Tess Taylor

About Tess

Tess joined the V9 team as a Digital Marketing Strategist specializing in SEO. Digital Marketing became her passion because of the meaningful difference it can make while constantly growing and changing. Her first introduction to marketing was as a college student working a part-time brand promotion gig in 2007, and she was hooked. Since then, Tess has found herself in various related roles over the next 17 years: Brand Rep, Event Manager, Business Developer, Field Manager, Content Editor, SEO Specialist, Creative Reviewer, and Senior Project Manager. 

Originally from Tacoma, WA (home of paper mills and Dale Chihuly, world-famous glass artist), Tess spent the first decade of her adult life in Central Pennsylvania (in cow country…errr, a ‘college town’). After completing grad school at Penn State, she decided to be “homeful” for a few years – traveling solo with no permanent address yet plenty of places to hang her hat. During this time, Tess did a variety of international work exchanges and some remote freelancing, keeping her focus on full-time travel and exploration. To date, she’s visited around 30 countries – and counting – albeit at a much slower pace these days. 

When Tess decided to put down roots, Denver, CO, became an obvious choice – for its weather, mountains, active lifestyle, and, of course, its convenient international airport. She shares her home with her best friend, a German Shepard-Husky mix named Breeta. There isn’t much Tess doesn’t enjoy in her new home state, including hiking, camping, XC skiing, and rafting. Still, she always makes time for her other loves: art, languages, theater, piano, aerial, dance, cooking, and mixology. Tess is very passionate about travel and takes at least one international trip each year. She also loves discussing travel and encouraging more folks (especially women) to travel independently.

Random Facts

What is a favorite line from a writing or song?
“We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.” ― Kurt Vonnegut

What was the 1st thing you bought with your own money?
A full-sized trampoline in 5th grade… after many years of saving up my allowance – totally worth it! 

If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would it be?
Forget being  ‘normal’; there’s no such thing.