Committee Members
The Young Professionals of the Tetons was launched in Spring of 2018. The group is a committee of the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce. The members of the committee are volunteers and represent a variety of different industries in Jackson Hole.
OUR MISSION
The mission of the Young Professionals of the Tetons is to serve our participants by engaging them in our community, embrace diversity, inclusiveness, and support their personal and professional development so they can become the future leaders of our region.
MEET OUR COMMITTEE
Will Gale
Will relocated from Massachusetts to Jackson, Wyoming in 2013. Brought here by the amazing landscapes he has chosen to call this place home because of the community.
Outside of work his passions include hiking, hunting, and exploring the vastness of the Mountain West Region. He gives back to his community through his involvement with Young Professionals of the Tetons and serving on the town of Jackson Planning Commission. He completed his undergraduate at the University of Massachusetts in Sports Management and has an MBA in Executive Management from Ohio University. Currently, he is a project manager with Teton Heritage Builders.
Riley Frances Harris
Riley Frances moved from Alabama to Jackson in the fall of 2012 and has made it home over the past ten years.
She graduated from river guide school in the spring of 2013 and worked as a river cook for Mad River before joining Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for 3 years, rising to the position of Executive Assistant to the VP of Product Sales and Profit Centers. In this role, she assisted in the redesign and branding of both Piste and Off-Piste restaurants and developed an event series called Yoga on the Deck. After working for a large corporation, she began working for Lily & Company learning how to run a small business. Her day-to-day design work shifted from interior design to event and floral design.
Riley Frances thrives on the connectivity of the Jackson community. She values the importance of both small and large businesses alike and enjoys playing a role in the successful coexistence of both through her position as Operations Manager for the Chamber of commerce.
Ariel Koerber
Originally from Baltimore, Jackson Hole was supposed to be a 3 year stop on the way to adulthood for Ariel. Nine years, one husband, and three kids later she’s still falling in love with Jackson.
Currently Associate Director of Marketing at Snow King Resort, she hopes to reach fellow Young Professionals of the Tetons to help them build an authentic community and find “their people” in Jackson. Her current aspirations are to own a home in Jackson and one day learn how to ski.
Alex Lemieux
Like most, Jackson Hole was just supposed to be a 6-month stint. Originally from the Boston area, Alex came to Jackson Hole in 2009 in search of powder, steeps and lots of laughs. She continues to enjoy skiing as well as a variety of other outdoor activities with her husband, Jared, and daughters, Cora and Ava.
Alex is the Director of Sales & Operations at The Wort Hotel and a board member for the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce. She is tired of losing many of her friends to locations outside the valley, due to lack of career and housing. She aspires to help local yps find careers and housing so they can stay in the valley.
Wendy Martinez
Wendy Martinez was born in Tlaxcala, Mexico, and was raised in Jackson. She received her Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Wyoming and returned to Jackson with an interest in giving back and serving her community. Wendy now works for Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area as the Homeowner Services Manager where affordable housing programs and policies is at the center of her work. Additionally, she currently serves on the Teton Library Foundation Board, the Immigrant Hope Board, the Humanities Council of Wyoming, the Town of Jackson Planning Commission and is a member of Jackson Hole Diversity Equity and Inclusion Collective.
Now as a member of YPT, Wendy hopes to engage with young professionals of our community through mindful conversation and connections that will foster cultural awareness and empathy.
Suzanne Rees
Suzanne moved to Teton County for a summer job at Grand Targhee Resort in 2017 and then like many others, fell in love. With this area, a one-eyed rescue dog from the Animal Adoption Center, her husband, another rescue mutt, and most recently, baby Oscar (in that order). From the deep South, she prides herself in being able to create meaningful and memorable experiences over shared interests and good food.
She currently works as the Old Bill’s & Special Projects Coordinator for the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole. Suzanne’s professional and philanthropic goals both revolve around service to the community, creating opportunities for youth and animal well-being. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring (on skis, wheels, or by foot) and cooking with family & friends.
Jesse Ryan
Jesse’s family has called Jackson Hole home for five generations, and he feels no need to change that. After earning his BA and MBA in Motion Pictures & Television from Full Sail University and the Art Institute of California, Jesse returned to his roots with the vision and the gumption to add a full-service marketing agency, New Thought Digital Agency, to the valley’s business landscape.
Stephanie Sokol
Stephanie Sokol relocated from Michigan to Teton County in 2021 and is grateful to be a part of the Jackson community. Stephanie graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Retail, and is currently the Director of People & Culture at Rendezvous Mountain Rentals.
Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys long walks with her husband and 2 rescue dogs, running, hiking, and watching wildlife. She gives back to her community by serving on the Young Professionals of the Teton committee and has previous experience volunteering with Detroit Dog Rescue. She is excited to create meaningful connections, provide innovative ideas and give back to the place we are so lucky to call home.
The Young Professionals of the Tetons rely on strategic business partnerships as well as a robust membership of dedicated young civic leaders to help nurture a sustainable and economically vibrant community.
Find out more about how to support Young Professional of the Tetons.
Ready to join the Chamber? Need more information? Explore our Explorer Magazine Travel Planner, which you can also explore electronically HERE. If you're already here, feel free to stop by one of our Visitor Centers where an experienced agent will be able to guide you in the right direction.