Christa currently resides in Western Pennsylvania where she moved after she graduated from WVU with a Bachelors of Business Administration. While she was enrolled at WVU for her undergrad, Christa sharpened her skills in fly fishing and began volunteering with Project Healing Waters. She found a passion for sharing her love of fishing and fly fishing with her friends, coworkers, and peers and would take anyone out who wanted to learn and help them catch fish on their own.

Her first-time volunteering with Project Healing Waters was on the Clarksburg WV’s program trip to Conneaut for steelhead. This formal introduction to guiding would be a milestone in her journey into the fly fishing industry. She would begin regularly volunteering with PHWFF for the next few years. After graduating from WVU, she began working as the fishing department manager at an outfitter in Ohiopyle State Park. She oversaw anything fishing-related, from reservations, retail, and events to instructions and guided trips with clients. This position at the outfitter would make her the first woman in the State Park to manage a fishing department. A few seasons later, Christa transitioned into a human resources role for talent acquisition at Vail Resorts. She was able to carry her love of helping people and working on a dedicated team while she remained in this position for a few seasons. During her time at Vail Resorts, she couldn’t keep from guiding and instructing others in fly fishing. During the Winter of 2022 she started her own guiding business, Silver Hen Fly Co. She then met with the managers at Ohiopyle State Park and wrote proposals for a permit to operate on her home waters. Once she was granted a permit, she then became the first woman to own and operate a guide service in Ohiopyle State Park.

Christa’s focus has always been on inclusion in the fly fishing industry, and helping people learn and love the sport just as she does. Her introduction to the Project Healing Waters staff is the clear progression in following her passions for helping others and providing quality resources to our participants in her next chapter here at PHWFF.