work experience
Assistant Preserve Manager - Independence Lake:
The Nature Conservancy, Reno, NV
May 2022 - Present
Stay tuned for updates!
Click on " The Nature Conservancy" to learn more about the preserve/organization.
The Nature Conservancy, Reno, NV
May 2022 - Present
Stay tuned for updates!
Click on " The Nature Conservancy" to learn more about the preserve/organization.
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Order Writer/ Team Member:
Whole Foods Market Closter, NJ / Dec 2019 - May 2021 Sedona, AZ / Dec 2017 - March 2019 My role at WF familiarized me with the many dynamic elements of retail and customer service. Though it was a departure from the environmental work I have been interested in, my time there developed my skills in communication, administrative tasks, and leadership. During the Covid-19 pandemic, I was promoted to order writer at the Closter store and I began to take on many new responsibilities. As order writer I had to learn how to manage my time effectively and prioritize tasks. On a daily basis I would have deadlines throughout the day when I needed to submit orders. This required me to take a detailed inventory of our stock, analyze the sales trends we have experienced, and anticipate how much we would need in the coming days. On average, I managed $30,000 a week, during the holidays the budget could triple. Throughout the pandemic, the sales trends were particularly high and erratic. It is a very demanding job that honed my abilities to adapt, organize, and be decisive. My promotion to order writer also thrust me into the position of leadership. I was responsible for overseeing the department and delegating tasks to my coworkers. Being a leader doesn't just mean bossing people around, but actively working with them and listening to their feedback. There were times that I needed to step in and break up conflicts between other team members. I have found that the best way to promote teamwork is to be genuine, patient, and honest. This means communicating clearly with people and taking the time to listen to their concerns. Earning the trust of my fellow team members allowed us to work effectively together. A good sense of humor in stressful situations also goes a long way. I believe that work can be both fun and productive! Click on "Whole Foods Market" to learn more about the company. |
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Trail Crew & Program Coordinator:
Palisades Interstate Park Commission, Alpine, NJ April - December 2019 October - December 2017 May - September 2016 Over the past few years, I have worked at the Palisades Interstate Park near my hometown in New Jersey. The park manages rugged hiking trails, picnic areas, historical sites, and year-round programs. My job entailed maintaining, constructing, and repairing the park's numerous trails and amenities. The park is a feat of trail engineering, with many historical stone staircases and paths up and down the cliffs. Rockslides, severe weather, erosion, and time all take their tole on the trails. Keeping the park in good condition is a constant battle. During my seasons at the Palisades, I became familiar with many tools and methods for maintaining parks. ATVs, rock drills, hedge-trimmers, and shovels are just some of the things in a park employee's tool-kit. As a trail crew member, I often preformed intense manual labor in remote and hazardous areas. It's hard work, but visitors always expressed their appreciation for our efforts. In addition, I have planned and led several programs at the park, including: guided hikes for groups, introductory camping/backpacking skills, Leave No Trace principles, and volunteer cleanups. Many schools visit the Palisades as a way to educate their students on our local environment. Simply leading the kids on a hike can be a very exciting experience for them, as many have never been to the park before. Throughout the year, the park also facilitates volunteer cleanups to address the endless debris that finds its way into the park. Cleanups are essential to park maintenance, and they teach visitors about the importance of proper waste disposal. The park also runs a nature camp the last two weeks in August, and it was a joy introducing kids to the beauty and complexity of our local ecosystems. The surrounding area is very urban, and most kids grow up without a meaningful connection to the environment. Some of the ways we would get the kids engaged were hiking and fishing programs. A camp favorite was seining, using a net to rake the shallows of the river and catch fish. The kids loved finding so many different aquatic creatures, which we would identify and then release. Working at the Palisades was a meaningful experience for me because it is the park where I first acquired an affinity for nature. It was wonderful to give back to the park that has given me so much. It was also an unrivaled opportunity for me to help others enjoy nature. I know it's especially important for people who grew up in an over-developed area to experience the outdoors. (The park is located directly across the Hudson River from New York City). I believe that the programs I facilitated have educated and inspired many people. Click on the title "Palisades Interstate Park Commission" to view the park website. |
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Education and Recreation Intern: Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Saranac Lake, NY May - September 2017 Working for the Wildlife Conservation Society was an absolute joy. This internship allowed me to explore my interest in conservation, and learn more about the efforts taken in the Adirondacks to preserve the park. The Adirondacks is a unique patchwork of public and private lands, and communities here work hard to find a balance between economic development and protection of the land they love. I was involved in two initiatives of the WCS Adirondacks Program; Cycle Adirondacks and Adirondack High Peaks Bear Stewardship Program. Cycle Adirondacks was started by WCS as a way to promote eco-tourism in the Adirondacks and as a tool for showcasing the park. I served as an assistant coordinator for the event, and my job involved administrative tasks and program planning. Highlights included creating a registration manual for the 200-person, week-long bike tour; organizing field trips and other off-bike activities for riders, coordinating the WCS Science Team and their daily interpretation programs; and managing partner communications. Through this event, I learned first-hand how recreation can provide a springboard into conservation. My second job with WCS is serving as a part-time Bear Steward. The High Peaks region is one of the most highly used areas of the Park, and black bears have become food conditioned and habituated to human food. My job as a steward was to educate backpackers and climbers at popular trail-heads and campsites about bear safety and proper food storage. I also coordinated a trailhead bear canister loan program and reported bear encounters to officials. Despite a NYS law mandating the use of bear canisters, there continues to be a need to educate people and provide the tools for them to ensure proper food storage. Stewarding is a critical piece of a larger effort by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to mitigate bear-human interactions in this area. This job allowed me to become familiar with the human dimension side of conservation, experience the interface of recreation and conservation, contribute to protection of an iconic wildlife species, and experience working with a state agency (NYDEC) whose mandate is to protect resources and allow for public access to protected lands. In addition, I attended two conferences meant to bring community members from varying occupations together to discuss key problems in the Adirondacks. I learned about the various and interconnected issues such as; land development, aging population, wildlife interactions, and the problems with exponential tourism growth. These conferences also provided me the opportunity engage in discussion with professionals from both tourism/recreation industries and scientific organizations, and work with them to propose ideas for handling these issues. Working for WCS allowed me to explore my interests in recreation and conservation work, and it was the experience of a lifetime. Click on "Wildlife Conservation Society" to read more about the organization. Click on "Cycle Adirondacks" to view the event website. |
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Director of Late Night Events:
Radford Student Programming and Campus Events (R-SPaCE), Radford University, Radford, VA September 2016 - May 2017 As Director of Late Night Events, my job responsibilities entailed: managing a budget of $22,000 per semester to orchestrate 3-4 events, contacting vendors and negotiating pricing, completing contracts and tax forms, and promoting R-SPaCE events. Through this job, I found great enjoyment in planning and implementing events. It made me proud and excited to create dynamic events that brought people happiness, and also strengthened the sense of community on campus. Some of the programs I have designed include: Escape rooms & Magic show, Casino Night, and an End of the Semester Bash. Click on the title "Radford Student Programming and Campus Events (R-SPaCE)" to read more about the organization. |
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