Angie Drake

About Angie Drake

On rare occasions, a travel experience will knock me off my feet and not in a good way. While living in Quito, Ecuador, I took a trip that changed the way I think about tourism. Our hosts, the Huaorani of the Pastaza Province, invited my family into their homes to share their experience. At the same time, they shared the inadequacies of their relationship with their host agency in Quito. We saw community elders needing medical attention and met parents who questioned why tourists came to take pictures of their children along the river bank. I knew that there had to be a better way.I have lived in over 20 different towns and cities in my lifetime. I have traveled to even more. With every move, I changed and adapted. I learned new languages. I adopted new accents. I practiced new traditions and created new rituals. I learned new ways of being. I became resilient, shape shifting just enough to feel at home. So, after my experience with the Huaorani, I began to shape shift again. I learned about sustainable tourism destination management. I studied transformational travel design. Combined with the resilience learned over a lifetime of moving, these new ways of being inform my current consulting business.When I work with my consulting clients, I help them find their resilient self. Each of us is unique and there is no plan that works in every situation. However, there are ways to imagine a future where you and your business shine brightly. That light attracts others aligned with your purpose.How can I help you shine? Develop a business strategy that honors who you are Highlight your story in a way that makes connection with aligned clients Review your website and social media accounts for consistent branding Co-design a new website that reflects your values Craft marketing materials, website copy, newsletters, and social media messaging Support you and your team as you move forward with a 21st-century inclusive vision Who should hire me? Businesses searching for clarity and striving to attract socially conscious clients Spanish-speaking business owners needing to advertise to English-language audiences US American entrepreneurs wanting to strengthen their Latin American ties Entrepreneurs embarking on projects connecting North and South America Non-profits Latin American projects searching for US donorsWhy work with me? Strong work ethic Infectious smile Excited to make a differenceIntrigued? Please reach out with a message. I am happy to schedule a free 30-minute consultation to find where our work intersects.

Experience

1. Storyteller-in-chief

   Not Your Average American

   Feb 2016 — Present · Portland, OR, US

   As a consultant and coach in sustainable and regenerative tourism models, I help small businesses do big things. My passion lies in helping freelance guides, micro-business owners, community tourism operators, and non-profits highlight their stories and connect with the appropriate audiences. I use strong listening skills and strategic vision to provide innovative solutions for your most pressing problems. Recently, I have added web design, web hosting, and website management to our business as I realized that many South American business owners lack great website resources that can help their brands stand out in a market saturated with greenwashing. Learn more about our services at nyaa-consulting.comI also enjoy working with American tourism professionals and individual tourists looking to forge better connections with South American businesses. Most of them find me through our website at notyouraverageamerican.com where we share informative and descriptive articles on sustainable & regenerative travel in ways that connect the tourist with the tourism provider and the destination in a deeper way.

Education

• LV Studio

  Spanish

  2011 — 2011

• Joint Military Attaché School

  17 Continuing Education Units, International Diplomacy

  2013 — 2013

• University of California, Berkeley

  BA, English

  1987 — 1989

• San Francisco State University

  English Language and Literature, General

  1989 — 1990

• Georgetown University

  Certification, Sustainable Tourism Management

  2018

• ICA Language Services

  Advanced Spanish

  2013 — 2013

Skills

• Teaching
• Nonprofits
• Strategic Planning
• Editing
• Public Speaking
• Event Management
• Community Organizing
• Writing
• Program Development
• Program Management
• Leadership
• Press Releases
• Publications
• Non-Profits
• Customer Service
• Blogging
• Research
• Social Networking
• Strategic Communications
• Social Media
• Budgets
• Newsletters
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Social Media Marketing
• Facebook
• Training
• Volunteer Management
• Blog
• Fundraising
• Politics
• Event Planning
• Higher Education
• Public Relations
• Media Relations