Hello again.
Since updating my approach through the Story Snapshots series, it felt like time to check in here—and share a bit of my process for once. Lately, I’ve been so focused on helping tell the stories of groups like Oregon Timber Trail and Trailkeepers of Oregon that I hadn’t paused to reflect on where that work has taken me.
For the past two summers, I’ve been deep in the field leading a signage and wayfinding project for the Oregon Timber Trail—a 670-mile backcountry bikepacking route through some of the most remote landscapes in the state. I helped write the grant, manage the project, recruit and coordinate volunteers, and place trail markers by hand. Every other week, I packed up and headed into the woods—hauling tools, solving problems, and finishing what I started.
Through that process, I learned a lot about myself. That I’m stubborn in the best way. That I’ll stick with a hard project when it matters. That asking for help makes the work better. And that the tools I’ve used for years—like photography—can be even more impactful when paired with communications strategy, storytelling, and collaboration.
Somewhere along the way, I let go of needing to be just a photographer. And in that space, new roles showed up—ones that feel like a fuller expression of who I am and what I bring.
I’ve been carrying that energy into my current role with Trailkeepers of Oregon, where I helped lead their most successful year-end campaign to date: Legacy Builders. We’re now laying the groundwork for communications that reflect not just the scale of what they do—but the spirit and dedication behind it.
This is my path. I’m on it. And I’m grateful for the view.
Outside of work, life is full as well.
Tori recently started a new chapter as a nurse on the oncology floor at OHSU. In our time off, we’ve been hiking, riding, and making healthy, simple food together when we can.
Tilla—our new dog—is a pure joy. Fast, charming, and happiest on a trail.
And I’m still chasing the perfect music mix, still obsessed with vintage hi-fi gear that somehow outperforms modern systems at a fraction of the cost. Music continues to be a compass—something that lifts, restores, and keeps me moving.