Today we’d like to introduce you to Camden Kinnie.
Hi Camden , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m still early in my career, but I’ve always been driven by a passion for helping others. In high school, I had the chance to work in a doctor’s office as my first job, where I interacted with patients and shadowed a doctor, an experience that opened the door to the medical field. From there, I enrolled at Michigan State University and was fortunate to be accepted directly into the nursing program through a competitive scholarship offered to only a small group of students each year.
Nursing felt like a natural starting point for me as someone who wanted to make a difference and help others. But as much as I enjoyed the work, I realized something was missing. I switched my major to Environmental Studies and Sustainability, which has been a lifelong passion of mine, and that decision changed everything. A class I hadn’t expected to love, Community and the Environment, ended up reshaping my entire college experience. It sparked a deeper understanding of how environmental stewardship and community well-being are interconnected, and it ultimately set me on the path I’m on today.
I’ve always loved visiting the U.P. with my family and knew I wanted to build a life here. Now, after five years of living here, I’m grateful to be part of a small, supportive community where people truly uplift one another.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh my gosh, no! Nothing in life is a smooth road! I graduated college during the pandemic, alone in my bedroom. I closed my laptop, and suddenly that was the end of my college experience. Entering the job market at that moment was incredibly difficult, especially as a brand new graduate. So I started where I could. Which was helping a family friend with their social media for an Airbnb. That small step eventually led me to an AmeriCorps VISTA position at Partridge Creek Farm, where I’m now a full-time employee and have been for the past 3 years.
I’ve been, and still am, the first and only person to hold a dedicated Marketing and Communications role at Partridge Creek Farm. That alone has brought plenty of challenges. My marketing experience at the time was mostly rooted in social media, and I had limited exposure to broader outreach work. On top of that, our team is just five people, which means we don’t have departments. Each person is their own department. Although we have limited capacity, we see the need in our community and we keep going because we genuinely love what we do.
With the support of mentors, I’ve been able to build foundational marketing systems for the organization to grow and rely on. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve learned that I thrive on challenges and the journey has been incredibly rewarding.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
For me, I’ve never wanted my life to revolve solely around work or a career title. Instead, I’ve chosen to build my life around what I’m passionate about, helping others, caring for the environment, and being part of a community. Because of that, the most important thing I can say about my professional life is that I show up every day ready to take on whatever task comes next, knowing that the work I’m doing benefits someone beyond myself. I see that same dedication in the team I work alongside, and it’s a big reason why this organization has continued to thrive for over a decade: it’s built on hardworking, caring people.
I don’t think I “specialize” in anything except consistently showing up and doing my best to support others. Marketing and outreach have become the tools that allow me to do that and I get to communicate directly with our community every single day.
I’m certainly proud of the marketing systems I’ve built from the ground up without a formal marketing degree or prior experience. But what I’m most proud of is working alongside a team that cares just as deeply about our community and about each other as I do. This may be the hardest job I ever have, but it also may be the most rewarding. And that’s something I’m truly proud of.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is simply showing up every day and doing my best to be an understanding, caring person. That intention guides me in my personal life, my work, and everything in between, because at the end of the day, it’s what connects us all. No matter our differences, we can always meet each other at the level of being human, and being someone who shows up for others is incredibly important to me.
Yes, I can be a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my work, but work is just one part of life. If there’s one thing I hope to get right each day, it’s choosing kindness and understanding.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://partridgecreekfarm.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/partridgecreekfarm
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camden-kinnie-b37850170
