Meet the Advisory Board Member: Sophie O.J.
BYP is run with support from a motivated team of young professionals, the Advisory Board! Learn more about the people that guide and influence the program and say hi when you see them at our next event.
Introducing Sophie O.J.
Share a brief overview of your professional background.
My liberal arts degree has led to a winding career path from guiding outdoor camps in Hawaii to teaching at a nonprofit school in Vermont. My skills and experience brought me to Redstone, where I continue to grow in the field of business operations.
Share a bit about your personal interests or hobbies.
I take any opportunity to travel and experience new things. You can often find me taking weekend getaways in state to camp with my chocolate lab, Maya, and partner, Adam. I've also enjoyed playing softball through Game On VT and learning how to play the sport sweeping the nation, pickleball! In the winter I enjoy hitting the slopes on my skis.
Recommend a local restaurant/shop/business that you love.
I love living in Winooski and all of the nearby businesses! Some of my favorite hangout spots are Four Quarters Brewery and Standing Stone Wines. Four Quarters has fun events like trivia on Thursday nights and a great outdoor seating space. Standing Stone Wines is a newer addition to the Winooski circle. They offer a variety of wines in their flight menu and you can purchase bottles as well. If there is a wine they don't have, they will look into sourcing it in their store!
Tell us what you like most about living in the greater Burlington area.
The greater Burlington area gives the best of Vermont. There is accessible public transportation, and many things are in walking distance. You are also close to much of the outdoor recreation that the state has to offer. You get a small town feel with our many local businesses, but also get the diversity of living in a more populous area.
Share what motivated you to join the BYP Advisory Board.
I was living in a small rural town and I became interested in finding other young professionals that I could learn from. I researched all free networking opportunities and ended up having the best experience at the Burlington Young Professional Meet Ups. I wanted to be more involved and then the pandemic hit. As soon things were starting to get back to normal, I reached out to BYP and was able to join the Board. This has been a great opportunity for me to become more involved in my community.