Student Career Exploration

The Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce is proud to host the inaugural Mammoth Lakes Student Career Expo on November 14. This inaugural event will feature a tourism panel and up to 20 speakers sharing their experience in career-building tactics, skills needed, company culture insights, and today’s hiring process from six tracks (health, tourism, trades, education, government, and entrepreneur). Students from Mammoth Lakes, Lee Vining, and Coleville High Schools will learn what it takes to succeed in a variety of career options.

Each student will have the opportunity to listen to a panel of speakers, participate in 3 different sessions, and have time to ask questions. We are very excited to share this experience with our local students. 
                                                                Speaker Biographies
Angels Baseball
Adam Cali spent much of his youth around the baseball field and was fortunate to be able to turn that passion into a career. He has held numerous volunteer positions in sports and events, which all allowed him to find which path interested him most. After spending the first eight years of his professional life with Major League Baseball (MLB) working for the Scouting Bureau, Adam now works for his hometown team, the Los Angeles Angels. His current role allows him to give back to his community and help them experience the joy of Angels Baseball.

Aviation - Civil / Military
Colonel Fred "Freddy" Koegler is a 27-year U.S. Air Force Command Pilot veteran with 4,500 hours in over nine different types of military and civilian helicopters and countless varieties of single and dual engine props. He gained his Bachelor of Science from Cal State L.A. Aviation program and his Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle. He completed Combat deployments in Iraq, trained Afghan and USAF pilots, flew helicopter Mountain Rescue for the Air Force Survival School, and flew our Nation's most important VIPs. He is currently teaching people how to fly in Bishop at the Eastern Sierra Flying Club.
 
Business Owner
Steven M. Shatkin graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a B.S. degree in Psychobiology / Neuroscience. He has been a chemist, lab supervisor, art curator, creative director, youth advocate, and business owner. He has served as an ambassador to Sendai, Japan, member of the UCR Guardian Scholars for Foster Youth Program, Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra, Mono Arts Council, and the Mono County Grand Jury. He and his wife Tracie founded the Mammoth Coffee Roasting Co. which allows him to use his science background to roast coffee, stay connected to the community, and create amazing donuts, all at altitude. 
 
Civil Engineering
Bryan Elkins is currently a civil engineer at Eastern Sierra Engineering, located in Bishop.  Before moving to the Eastern Sierra region, he was a civil engineer in the Seattle area of Washington State for 20 years after graduating from the University of Portland.  As an engineer, he has worked on numerous projects which include roadways, bicycle paths, and site design for shopping centers.
 
Construction
Chad Philips is a construction professional with 15 years of experience. He started On Track Construction Management (OTCM) in 2019. Chad studied Construction Engineering and Management at San Diego State University. He began his career working as a project manager for general contractors on projects such as military facilities, schools, offices, courthouses, healthcare facilities, airports, and more. Now, he helps building owners, homeowners, developers, general contractors, and subcontractors ensure construction projects go as smoothly as possible. He believes in being detail-oriented, putting clients first, and adapting to any situation.
 
Dental Assistant (Bilingual)
Veronica Fierro RDA and Kristi Ellis RDH will represent Mammoth Dental, a general practice that provides family, cosmetic, surgical, preventative, and orthodontic care. The majority of their staff consists of former students who have graduated here locally. There is a huge need for Registered Dental Hygienists all over the country, but especially here in our community. Dr. Cimerol is offering financial assistance for a qualified individual interested in a career as a dental hygienist with an agreement to come back and work at their practice for a period of time.
 
Early Childhood - Program Coordinator
Kevin Lian’s role at Mono County Childcare Council involves connecting individuals like you to exciting careers in early childhood education. Every day, he witnesses the incredible growth and development that occurs in nurturing environments. Working with young children isn't just a job; it's a calling that allows you to make a meaningful impact on our community's future. If you're curious and passionate about shaping young minds and families, consider a career in early childhood education.
 
Environmental Science – LADWP
Whitney Philbrook is a Mammoth High School graduate who obtained degrees in biology and criminal justice. Since college, she has worked with various environmental agencies in the Eastern Sierras, such as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Caltrans, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. She has surveyed and handled various fish, wildlife, and plants in the Eastern Sierras, learned environmental permitting and reporting, evaluated/improved habitat, and conducted construction monitoring for projects involving special status species.
 
Information Technology
Alasdair Simonds is the IT manager for Mammoth Hospital. He has a Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and an MBA in Healthcare Administration from Western Governor’s University. Alasdair is currently a student at Northwestern California University’s School of Law. He began working at Mammoth Hospital in the IT department on the helpdesk, before working his way up to department manager. He is originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, and first moved to Mammoth to be a snowboard instructor. He is a certified level 3 snowboard instructor and an examiner for the American Association of Snowboard Instructors.
  
MAC - Education Director
Brooke Rogers is the Education Director at Mono Arts Council. She has a background in theatre and has spent the last 20 years working in Arts Education in New York City. While there, she led education teams for organizations such as The Juilliard School, creating arts programs around the world. Before that, she spent time in Wisconsin, Maine, and Washington working as an outdoor educator. She has led wilderness expeditions; taught science and video games and led group ropes course activities. She now spends her free time hiking, skiing, and boating in the Sierra.
 
Medical Lab Assistants
Oscar Sanchez Hernandez is a graduate of Mammoth High School and a Laboratory Assistant at Mammoth Hospital. Oscar did his training for his lab assistant certification independently.

Leslie N. Garcia Chavarria is a Laboratory Assistant who is also a graduate of Mammoth High School and started at Mammoth Hospital working in their EVS (Environmental Services) department. Leslie completed the internal training program at Mammoth Hospital to become a Lab Assistant.
 
Nurse
Cory Donovan is a Mammoth High School graduate. She attended Biola University after high school to obtain her Bachelors in Nursing. She has since worked in a wide range of specialties, including an outpatient chemotherapy clinic, an inpatient cardiac unit, emergency room and inpatient care in a rural hospital, school nursing, and acute care and education here at Mammoth Hospital. She has lived and worked in California, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. She is passionate about nursing and believes it is the best job in the world.

Physician Assistant
Jenica Law is a Family Medicine Physician Assistant (PA) at Mammoth Hospital.  PAs are medical providers who provide the same level of care to patients in Family Medicine as physicians.  She has a master’s in physician assistant studies (MPAS) and a Bachelors in Psychology and Earth Science.  Jenica completed her undergraduate degree at Vassar College, her post-baccalaureate program at UC Berkeley, and her PA Program at the University of Nevada, Reno.  Jenica took seven years off before attending PA School and worked in many different fields, including law, research, physical therapy, and medicine. 
 
Police Officer
Dennis Saulque Jr. was born and raised in Bishop where he participated in multiple sports such as football, baseball, skateboarding, and snowboarding. He was injured after one year of college baseball and turned toward a career in Law Enforcement.  He was hired as a Correctional Officer by the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department, where he served as Transport Officer to Jail training Officer and Defensive tactics instructor. Dennis spent two years as a Deputy Sheriff Patrol Officer then transferred to the Mammoth Lakes Police department.  Her next assignment which will start in March 2024 is that of the School Resource Officer.
 
Real Estate
Sonja Bush is a Real Estate agent and a positive force in Mammoth Lakes. Her tireless diligence, stellar communication and negotiation skills, and genuinely caring nature led to the No. 1 sales agent in her office, expertise in every type of real estate transaction, and finally her own business. When she’s not guiding others’ real estate endeavors, Sonja volunteers for Guide Dogs for the Blind and has been a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer for two decades and a Mammoth Mountain Host since 2013. She also serves on the Professional Standards and Grievance committees for the Mammoth Lakes Board of Realtors.  
 
Respiratory Therapist
Heather Anderson is a Respiratory Therapist at Mammoth Hospital with over 10 years of experience helping respiratory patients of all ages. While Heather works mostly with adult patients, her love is caring for newborns and kids while offering support and encouragement for their families.  Heather is the Neonatal Resuscitation Program Instructor for the hospital, ensuring that all clinical staff are able to effectively perform the skills required to help transition to life following the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines.
 
Trades - Supervisor & Heavy Equipment - Caltrans
Shane Farley is a Mammoth High School alumni who began his work career in Lift Maintenance in June Mountain, then at Mammoth Mountain. He acquired a class B CDL license and was hired as a seasonal operator during winter. He earned his class A license and was hired by Caltrans as heavy equipment operator II permanent/full-time. Shane has been with Caltrans for almost five years and has been the acting lead worker for two seasons. Caltrans has been an excellent place for job growth and an opportunity for him to move up in the ranks.

John Weatherford began with Caltrans on the special crews’ team that would travel all over District 9 and perform striping, stenciling, and sign work. After six months he transferred to Bishop Maintenance as an equipment operator. Soon he was promoted to the Lead worker position at the McGee Creek Maintenance Station. In May of 2023, he interviewed for Supervisor and was given the position. As you can see there is a lot of opportunity to promote and change career paths with Caltrans.