Mammoth Lakes, CA – January 20, 2026 For Immediate Release

 

Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce Hosts Career Compass Exploration Day—Connecting Students with Community Professionals

On January 14, the Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce hosted its third annual Career Compass Exploration Day, transforming Mammoth High School into a day of career discovery for nearly 350 students from Mammoth High School, Lee Vining High School, and Jan Work Community School.

 

Throughout the morning, volunteers from the community filled classrooms during second and third periods, sharing professional and life experiences, career insights, and firsthand stories about their career paths while answering student questions. In total, 45 speakers from across the community participated, representing a wide range of industries and backgrounds.

 

Later in the day, Mammoth High School Principal Dr. G Munoz addressed students, emphasizing the importance of connecting education to real-world opportunity. “Our goal is to create an environment where students feel supported, challenged, and inspired,” said Munoz. “Events like Career Compass Exploration Day help students see what’s possible and understand that their community is invested in their future.”

 

Following his remarks, students heard from Tom Parker, President & CEO of Mammoth Hospital, the event’s presenting sponsor. Parker spoke about the importance of calm, clarity, and intentional decision-making in a fast-paced world, encouraging students to think thoughtfully about how they approach both life and career choices.

 

Keynote speaker Dr. Neal Fox, Founder of Eastern Sierra STEM, took the stage in front of the students and shared his own nonlinear career journey. Between stories, Dr. Fox led students through an interactive paper airplane challenge—repeated three times throughout the presentation. Each round saw planes fly farther as students adjusted their designs, demonstrating how learning, adapting, and refining approaches mirrors the way many career paths unfold over time.

 

“The energy and curiosity from the students exceeded my expectations,” said Fox. “Watching them adapt and improve reminded me how powerful hands-on learning can be when students are given space to try, reflect, and try again.”

 

“The stories students heard throughout the day showed that meaningful careers can be built right here in Mammoth Lakes,” said Brianna Goico, President & CEO of the Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce. “Our volunteers demonstrated that there’s no single path forward—and that opportunity, mentorship, and fulfilling work exist within our own community.”

 

Spanish teacher Caroline Heavican, who worked closely with the Chamber to help coordinate teachers and logistics, emphasized the collaborative effort behind the scenes. “This day takes a lot of coordination, and the Chamber does an incredible job bringing everyone together,” she said. “The students really benefit from hearing directly from people in our community who are willing to share their stories and time.”

 

The Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce extends sincere thanks to Mammoth High School, Mammoth Hospital for its support in helping make the day possible, the volunteer professionals, teachers and staff who made the 2026 Career Compass Exploration Day possible. Their collective effort continues to strengthen connections between students, education, and the local workforce.

 

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