Maurizio Valerio
Community Development Coordinator
• About Me:
I was born in Verona (Italy) the Shakespearean town of Romeo and Juliet; Verona is also the town where sidewalks are paved with roman stones, where polenta is everyday’s food, and where the ruby wine from the near Valpolicella keeps the spirits high and glasses full. As a post-doc, I arrived at Cal Berkeley in the early 80’s working as an animal behaviorist …. But few years after that I was called away to answer a lifelong dream and became a cowboy (I am sure that John Wayne’s has a lot to do with it … but this is another story). I ran cattle, showed and bred horses, bucked hay, and lived – for many years - a great ranch life (first in Central and then in North East OR) with my wife Allison and our two kids. In 1995 I became involved in Tourism by developing a consumer based system that rates outdoor adventures. We published 15 books and a large Internet website, Top Rated Adventures, that has been in operation ever since. During all these years I kept busy as a volunteer in the community with 4H, Fire Dept., school fundraisers, Hunter Ed Program, Community Theater, cooking, YHEC and more. The academic world called me back inviting me to teach Cultural Tourism at the University of Verona (Italy) in 2004 and Biology at Eastern Oregon University (La Grande, OR) when I returned to the US. Then, one rainy afternoon a few springs ago, I had the privilege to participate in the Ford Institute Leadership Program where I met RDI. My life took yet another turn. I was so impressed by the people of RDI; their dedication, vision and community work that I came to wish, I could, one day, be part of this incredible team. My wish was granted.
• What I do at RDI:
As a Community Development Coordinator – with a special emphasis on tourism - my job is to recognize and nurture the phenomenal potentials of our rural communities.
• State where I was born:
In the province of Verona in the country of Italy.
• What I wanted to be when I was 8 years old:
A cowboy of course! I wanted to ride on a black and white paint pony like the one Little Joe had (yes they aired the Bonanza series on the Italian TV in the early ‘60s) a six shooters on my side, a Winchester in the saddle’s scabbard and the entire prairie in front of me. This wish was also granted later in my life.
• Interesting previous job(s) I've held:
Turkey Farm Nurse – The typical cycle started with 20,000 to 40,000 turkeys being delivered to the turkey farm just few hours after hatching. My job was to feed few drops of sugar & vitamins to those which were running low on energy. We called them “I ciclisti” or “the paddlers” because, too weak to stand, they laid on one side paddling their legs. I rescued thousands of them, but despite my monumental and successful efforts they always seemed to find new way to die.
• One of my personal goals for :
Diminish my gravitational pull by a significant factor (at least 11.37%).
• A place I want to visit at least once in my lifetime:
I would like to hike the mountains of the South Island of New Zealand.
• My favorite book and why:
The Little Prince – by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. One line from the book best explains my devotion to this simple and yet profound fable: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye”
• My favorite board game:
No doubt, my game of choice is “GHOST”
• The coolest thing someone has done for me:
It happens every year: my wife forgets our wedding anniversary … and so do I. It happened 23 times already … and counting. We make a fantastic couple.
> Click to Return to Staff Listing
Community Development Coordinator
• About Me:
I was born in Verona (Italy) the Shakespearean town of Romeo and Juliet; Verona is also the town where sidewalks are paved with roman stones, where polenta is everyday’s food, and where the ruby wine from the near Valpolicella keeps the spirits high and glasses full. As a post-doc, I arrived at Cal Berkeley in the early 80’s working as an animal behaviorist …. But few years after that I was called away to answer a lifelong dream and became a cowboy (I am sure that John Wayne’s has a lot to do with it … but this is another story). I ran cattle, showed and bred horses, bucked hay, and lived – for many years - a great ranch life (first in Central and then in North East OR) with my wife Allison and our two kids. In 1995 I became involved in Tourism by developing a consumer based system that rates outdoor adventures. We published 15 books and a large Internet website, Top Rated Adventures, that has been in operation ever since. During all these years I kept busy as a volunteer in the community with 4H, Fire Dept., school fundraisers, Hunter Ed Program, Community Theater, cooking, YHEC and more. The academic world called me back inviting me to teach Cultural Tourism at the University of Verona (Italy) in 2004 and Biology at Eastern Oregon University (La Grande, OR) when I returned to the US. Then, one rainy afternoon a few springs ago, I had the privilege to participate in the Ford Institute Leadership Program where I met RDI. My life took yet another turn. I was so impressed by the people of RDI; their dedication, vision and community work that I came to wish, I could, one day, be part of this incredible team. My wish was granted.
• What I do at RDI:
As a Community Development Coordinator – with a special emphasis on tourism - my job is to recognize and nurture the phenomenal potentials of our rural communities.
• State where I was born:
In the province of Verona in the country of Italy.
• What I wanted to be when I was 8 years old:
A cowboy of course! I wanted to ride on a black and white paint pony like the one Little Joe had (yes they aired the Bonanza series on the Italian TV in the early ‘60s) a six shooters on my side, a Winchester in the saddle’s scabbard and the entire prairie in front of me. This wish was also granted later in my life.
• Interesting previous job(s) I've held:
Turkey Farm Nurse – The typical cycle started with 20,000 to 40,000 turkeys being delivered to the turkey farm just few hours after hatching. My job was to feed few drops of sugar & vitamins to those which were running low on energy. We called them “I ciclisti” or “the paddlers” because, too weak to stand, they laid on one side paddling their legs. I rescued thousands of them, but despite my monumental and successful efforts they always seemed to find new way to die.
• One of my personal goals for :
Diminish my gravitational pull by a significant factor (at least 11.37%).
• A place I want to visit at least once in my lifetime:
I would like to hike the mountains of the South Island of New Zealand.
• My favorite book and why:
The Little Prince – by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. One line from the book best explains my devotion to this simple and yet profound fable: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye”
• My favorite board game:
No doubt, my game of choice is “GHOST”
• The coolest thing someone has done for me:
It happens every year: my wife forgets our wedding anniversary … and so do I. It happened 23 times already … and counting. We make a fantastic couple.
> Click to Return to Staff Listing