MARK TESORO
MANAGER
Although I wasn’t born in Wyoming, I’ll count my 52 out of 54 years in the state about as close as a native as you can get. I’ve spent my life in Evanston, and feel there is no better place in the world than Wyoming. I was snow and water skiing as soon as I could walk, and some of my
earliest memories were with my family on the slopes or at the lake. I grew up riding three wheelers and motorbikes, and doing a bit of hunting and fishing. When in high school I met a good friend who had come from Cokeville and really introduced me to the outdoors. Backpacking, hiking, riding horses, hunting and fishing were truly opened up for me by my time with this friend. I had no idea you could fish a beaver pond and catch 30 fish in one hole in an afternoon. I was blown away.
I picked up flyfishing while teaching English in Japan with my wife after college, and backpacked with her all over in the summers before we started our family. Once the kids were old enough I had them on the stream with me flyfishing, hunting rabbits and ducks, and spending as much time as allowed in the outdoors.
For a few years I managed a lodge at the edge of the forest outside of Evanston, cooking burgers, renting cabins, teaching flyfishing and guiding snowmobile trips in the winter. I eventually landed at my hometown newspaper and worked my way up from an advertising sales rep up to the publisher of 5 papers in southwest Wyoming. I worked in the newspaper industry for just over 20 years.
In early 2020 I started an economic development project called Southwest Wyoming Off-road Trails (SWOT). Through many partners and stakeholders, the project has blossomed into a statewide initiative to connect communities with motorized trails. My work with the SWOT nonprofit board led to a board member appointment to the Office of Tourism in 2021.
My life has been based around recreation. Whether snowshoeing behind my house with my dog, elk hunting with my bow, mountain biking around the state or riding my dual-sport motorbike on back country roads and trails, I’m blessed to live in Wyoming. I’m honored to be part of the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation Team.
Mark lives with his wife and golden retriever in Evanston. His wife has been teaching school in Evanston for almost 30 years. He has two grown children that both graduated from University of Wyoming. One lives in Boston and one in Laramie.
