Marlis Schmidt

Mississippi River Challenge Marketing and Community Partnership Manager

Duties: Managing marketing and community partnerships and other event coordinating for the Mississippi River Challenge

Professional experience: Marketing and Development strategist for Public Broadcasting, events manager, Media producer, Writer

Born: Coalgate, Oklahoma (which eliminates me from being a native Texan)

Hobbies: camping, biking, food, movies, art, music, endless stream of creative projects

Favorite book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Favorite Mississippi River quote: "Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates."
- Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi, Ch. 4

Why I work for FMR: Ive always loved the history and culture of the Mississippi River along with its scenic beauty and recreational offerings. And Im a natural advocate for FMRs mission.

Favorite way to spend a day: exploring off the beaten urban and rural paths

Favorite river song: Every version of Take Me to the River except by Big Mouth Billy Bass

Favorite location on the river: Going on the annual English 3 speed tour of Lake Pepin and riding my bike through Crosby Farm and Hidden Falls Park. My dog likes playing in the river at the Minnehaha dog park.

Last big vacation: Touring the ports and tasting the ports of Portugal, Spain, and Monaco.

Conservation/environmental heroes: Pete Seeger, Lady Bird Johnson

Something most people dont know about me: I was part of the Astro Turf family in David Byrnes movie True Stories.