Maria is an outdoor enthusiast, author, and dog trainer. The first day Maria ever got on a stand-up paddleboard Riley, her Australian Shepherd, was with her learning the sport together. That summer they attracted lots of attention and curiosity from people who wanted to learn to paddle with their own dogs. There were few resources available on training this skill, so Maria took matters into her own hands and combined her passions for graphic design, dog training, and paddling to create her first book, How to SUP With Your PUP. Since then, Maria has also published Paddle Tails, Reflections on People and Dogs Who Find Balance on the Water, and My Dog and Me, a Bucket List Journal for Dogs and Their People. Maria also teaches SUP PUP classes and basic manners classes, as well as holding clinics on canine fitness and outdoor adventures with dogs. When she’s not out paddling, Maria also enjoys mountain biking, hiking, climbing, skiing, and finding new ways to wear herself – and her dogs – out.
Maria's credentials include a Master's degree in education and a BFA in graphic design and illustration. She's also a Certified Canine Fitness Trainer (CCFT), an AKC Canine Good Citizen and Trick Dog Evaluator, an AKC Level 1 Fit Dog Instructor and an ACA-certified stand-up paddleboard instructor.