Nicole Schmitt

Executive Director,

Alaska Wildlife Alliance

Hometown: Manitou Springs, Colo.

Current City: Anchorage

Education: University of Denver; Peking University, Beijing

Community Work: Chugach State Park Citizens Advisory Board; Alaska Beluga Monitoring Partnership; Alaska Chapter of The Wildlife Society

Family: Father, Ed Schmitt; mother, Kerri Quinn; siblings, Ben and Emily Schmitt and Aimee Schmitt; nephews, Hunter and Charlie Schmitt

What is your favorite place in Alaska and why?

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. This is where I learned to fly fish, row a drift boat and gather mushrooms and berries. Skilak Lake is one of my favorite summer and wintertime areas, from packrafting to kayaking, skiing and climbing - it’s an incredible spot.I especially love seeing swans, brown bears and one particularly busy beaver.

Name the person you respect and why

I’ve learned an immense amount from many people I respect. I can’t name them all here, so instead I’ll list some of the characteristics I find most admirable: creativity, determination, work-life balance, humor, critical thinking and open-mindedness.

What is your favorite pastime or hobby away from work?

I’ve played volleyball since high school and love the Anchorage volleyball community. I also enjoy getting to the top of mountains, playing music, dancing, biking and skiing.

What was your first job?

Hotel maid at a Super 8.

In your professional life, what has been a project or achievement you have found to be the most fulfilling?

“I think overall the thing that I’m most proud of is that in just the couple of years since I’ve come on, the outpouring of support for the work that we’re doing has been incredible. We’re a very small

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nonprofit. We’re grassroots with a tiny, tiny budget. Any time we’re going up to film a documentary piece or need to stay over and testify at a meeting, there’s an outpouring of people who say, ‘Hey, you’re welcome to stay on my couch,’ or during COVID-19, ‘We have a cabin in the back that doesn’t have water.’ The community around the work has been really inspiring and it tells me that what we’re doing is important to people. I guess I’m just proud to have a cause that brings people together like that. It definitely keeps me going.” - as said to Voices of Alaska

Based on your own experiences, what advice would you give on maintaining a good work-life balance?

The biggest obstacle is the front door.

Get outside every day. I doubt when

I’m on my deathbed I’ll be worried about what emails I did or didn’t send.