With only three days until our summer staff rolls into town for our staff training, we’re proud to present our final batch of staff profiles! These two lovely folks will be part of our summer support team in Brunswick, with their duties covering everything from shuttling bikes around the northeast to hiking Katahdin with our Maine’s Downeast Explorer groups, and many, many things in between.

WILL VIETZE

Will Vietze is no stranger to lending a helping hand, which is why the Apogee office is thrilled to have him on board as New England Support Staff for the summer! Since graduating from Colby College in 2015 with a degree in English Literature, Will has shared his eloquence in English with business students in Argentina. While in South America, Will heard the mountains and open ocean calling to him and pursued many surfing, hiking, and backpacking trips (one of which brought him to the stunning mountain ranges of Patagonia!). More recently, Will’s passion for teaching has shined through his tutoring work at an independent school in Boston, where he has helped students with their college essays. As a triplet with two sisters, Will’s patience and mentoring capabilities were developed from a young age. In both high school and college, Will sought out ways to “pay it forward,” including volunteering in New Orleans and participating in best buddies programs. We are glad to be able to steal Will away for the summer before he begins an English teaching position in Lake Tahoe in the fall, where he’ll also be helping kids with their corner kicks as a soccer coach. Rumor has it he can make a mean pot of stew as well. Needless to say, we are “soup-er” excited to have Will with us!

OLIVIA BOX

Olivia Box is, quite literally, the bee’s knees – she co-founded Hamilton College’s Beekeeping Club and already has 10 years of beekeeping experience under her belt! When Olivia isn’t combing through more eco-friendly honey harvesting methods, you can find her in the forest, garden, mountains, or on the bike trails. As a recent graduate from Hamilton College with a degree in Biology, Olivia has been involved in several summer research positions in Massachusetts, Maine, and Germany. While in Germany, she pursued her love for ecosystem preservation and organized a forest scavenger hunt for kids! This year, Olivia harnessed her enthusiasm for the environment and education through an internship where she worked with underprivileged high school kids who were interested in learning about and being involved in community gardens. At her internship, she encouraged students to become aware of the roots of food production. Olivia was also very involved in Hamilton’s Outing Club, leading many canoeing and hiking trips for her peers. In addition to her academic and outdoor pursuits, Olivia has found the time to dabble in pottery throwing, knitting, and enjoying a good loaf of bread (she’s the daughter of a baker). Our office is just buzzing with excitement to welcome Olivia as a member of the New England Support Staff this summer!