This post is part of a 10 part blog series to celebrate ACE’s 5th birthday. We’ll be asking ACE staff members to answer 5 questions about their time with the organization, including their favorite stories and some surprise facts about themselves. We’ll profile a different staff member each day! 

ACE Staff Member: Cy Maramangalam

Position: Strategic Programs Manager

Q: If you were stranded on a desert island with one other ACE staffer, who would it be (and why!)?

A: Reb [Anderson], because she’s so awesome in the outdoors and knowledgeable about wildlife and science!

Q:  What’s the funniest (or strangest!) experience you’ve had at ACE?

A: On my way to last year’s all staff retreat, I gave up my seat twice for $800 in flight vouchers, got upgraded to first class, met Big Boi (from Outkast), got free tickets from him to the Outside Lands music festival in San Francisco, and got connected to his foundation in Atlanta!!

Q: How did you first get involved with ACE?

A: I was developing an assembly in bike safety for 5th and 6th graders throughout Philadelphia, and found ACE in my research.  I was so blown away that I briefly corresponded with Matt Lappe [ACE’s Director of Education] about how ACE put this amazing assembly together.  1.5 years later, I applied and was hired!

Q: What was your proudest moment at ACE?

 A: February 17, 2013: First seeing our ACE youth reps Sara Kuse and Ivonne Morales make a captivating speech in front of a thousand youth and nailing it!  Then later that day, seeing ACE youth leading the march of 40 thousand people along with Bill Mckibben, Mike Brune, Evangeline Lilly, Rosario Dawson, and First Nation Leaders at the Forward on Climate Rally.  It was such a transformative moment to see our hard work in helping youth become leaders truly come to fruition.

Q: What’s one thing your students and teachers don’t know about you?  

A: I’ve climbed mountains, scuba dived, and jumped out of a plane, but I have one fear that shakes me up more than anything else:  BEES.  They make me run around screaming!

Thanks, Cy! Tomorrow: We introduce Page May (our amazing Education and Media Manager in Chicago), and hear what she has to say about her time at ACE.