My husband Arron (Wild Alaskan's Founder and CEO) often makes the point that he didn't name it "The Wild Alaskan Corporation” — but rather Wild Alaskan Company. He likes to refer to the origins of the word "company," whose etymology traces to the late Latin companio, which means "one who eats bread with you." And in our ever-modern-zoom-call-virtual-cyber-work-realities, the simple — but sacred — act of breaking bread with others holds so much power and meaning. A human truth that became especially evident for us just a few weeks ago.
As many of you know, earlier this month Arron and I hosted the Wild Alaskan Company team for an epic gathering in Homer, Alaska — Arron’s hometown and the geographical heart of this incredible company that he has brought to life. Here, we not only broke bread as a group, but also bonded over sea-side salmon bakes and bonfires, collectively explored the magic of gull habitats and glaciers, laughed, trekked, cast and reeled, paddled — weaving together a whole new layer of interconnectedness, and enriching one of our most core values: creating shared experiences.
It’s been nearly two weeks since everyone has returned to their home offices, and though things feel a bit quiet around here now that the team has gone, our own hearts are still overflowing with gratitude to have shared this incredible experience with our Fish Family.
Since we’ve had a chance to reflect and reminisce, we’ve all been sharing some of our favorite Alaska moments with each other. While everyone’s experience was unique to their own life narrative (whenever we travel, we pack our own existential baggage and return with our own soul-changing souvenirs), there are a few common themes that made their way into our collective story.
Our entire WAC team works remotely, so being able to gather together in Alaska revealed firsthand what it means to live in concert with nature — the North Star that guides our mission at Wild Alaskan Company. Alaska is one of those special places on the planet where we must surrender to, then commune with, our natural surroundings. The sea. The mountains. The wildlife. The vicissitudes of weather. (One of the sayings here is that there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear!) I’ll let one of my colleagues explain:
“Alaska is majestic and unique. Those who grew up or live there have such a different life than the one I've had! Sustainability is not an abstract concept in Alaska — it's less about the performance of "saving the planet" and more about living in concert with nature for the sake of their livelihoods.” - Kaitlin H., VP of Growth and Lifecycle Marketing, NY
Just a local Alaskan boy, contemplating the rocky beaches of Kachemak Bay.
For one team member, it was the salmon run at Tern Lake outside of Moose Pass that illuminated this point:
“Seeing all the salmon at Tern Lake really blew my mind. I think/talk/write about salmon almost every day, but seeing part of their cycle with my own eyes connected all the dots. Their lifecycle is such a beautiful reflection of nature, and getting a chance to see a snippet of it in person was something I will never forget.” - Trisha G., Communications Specialist, IL
Some other awe-inspiring wildlife: A majestic mama and baby moose— we gave them their space, but eagerly zoomed in with our cameras for pics!
Another team member was floored by the practically other-worldly tides in Kachemak Bay outside of Homer. There’s a nearly 30-foot difference between high and low tide — enough to submerge the average two-story house, in case you needed one more reason to be awed by Alaska.
“The energy required to move the volume of water that is the surface area of Kachemak Bay is mind boggling, and you can feel that energy in the water, the ground and the people.” - Ben A., Member Experience Team Lead, OR
Low tide on Homer Spit, when houses seem to be balanced on stilts.
One of my colleagues managed to capture a soul-stirring shot of a humpback whale breaching the surface of Kachemak Bay, which I think encapsulates how deeply epic this experience was for everyone. But the trip was not only about connecting with nature. It was also about connecting as a team, in real life, outside of our digital workplace setting.
“This trip truly was incredible and will stay with me for a lifetime. I appreciated the adventures, tours, and wildlife sightings that connected me to Alaska's nature and beauty. I also felt a sense of community — not only with Homer, but with my teammates as well. It was exactly what my soul needed. I am even more proud to be part of Wild Alaskan Company and I can honestly say it's the best job I've ever had.” - Ashley F., Member Experience Specialist, OR
A humpback whale breaching the waters of Kachemak Bay, as seen off the back of a boat!
Deeper working relationships, and even new friendships, were forged against the backdrop of land and sea:
“Following the trip, I can feel a bond between my colleagues that was not there before. Some of us now even have plans to visit each other in other states/cities!” - Bernice W., Fulfillment Manager, WI
Apparently a few of my WAC teammates are now considering forming a boy band. By the way, this pic was taken around 9:30pm, when the late sun is still casting its golden rays across the cloudscape.
And lest anyone take for granted how hard everyone works in the commercial fishing industry to harvest the bounty of the seas for the rest of us:
“Seeing the crazy hard work and difficulty of catching the seafood we’re offering really helped to lock in for me personally how special it is for our team to do what we get to do and to speak with our membership base about it everyday! Not to be too cliché', but it was honestly an absolutely life-changing trip.” - Carl M., Senior Member Experience Specialist, NC
Life-changing. Once-in-a-lifetime. The experience of a lifetime. Those are literally the words that so many of the WAC team used to describe their experience in Alaska together, and it honestly brings tears to my eyes. I wish I could share every instance of this with you, but then I’d be pushing the word count limitations of this newsletter. As for myself, I’ll say that hosting the team felt like a family reunion, a true celebration of the human element of what we do, and a profoundly special imprint that will stay with me forever.
If you’re inspired by any of these stories, I invite you to follow us on Instagram, as we’ll be posting more stories, videos and photos from our inaugural onsite WAC gathering over the next few weeks. In the meantime, if you’re feeling the pull to Alaska, take a peek at the Alaska travel guide that we’ve put together on our blog, featuring a few of our favorite destinations in Homer and beyond!
Live Wild,
Monica
Pictured at the top: The WAC team huddled happily together at the Diamond J Ranch for a group portrait.
