Episode 242: Maddie OLaire
b'Todays featured guest is Maddie O\\u2019Laire. Maddie grew up in Dallas, Texas- a far cry from the Alaska wilderness. She booked a one-way ticket to Homer, Alaska in 2010 and immediately fell in love with the landscape, do-it-yourself mentality, groovy people, and cute, scruffy fishermen. After her first winter, her feelings about permanently living in Homer solidified when she met a commercial fisherman and carpenter named Mike. They married in 2013 and built their homestead on 5 beautiful acres in Homer. In 2014, Maddie started direct marketing wild- caught Alaska sockeye salmon to her family and friends in Texas. The business grew quickly and now she ships wild-caught Alaska sockeye salmon all over the country. She ships directly to individuals and also partners with CSAs and co-ops to bring wild salmon to large groups more affordably. She hopes to grow these partnerships before this year\\u2019s salmon season, which runs from early June- late July. Maddie is passionate about healthy living, sustainable seafood, and helping other producers develop markets for their products. She graduated from Loyola University in Baltimore with a B.A. in Communications and Business.'