Two vivid childhood memories I have are of riding bikes with my best friend in Ringwood, NJ where I grew up, and proudly watching my dad pedal off on his long weekend training rides. He inspired me to start cycling and running competitively when I later moved to Manhattan, both as a means to stay fit and travel in a city where nobody owns a car.
The pursuit of physical fitness for me is both an escape and a way of life. Whether kicking steps up steep snow faces in crampons or charging up a hill on my bike, that's when I am my best self -- focused, powerful, and free. To that end, a handful of years ago I became a personal trainer to share my passion with others, and subsequently moved to Portland to join a region of the country known for outdoor recreation and the slow food movement, my favorite things.
Living in this place - where I don’t have to depend on a car to get around, and where active transportation is celebrated by the community - is my new inspiration. Working as part of the Alta team makes me feel like I have come full circle in my current life pursuits, joining my passions and beliefs with my talents.
Natalie Wessel hails from Manhattan where she worked for almost ten years as Marketing Director for some of the most successful design firms in the city. With a degree in architectural history, she served for several years on the Board of Directors for the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), and was a major player in the New York City business development scene.
Now living in Portland, she is enthusiastic about combining her interest in sustainable transportation with her strong business background as Alta’s Marketing Manager. Natalie’s commitment to health and active lifestyle is evidenced through her work as a certified personal trainer, coaching cyclists and competitive runners, weekend warriors, and regular folks seeking motivation to get in shape. Natalie spends her free time moving in many directions via different self-propelled modes: cycling, rock and mountain climbing, surfing, and running. Natalie speaks Japanese, loves to cook, and believes that anything can be accomplished if you have enough guts to work for it.
