Thank You, Alison!

For the past five years, Alison Holland has shared her passion for the transformative power of the river through her position as Operations Director, working with guides and preparing gear for expeditions. We will miss her and wish her well in her new endeavor. We hope she’ll be back to row kids down the river in the future. —Emma Wharton, GCY Executive Director

Staff Highlight: Alison Holland

 

1. What have been the highlights of your five years of working at GCY?

 

It is always so hard to distill time in bullet points. Looking back, my highlights have included: 

  • Watching GCY continue to grow into a professional organization where guides felt proud of their workplace and knew they were being taken care of and respected.
  • Going in the field with our guides and experiencing expeditions through their eyes. Learning from guides and watching policies and practices in real time was always illuminating. Plus, when guides realized I didn’t always know what I was talking about, it really equalized the situation. I learned so much about how to interact with youth and the river system from GCY guides. They are truly inspirational educators.
  • Growing friendships with my employees. It is always tough to navigate friendship and the boss hat, but GCY employees make that so easy. We have a growing culture of providing constructive feedback at GCY.  When it came time to have those conversations, they happened in a respectful manner on both sides, and then we could meet again and chat about adventures and dreams.
  • Growing friendships with my employees. It is always tough to navigate friendship and the boss hat, but GCY employees make that so easy. We have a growing culture of providing constructive feedback at GCY.  When it came time to have those conversations, they happened in a respectful manner on both sides, and then we could meet again and chat about adventures and dreams.
  • I will always wish I could have spent more time with each member of our field staff, but that will have to be the future. There will be more rivers and more adventures to go on. Freedom boating! Additionally, I really hope to be able to return and guide for GCY. Time in the field with youth is, well, amazing. I hope to continue having that in my life.
Alison Holland on Boat
Alison Holland has been GCY's Operations Director since 2015. Her last day with GCY was April 30. Alison will start her new adventure working at Rainshadow Organics, a full-diet farm in central Oregon, this summer. Photo by Jordan Robinson.

2. What are your dreams for the future of GCY?

 

Before COVID-19, I wished for a longer, more balanced expedition season. More months to get youth outside and not quite so crazy busy at certain times of the year. Now, I hope that GCY remains the strong, Flagstaff-based organization that it has been for over 20 years.  After we are all allowed out of our houses, our mission will be even more important. I hope others feel the same way and continue to support GCY through their donations and time.

 

Additionally, I hope training continues to be on the forefront of how we grow as an organization. We have such high standards for our employees and the best way to continue holding that bar is to provide solid guide and driver training around concrete expectations and goals. Our field staff are professional and passion-driven; let’s continue to grow that so they can continue to uphold our mission and values.

Alison Holland laying in San Juan River
Photo by Jesse Holland.

3. Tell us about your next adventure and why you are taking this new path.

 

The next stop on Alison’s adventure of life is Oregon. I am moving to Rainshadow Organics, a full-diet farm in central Oregon. I am moving there to help out with the farming aspect (planting, harvesting, feeding and caring for animals) and manage the on-property farm-to-table restaurant, farm store, and glamping operation. Additionally, I will be managing the CSA and whatever else comes my way. Working on a farm is a bit like being a river guide: you think you know what your job description entails and then, kablamo, there are all these other things that just happen and suddenly, that’s your job, too. 

 

That’s why I am so excited to do this – there is so much to learn. New food, new recipes, new ways of organizing things, new people, new ecosystem!

 

I find it very important in life to connect to landscape and place and help out the community. I am excited to be working outside again, feeling the seasons change with the corresponding changes in shadow and light.

Alison Holland playing Oreo Race
Photo By Alison Dunn.

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