Operation Trail Head

We are a group of four Mothers and Business Owners with diverse backgrounds brought together by friendship and community in our new home of Perham. We have found opportunity and inspiration within this growing and unique neighborhood and support in each other. We appreciate the open arms and dedication to youth and hard work we have found here and our collective goal is to continue to celebrate and build opportunity for our local growing families, to strengthen the bonds with neighboring communities and continuing support for individual economies.

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WE ARE CATFISH LARRY AND THE LADY PANTS:

 

What started as a few folks in a coffee shop with a few things in common became so much more…

The perfect storm of CL&tLP came from a group of new friends that became quickly bonded as transplants in the small, yet creative town of Perham, MN. Realizing how special it is to find comradery vs. competition we quickly fell into a group focused on  laughter, family & mother support, business team-ups to build our collective, an always-growing trust and friendship and the simple things that bring comfort to us all every day. As our strength and smiles grew we knew we needed to do share this love with the community that helps us all and when we were presented with Operation Trailhead it spoke to us all and we knew we had our first official mission.

 

-Veronica Marpoe grew up in a military family in Missouri and spent her summers on the East Coast in Rhode Island, giving her a blend of small-town roots and big-city exposure. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design, she has always been passionate about creative work and leading memorable community projects.  When she completed her degree, Veronica chose to pursue her career in a small-town setting, drawn to its close-knit atmosphere. This love for community led her and her husband Jeremy, whose family is from the Perham area, to settle in Perham, where they appreciate its unique blend of energy and charm.  As a local business owner, Veronica is committed to creating meaningful traditions for families in Perham. She and Jeremy launched the town’s annual Easter Egg Hunt three years ago, providing a free, family-centered event after realizing many residents were traveling to other towns for similar experiences. Her dedication to supporting small-town events and creating cherished memories reflects her belief in the power of community-driven growth.  Since moving to Perham in 2010, Veronica has become an enthusiastic, unofficial “town cardboard cheerleader,” working tirelessly to support the town she now calls home.

 

-Ashlea Clifton has had many happy homes between being raised from Texas to her family’s home town of East Grand Forks then moving to South Minneapolis for Middle and High School, travelling to Southern California to study Fashion Design in Los Angeles and living in San Diego through her 20’s before moving back to Minnesota to raise her children.

Ashlea worked Freelance in Fashion and Interior Design but always maintained a career in Food, Beverage and Hospitality. Through this work she always found a connection between coworkers and guests from all corners of the world, deep friendships and a genuine love of making and sharing food and crafts with others. Always appreciative of the duality of rural and city life in the “Motherland” of her home state, she knew this was where her kids should experience their childhood and some of the treasures only found here, though not thinking she would live north of the Twin Cities again until an opportunity to take over a Perham coffee and sandwich shop presented itself in the midst of the initial COVID crisis. What seemed impossible became her new reality in the unique city of Perham where she quickly found kinship among other parents and small business owners. Ashlea’s goals are to continue to grow her shop as a warm place for all and use the connections and friendships developed there to help further develop Perham as an amazing home for her children and neighbor’s families.

 

-Raised on a Colorado ranch, Kellie Smith grew up immersed in outdoor life, developing a deep love for nature and winter sports like downhill and cross-country skiing. Now a florist and dedicated community member in Perham, Kellie brings a unique combination of creativity and warmth to every project she joins. Her husband who was born and raised in Perham and now their young daughter is growing up in the same community, Kellie feels a strong commitment to making Perham an even better place for future generations. Bringing over a decade of experience in customer relations, management, and event coordination, Kellie approaches fundraising with a relaxed, creative touch that makes everyone feel welcome and valued. Passionate about giving back, Kellie views every project as an opportunity to strengthen the community that means so much to their family.

 

-Born and raised in Elgin, Illinois(NW suburb of Chicago) Nicole Preussler is a midwesterner at heart. She moved to the Perham area 7 years ago with her husband Luke and 3 kids and has worked hard to call this area home. As a hairstylist of 20 years she found employment quickly at the Hair Loft where she has worked at for the last 7 years. Her passion for helping people love their hair connected her to this community quickly. In the fall of 2023, Nicole and Luke bought a small resort on Big Pine Lake just down the road from their house. They just completed their first operating summer! Nicole would say life has been an adventure moving to several different places throughout the midwest before settling here in Perham. Her outgoing personality, and knack for making funny relatable videos on social media makes her very excited to be a part of this trailhead fundraising project!