Climate Outdoor Career Spotlights
- VOBA
- 11 hours ago
- 5 min read
Vermont’s outdoor economy is built around people who know how to adapt, innovate, and care deeply about the places where they work. In this Climate Outdoor Career Spotlight series, the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance highlights professionals across the industry who are seeing the impacts of a changing climate and finding new ways to build resilient businesses, careers, and communities.
From shorter winters to shifting seasons, these stories offer a closer look at how climate change is shaping outdoor careers in Vermont and the people working to keep the industry moving forward.
Spotlight #1: The Wildflower Inn, Restaurant & Pub
Title: General Manager
Name: Jenifer Oliphant
Location: Lyndonville, Vermont
Industry Segment(s): Lodging, Outdoor Recreation, Events, Winter Recreation
Position Type: Full-Time/Year-Round
Climate Outdoors Workforce Initiative - Themes & Resilience Outcomes Category: Community & Market Activator. Outdoor industry businesses bolster public engagement with outdoor recreation to support community health, wellness, education, and stewardship.
Educational Background: Hospitality management, operations leadership, business management, and extensive experience in lodging and outdoor recreation operations.
My Story: Jenifer Oliphant is the General Manager of The Wildflower Inn, a destination known for the world-renowned outdoor recreation opportunities in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. The 100+ mile Kingdom Trails network in East Burke draws 100,000+ visitors annually, generating over $10 million in direct economic spending. Throughout her career in hospitality, Jenifer has focused on creating memorable guest experiences while helping businesses adapt to changing conditions. Today, her role extends beyond traditional lodging operations to include long-term planning for climate resilience. As weather patterns become less predictable, she works closely with The Wildflower Inn’s ownership and staff on continuing to welcome guests year-round while maintaining the trails, amenities, and experiences that make the property special. She enjoys the challenge of balancing guest expectations, business needs, and the realities of a changing climate while supporting both her team and the local outdoor recreation economy.
Why a Climate Outdoor Job: Jenifer’s job is to help The Wildflower Inn remain resilient in the face of shifting seasons and increasingly unpredictable weather. Shorter winters, heavy rain events, and freeze-thaw cycles can affect everything from trail conditions and guest activities to staffing, maintenance, and revenue planning. To address these challenges, she focuses on adaptive planning, clear communication, and operational flexibility. This includes proactively communicating weather conditions to guests, offering flexible booking and rebooking options, and developing alternative recreation and wellness experiences when conditions change. She also works closely with ownership and staff to strengthen problem-solving skills, cross-training, and environmental awareness throughout the organization. What motivates her most is finding ways to maintain guest trust and satisfaction while ensuring the business can continue thriving despite uncertainty.
Advice: "Climate resilience starts with being adaptable. Focus on what you can control, communicate clearly, and be willing to adjust when conditions change. Investing in your people - through cross-training, leadership development, and problem-solving skills - creates a stronger organization that can respond to challenges with confidence. The businesses that will succeed in the future are the ones that stay flexible, listen to their customers, and continue finding new ways to deliver great experiences regardless of the weather."
Spotlight #2: Craftsbury Outdoor Center
Title: Race Director
Name: Ollie Burress
Location: Craftsbury, Vermont
Industry Segment(s): Nordic Skiing, Outdoor Recreation, Events & Competition, Climate Resilience
Position Type: Full-Time/Year-Round
Educational Background: Outdoor recreation and Nordic skiing experience, event management, on-the-job learning, industry leadership and professional development.
Climate Outdoors Workforce Initiative - Themes & Resilience Outcomes Category: Builders & Technical Adapters. Outdoor industry businesses adapt their seasonal product and service offerings to steady year-round revenue.
My Story: Ollie Burruss is the Nordic Race Director at Craftsbury Outdoor Center, where he combines a lifelong passion for Nordic skiing with a commitment to community and athlete development. What drew him to Craftsbury was the opportunity to be part of a place built around both sport and community. Over the years, his role has evolved beyond organizing races to helping ensure the long-term future of Nordic skiing in Vermont. As winters become shorter and less predictable, Ollie has become deeply involved in adapting events, preserving snow, and finding creative ways to keep athletes on skis. He’s inspired by the idea that sport helps young people build confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose, and he’s motivated by the opportunity to help future generations experience those same benefits.
Why a Climate Outdoor Job: Ollie’s job is to keep competitive Nordic skiing viable in a changing climate. That means rethinking race formats, adapting courses to shorter winters, and coordinating the community effort required to maintain skiable trails throughout the season. At Craftsbury, climate resilience is a daily practice. Staff, parents, volunteers, and even athletes work together, whether it is to make snow and preserve it under wood chips for the following season, or even to shovel snow back onto trails to extend the current season a little bit longer. What he enjoys most is finding practical solutions that let people continue participating in a sport they love, allowing a community to come together around a shared purpose.
Advice: "Outdoor recreation and sport are worth fighting for because of what they give back to people and communities. Stay curious, be willing to adapt, and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty solving problems. Climate resilience isn’t one big solution—it’s a series of practical actions taken by people who care. The more knowledge and experience you can absorb, the more impact you can have."
Spotlight #3: Skida Headwear & Accessories
Title: Director of Sales
Name: Danielle DeMarse
Location: Burlington, Vermont
Industry Segment(s): Outdoor Apparel, Manufacturing, Retail, Snowsports
Position Type: Full-Time/Year-Round
Climate Outdoors Workforce Initiative - Themes & Resilience Outcomes Category: Planners & Strategists. Outdoor industry businesses understand their operational risk and pragmatic strategies to adapt and remain resilient.
Educational Background: Extensive experience in outdoor industry sales, merchandising, brand management, product development, customer engagement, and leadership. Previously held roles with Burton Snowboards before joining Skida. Danielle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Vermont.
The Story: Danielle DeMarse is the Director of Sales at Skida, a Vermont-based outdoor headwear and accessories company that began with a simple idea: creating colorful, functional gear for Nordic skiers. After many years working in the outdoor industry, including leadership roles at Burton, Danielle joined Skida because she was drawn to its entrepreneurial spirit, customer focus, and commitment to constant innovation. In her role, she oversees sales, sales operations, and customer service, while also contributing to product development and company strategy. What excites her most is helping the brand evolve alongside the people it serves, ensuring that Skida continues to meet the needs of outdoor enthusiasts no matter the season.
Why a Climate Outdoor Job: Danielle’s work helps Skida remain resilient in the face of changing climate and shifting consumer needs. As winters become less predictable, the company has expanded beyond its roots as a winter-focused brand to create products for year-round outdoor recreation. Danielle works closely with customers, retail partners, and her team to identify emerging needs, gather feedback, evaluate new product ideas, and guide the development of apparel that supports activities across all seasons. She enjoys the fast-paced, collaborative environment where new ideas are constantly being tested and refined. By staying connected to customers and being willing to adapt, Danielle helps ensure that Skida can continue growing while supporting people who spend time outdoors throughout the year.
Advice: "To thrive in the outdoor industry, you have to stay curious, listen closely, and be willing to evolve. Climate resilience isn’t about one big change—it’s about continually adapting to what your customers, your community, and the environment are telling you. The most successful organizations are the ones that remain nimble, embrace new ideas, and aren’t afraid to try something different. Mentorship, collaboration, and confidence to take thoughtful risks are all part of building a stronger future."
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