After graduating from high school in Southern California, Claire-Marie Owens moved to Idaho to pursue her education at Boise State University and continued her education in Paris, France, where she earned a degree in International Tourism and Hospitality at the Catholic University of Paris. She then spent the next 10 years working as a Tour Operator and International Event Planner living in Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, Miami, and Mexico. 

Claire-Marie’s experience living, working and going to school all over the US as well as around the world have given her a unique perspective of the many issues facing our community today. However her ties to the Treasure Valley and South-Western Idaho run deep, Claire-Marie is a proud 5th generation Idahoan. Her Great-Great Grandfather moved to the Treasure Valley during the Great Depression looking for a better life and her family has been living and working in the area ever since. 

In summer of 2022, Claire-Marie closed her travel and event business, Nova Voyage and since then has been working as a Grant Writer for grass roots minority run organizations like, Juneteenth Idaho, The Indigenous Idaho Alliance, and Tropico.FM, just to name a few.

After participating in the 2022 Cohort as a Fellow, Claire-Marie is excited and honored to join the 2023 Cohort as a Mentor.