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Updated: 2 hours ago / 2025 40 Under 40 honorees

40 Under 40: Emily Yearwood is connecting people through the outdoors

Photo / Fred Field Emily Yearwood, 37: Owner, guide, marketing director, Northern Outdoors
Emily Yearwood, 37 Owner, guide, marketing director, Northern Outdoors Read all about the 40 Under 40 honorees
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Greatest achievement: Everything feels like a work in progress. But I’m proud of where I’m at, and who I’ve surrounded myself with. My “team” — personally, professionally — feels like the best around.

Passion project: I’ve always loved working with children, and did so for six-plus years as a preschool teacher. Raising children in respectful, nurturing environments that connect them with nature and their community — that’s super important to me. I’m able to help support that work as board chair at our local nonprofit Montessori school, and I think it weaves into my work at Northern. It’s really special to be a part of a family’s river trip — completely unplugged, experiencing raw, authentic joy together. Good stuff.

Lightbulb moment: Was when I became pregnant with my first son. I realized I wanted to build my life around the Forks, not just my summers. For years, I had worked seasonally at Northern Outdoors — my very first job as a kid and almost every summer through graduate school. I always found myself structuring my life so I could get back to the river. My good friend was helping Northern Outdoors out at the time, trying to kick off our social media. One day she said, “you need to do this job.” And the time was right. With her and another friend’s support, I dove into digital marketing, website building and SEO. I was — and still am — hungry to learn how to build a digital world that truly shows how special Northern Outdoors is. Their mentorship was a huge part of my success in that transition.

Influential book: “Start with Why,” by Simon Sinek, and “Anxious Generation,” by Jonathan Haidt

Personal hero: My mum. She’s so darn thoughtful.

Favorite quote: “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing — absolutely nothing — half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” — Wind in the Willows.

Best way to recharge: My husband and I try to spend as much time as we can adventuring with our two boys.

Maine’s biggest challenge: I think a lot about the seasonal nature of tourism in Maine, especially in our rural communities. How can we round out the economy in our area to provide more stable, year-round jobs? How do you balance that growth with sustainability so that tourism improves the quality of life for our residents?

Dinner party guests: I’d love to sit down with my dad, and Wayne and Suzie Hockmeyer. That’s a lot of river and rafting industry knowledge in one room.

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