Celeste has not followed a conventional career path; instead, she has built a life centered around exploring new challenges, travel, and sharing the lessons learned along the way. One of her mentors in life has been Yvon Chouinard, who hired her during the early years of his business, Patagonia. They skied at Bridger Bowl and chatted about the world and minimizing our footprint. She got the opportunity to share Yvon’s philosophy through events she spearheaded for Patagonia in Bozeman and Denver. Whitefish became home to Celeste thirty years ago when the small-town vibe, its friendly demeanor, and its captivating environment were the “living the dream” magnet that stuck. This is Celeste’s second festival, and it definitely falls in line with her desire to learn and share with the community. 

Favorite quote

“Once you really commence to see things, then you really commence to feel things.” -Edward Steichen