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

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.

News Staff