilling. Where else can you encourage your community and its visitors to care for their physical and mental health and connect them with the amazing landscape of our brave little state?”
Vermont Career Spotlight: Josh with Timber & Stone
PRINCIPAL DESIGNER & BUILDER
Josh Ryan
Company: Timber & Stone, LLC
Location: East Montpelier, Vermont
Industry Segment(s): Trail Design/Construction
Position Type: Full-Time/Year-Round
Educational Background: High School Diploma, B.S. Outdoor Recreation and Park Management, M.S. Environmental Science
My Story: Josh has been recreating on and caretaking trails since the day his parents first laced up his hiking boots. For over 30 years, he has worked on trails with a wide array of students, volunteers, and fellow trailbuilders, both as a crew lead and as an independent contractor. Previous to founding Timber & Stone, LLC, Josh worked for the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, Maine Conservation Corps, Student Conservation Association, US Forest Service, and completed his coursework at the University of Maine at Orono and Antioch Graduate School in Keene, NH. Josh makes his home in East Montpelier, Vermont with his wife, two daughters, and one gigantic Newfoundland pup. In addition to constructing trails, he has also taught courses in Trail Design and Construction at local universities and graduate schools. He is an active member of the Professional Trailbuilders Association. Josh has also served as a Committee Member for the annual Vermont Conference on Recreation and was appointed by VT Governor Phil Scott to serve on the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative task force.
Job Details: As Principal of Timber & Stone, LLC, Josh has provided technical advice and construction expertise to land managers seeking to build or improve recreational trails since 2004. Conservation-minded construction is the adage that guides their work–he prides himself on being able to find ways to pull off large-scale projects with minimal environmental impact. The company goal—sustainably built, multi-use trails that provide users with a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience. He works with a variety of clients and project sponsors, ranging from municipalities and land trusts to state-managed lands. On a daily basis, Josh could be doing anything from drafting plans for a future project to getting his hands dirty at a job site anywhere in Vermont. What he loves most about the job is the time he gets to spend outside with ever-changing project challenges then taking a step back to see what the team has accomplished: the creation of structures that make recreating in Vermont less environmentally impactful and more accessible and enjoyable for generations to come.
Advice: “Everyone who works in the outdoor industry does it for one reason: dedication. We are all dedicated to the health of our environment and of those who recreate within it. The outdoor industry professions are full of amazing and talented workers who possess true grit and ingenuity. Each of us possesses a varied life experience, multiple job pathways, and amazing mentors who encouraged us to go for it. My advice is to listen to your gut, become skilled at your craft, and get outside and work hard. The payoff is invaluable."
Vermont Career Spotlight: Sarah Bailey at Green Mountain Club
FIELD SUPERVISOR
Sarah Bailey
Company: Green Mountain Club
Location: Vermont
Industry Segment(s): Land Conservation, Non-profit
Position Type: Seasonal
Educational Background: Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism - Certified Clinical Herbalist, Wilderness First Responder, USFS B Sawyer, USFS B Cross-Cut Felling and Bucking, Leave No Trace Master Educator, Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician-B, Mental Health First Aid
My Story: Sarah's career in conservation was inspired by a high school elective that taught wilderness ethics and culminated in a 10-day backcountry canoe trip leaving her feeling confident that extended time in nature was worth pursuing. By returning in following years to trip lead for her high school, she developed the critical teaching and mentoring skills she'd bring through the rest of her career. A semester off in college snowballed into living and working in federally designated wilderness on trail crews in the American Southwest for the next three years before she moved to the Green Mountains of Vermont and started with her current employer.
Job Details: Sarah's job is to hire, train, and supervise seasonal staff on the Long Trail. Within GMC's Backcountry Caretaker Program, her role is to ensure the caretakers and ridgerunners living and working at popular destinations along the trail have the education, training, support, and tools they need to succeed in their stewardship of those places.Sometimes that looks like getting out on trail with a staff member for a day of routine maintenance to share skills and techniques for digging drainages and clearing downed trees. Other days it might be hiking in to meet a group of staff to maintain one of composting privies along the trail. What Sarah most loves about the role is the opportunity to work with and mentor another generation of wilderness stewards who are passionate about taking care of Vermont’s natural beauty along North America’s oldest long-distance hiking trail.
Advice: “My advice to anyone seeking a career in the outdoor industry is to just go for it. Don’t let the perception of a need to have expertise be a barrier–the best way to break into the industry is to just get a seasonal job and follow it where it takes you. Be curious about opportunities and willing to try new roles.”