Making it in Maine | Careers in the Outdoor Industry

Chewonki is proud member of several associations such as NAIS, TABS, AISNE, ACA, and MSC, but we’re also proud to be a part of the Maine Outdoor Brands association. The MOB (as they are jokingly known) is a great group that pulls together non-profits and business from around the state involved in outdoor recreation, outdoor education, tourism, and supporting services.  

Ponch Membreño, a Chewonki trustee and former trip leader, also volunteers his time as a board member of Maine Outdoor Brands. The group recently released this absolutely beautiful video that shares a glimpse of the opportunities to live and work in Maine’s Outdoor Economy.  

As Ponch says in the video, “…what I realize now, is the communication style that you learn when you’re in a leadership role, leading trips on the water, in the mountains, in whatever weather conditions- that communication style is borne out of helping people get from one place to the other- and that’s leadership. Learning when you’re 18-20 years old, how to be a leader, those people are being prepared, whether they know it or not for making good business decisions later on and leading brands, and that’s really what happened to me.”