Alexandra Pfiffner
Team Leader
My name is Alex Pfiffner, and I was born & raised in North Bend, Washington. I am currently a senior at Washington State University majoring in Communication Risk and Crisis with a focus on the environment. I am currently working on implementing a campaign here on campus that’s goal is to convince people to stop consuming red meat for both, environmental and health benefits. My primary role on the PNW Adventure Guides team is group leader. I am excited to learn how to effectively advertise through the internet and how to create content that supplements our PNW Adventure Guide mock business. As we work through this class I am taking what I learn and applying it to my Evergreen Grinders business. My best friend and I started this business when I was 18 years old, and we paint and sell hand painted marijuana grinders and glitter lighters. My short term goal is to continue to build a successful business in order to support my long term goal of traveling the world and working to find alternatives to current behaviors that negatively affect the environment. I think of myself as easy to work with, productive, organized, and efficient with the work that I do. I am very good at communicating with others and solving problems. I do my best to keep my team on the same page while being sure that all members contribute an equal amount of work to the assignment at hand. Studying abroad and traveling the world a lot has given me a unique perspective on cultural norms and how people communicate with one another.
“There is pleasure in the pathless woods.” – Lord Byron |
Ceridwen Walsh
My name is Ceridwen Walsh (pronounced Care-i-dwen), and I am a junior at Washington State University. Although I was born in London, I've been raised in Vancouver, WA for the majority of my life. I am currently majoring in Communication and Society with an emphasis in Science Communication and a general English minor. My primary role on our team has been both editing and developing content for our website and social media accounts. As of now, right after college I would like to become a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines. One of my main aspirations in life is to travel, and I’ve loved the feeling of being in a plane from a very young age. Ideally I'll be working full-time as a flight attendant for 5-10 years, and potentially continue flying part-time until I retire. Long-term, I want to educate people around our planet about how to live sustainable lives, and keep our planet thriving. I know that Alaska Airlines is constantly working to find new sustainable forms of fuel, so when I no longer wish to fly full-time I'm hoping to continue my career with Alaska Airlines, just in a different area of the company. Although I don't know exactly which job position I hope to acquire, I do know that my passion is environmentalism, and I'll find purpose in my career as long as I am working in that field. I was born in London, England, so I bring a unique perspective forward in both school and work settings. I am an excellent problem solver, and very time-efficient. When it comes to working in group projects, I am skilled in both writing, editing, and divvying out tasks between group members.
"Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck." -Dalai Lama |
Kyle Fries
My name is Kyle Fries, I was born and raised in East Wenatchee, Wash. which is in towards the very center of the state. However, Cashmere which is 15 miles north gets the official claim of being the direct center. The Wenatchee Valley is in a very recreational friendly location as it is on the footsteps of the Cascade Mountain Range, and is gifted to have several river and lakes nearby. If you were to travel 30 miles west of the valley you will be in dense mountains and forests, while if you are to travel the same distance East you will find yourself amid farmland and plain flat soil. Growing up I was blessed to have plentiful trails for hiking and backing packing throughout my summers up the Icicle in places such as the Enchantments. In addition, after enduring these long hot hikes which typically could reach temperatures of mid-to-high-90’s with our climate, we could come down and cool off by floating the Wenatchee River, or heading to Lake Chelan for a day on the water boating and swimming. In the wintertime, the activity does not stop as the Wenatchee Valley has two ski resorts nearby with Mission Ridge right outside of town, and Stevens Pass which is only an hour drive away. Like winter, there is however plentiful options with trails all over for activities ranging from snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, to snowmobiling and ice skating. I truly grew up in the recreational capitol of the Northwest. As for my current situation, here at Washington State University, I am currently a senior and am looking to graduate in May of 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in strategic communication. With this degree, I am looking to mainly focus on public relations and marketing as I move into my search for a career. Growing up, it was my dream to attend WSU and I have put forth lots of work and determination to get to where I am today. On my team this semester thus far we have focused on accomplishing each thing together and I have been filling in the gaps with research and work where is needed. Willing to step up whenever or wherever. This semester I’m most excited about learning not only career and job oriented skills in a real-life type setting, but using a topic such as outdoor adventures to truly help in this learning process as we are interested in learning the skills and completing the projects. Much different to other hands-on type classes in the past where we’ve been given a topic to work on, and people being uninterested typically hinders the entire process. As I’m graduating this semester I’m looking to my future already with applying for jobs and preparing for a life after college. My immediate goals for after graduation is to find a company within public relations and marketing that I can start in entry-level, and learn and grow within the company to grow my resume. Preferably I would like this to be in an area of sports or recreation, but if not I want the job to be in the career fields of strategic communication so in the long run I can look more impressive to a sports team or brand. Which experience would hopefully help in that process. Personally, I feel I’m a guy who will surprise you and come through in times of pressure and when it counts. I’ll admit, I’m not the most energetic when things start, but it is all about how you finish. For example, last semester in another group based project we were practicing our presentation and I was having trouble reading my note cards so my teammates were probably like “oh no.” However, when we got up and in front of the class and business we were presenting to I put my notes aside and just let the words flow out, and ended up having one of the bright moments of being singled out of saying something that really stuck with the business we presented to. I’m also very tenacious in not giving up, I’ll get stuck on the littlest thing and work hours until I figure it out.
“The only person you are destined to become, is the person you decide to be,” – Ralph Waldo
“The only person you are destined to become, is the person you decide to be,” – Ralph Waldo
Huso Paco
My name is Huso Paco and I am from Lynnwood, Washington. My major is Communication with a specialization in Advertising. My role for our team is the writer but am willing to take on any role or task that is needed to be successful. What I am excited to learn about this semester is how to brand across platforms. With the realism of this course focusing on how our lives may be in the real world after college, I find it important to take this seriously. Creating a brand or a business is imperative to establishing a recognizable name. My career aspirations are as simple as I want to do something I like. Much of what I heard about the real world is people complaining about their professions but I like to think I am somewhat creative which is why I chose advertising and through that I hope I will do something I enjoy. For example, a wordsmith is someone that chooses the words shown on TV shows and whatnot. I would like to do something like that. If that falls through then working for an advertising firm would be my go-to. I am very flexible and can work within a team with almost anyone. I would not consider myself shy as I enjoy meeting new people and learn quickly. I can adapt to any work environment and if faced with a challenge I am not afraid to take it on. I am a firm believer in work now play later, but also like to have fun while working and or doing anything I do in life. My favorite quote comes from my favorite photographer. Photography is a big aspect of my life and I like to hold on to this quote during my everyday life,
“Anything that is worth pursuing is going to require us to suffer, just a little bit.” – Chris Burkard |