Michelle Parker tried Neve and we swooned

A few weeks ago, I found myself at a panel called Beyond the Summit: Women in the Wild and at Work, hosted by local nonprofit Gore Range Gravity Alliance. It was a night full of powerful conversations about what it means to be a woman in the outdoor industry, on the mountains and in the workplace.

One of the panelists was Michelle Parker, a freestyle and big mountain skier, a Red Bull athlete, and a true icon in the outdoor space. She’s someone I’ve admired for years, not just for her power and strength in the mountains, but for the way she shows up: as a leader, a trailblazer, and a woman unafraid to talk about the hard stuff.

A Moment That Mattered

I had a table set up at the event, sampling Neve and chatting with new and old friends. I spotted Michelle milling around, and then, slowly, she stepped closer to my table. She picked up a pouch and looked at it. My friends, recognizing the moment, quietly stepped away to give us space.

Michelle and I started talking. She asked questions. I shared the story of how it took me six years to bring Neve (ne-vay) to life. How Neve was born out of frustration with backcountry nutrition that didn’t cut it, and how I teamed up with a registered dietitian to create something better: real, approachable food that’s actually made for athletes.

Then Michelle made a comment. She said she is a baby food and apple sauce pouch user in the backcountry. That one line told me everything. She gets it. She understands the magic of the pouch - the convenience, the simplicity, the function. Michelle Parker is the exact kind of athlete Neve was built for.

Women Supporting Women

After the panel, Michelle came back over to the table. I insisted on giving her samples because honestly, just having her try Neve felt like a big deal. But Michelle wouldn’t have it. She insisted on paying. I tried to sneak extra pouches into her box when she wasn’t looking, and she laughed and told me to stop. She told me I was bad at sales because I insisted on giving her more and more product. 

But the truth is, when you’re a small business owner, you don’t always get face time with someone who can make a difference. You don’t wait for opportunities, you take them. And when someone like Michelle Parker is standing at your booth, you show up fully, even if you’re nervous, even if your voice shakes a little.

A Big Little Moment

When Michelle left that night, I was excited. It was a small interaction on the surface, but it felt big. Michelle didn’t have to ask questions. She didn’t have to pay. She didn’t have to come back to the booth. But she did, and that’s the kind of allyship that makes a difference.

It reminded me why I built Neve in the first place: to fuel people who love the outdoors deeply and live fully. People like Michelle.

So, Michelle, thank you. I can’t wait to see where you take Neve next.

—

P.S. If you’re new here, Neve is a shelf-stable, plant-based smoothie pouch built for athletes. Two flavors. Resealable. Adventure-ready. Learn more here.