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Kat Meyo, Cook County Local Energy Project leader
The new Cook County Local Energy Project leader is Kat Meyo. Who is she and where did she come from? Kat graciously answered a handful of questions submitted by the Cook County News-Herald. She has an interesting background and comes to her job with enthusiasm and a lot of skills.
“Before living in Cook County, I had worked for various nonprofits from a cancer foundation to land conservation. I focused my profession on environmental conservation efforts. Over the years, I have been a steward of the land in a multitude of ways, including conducting habitat restoration, fuels reduction projects, wilderness surveys, trail maintenance, designing new multi-use trails, and patrolling wilderness trails for the public’s safety to name a few. I have served thousands of hours in AmeriCorps focused in environmental conservation in California.
“Afterwards, I became a land conservation foreman that led groups of 6 to 20 in the wilderness for restoration projects and trails maintenance projects, designed and built new sections equestrian, hiking or mountain biking trails. I worked all over the state of California in various National Forests and other land agencies. I had the honor of designing and building a new section of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail.
“In 2019, I first moved to Minnesota to work for a private contractor designing and building mountain bike optimized trails. I was the only woman working on the Tioga Recreation Area trail system, which was surprising to me! Afterwards I moved back to the west and worked in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem of Wyoming as a Wilderness Ranger for the United States Forest Service. I backpacked for 8 days, patrolled, logged out trails, repaired trails, surveyed designated wilderness and designed and built a mile of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. I most recently lived in California and was a professional backpacking guide in the Sierra Nevada mountains, mainly in Yosemite National Park.
“I grew up in the city of Akron, Ohio, just outside of Cleveland.
“I went to Ohio University and have a Bachelor’s in Cultural Anthropology & Archaeology with a minor in Plant Biology. I began formally learning about sustainability in plant biology and environmental science courses that initially cultivated my interest.
“While my Bachelor’s is circuitously related to my role I have immersed myself in topics like clean energy, policy and home weatherization. I have always been passionate about climate action and alternative energy solutions, so I am thrilled to be a part of the team to support
Cook County’s clean energy future.
“I have spent years working in environmental conservation and strived to transition my career towards serving the community directly by working for a non-profit like CCLEP. Being a part of a non-profit that is fully involved in the betterment of Cook County by empowering its fellow neighbors to be more energy conscious and self-sufficient has been a goal of mine, and it came true! I am committed to being of service for our collective need for climate action. I want to be a part of the solution, working as a resource for my community to help endorse a more sustainable way of life and how to cultivate it realistically. I am concerned with our land’s health and the social equity that is needed due to the social inequities climate change has created. I have a passion for protecting our wildernesses, watersheds, biodiversity, supporting indigenous communities and I believe working with renewable energy, education and with the community together are important solutions.
“I am an extrovert that loves meeting new people! I am an avid learner and have a curiosity to understand how things work and other’s perspectives. Nature is my sanctuary, and the conservation and protection of our natural world is of utmost importance to me. I practice and teach yoga, I love backpacking, hiking, downhill and backcountry skiing, yoga, meditation, art making, mountain biking, laughing with friends and walking outside with my partner Joe and husky Luna.
“I moved to Grand Marais in November of 2021 and began working with CCLEP the beginning of January 2022. I visited Grand Marais for the first time in 2019 and loved the feeling of the area. I have enjoyed exploring the Superior National Forest on my skis, and have been fascinated by the changing rhythms of the ice in accordance to the temperature. I have been fortunate enough to meet many incredible people virtually from Cook County since the beginning of my job this month. My impression of Cook County is that it is a tight-knit, creative, hardworking and supportive community that enjoys playing in the Northwoods! Covid has definitely been a limiting factor in meeting folks, but I am hopeful that I will be lucky enough to meet more friendly folks from this wonderful community in the near future.”
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