Mark Aspelin

Writer | Conservation Biologist | Certified Personal Trainer Travel Storyteller | Project Management Professional

Stories that help us reconnect — with nature, purpose, and each other

About Me

I’m a writer, conservation biologist, certified personal trainer, and project management professional — with a résumé that provides plenty of laughs for any job recruiter.

Over the years, I’ve worked for a wide variety of organizations, including The Nature Conservancy, The Coca-Cola Company, Intel Corporation, Molina Healthcare, Sandia National Laboratories, KPMG, Fidelity Investments, UnitedHealth Group, and the International Crane Foundation. My job titles have ranged from aviculturist, conservation biologist, and environmental programs manager to customer intelligence and marketing specialist, Health IT project manager, and senior clinical innovation program manager. And that’s the short list.

To round things out, I’m also a certified personal trainer specializing in senior fitness, corrective exercise, and fitness nutrition — and I’m a volunteer docent at the ABQ BioPark Zoo.

I’ve written over 50 blog posts and articles, and I’m the author of two highly rated books that were wildly popular among members of my immediate family:

My articles and interviews have been featured by GreenBiz, Inside EPA, Perceptive Travel, and the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation’s Half-Earth Project.

I hold a B.S. in Biology from the University of Notre Dame, an M.S. in Biology from Creighton University, and an MBA (Natural Resource & Environmental Management and Operations Management) from the University of Texas at Austin. I remember very little of that education today.

I also confess to having a travel checklist addiction problem. I’ve visited over 100 countries, all 50 U.S. states, and I’m a proud member of the Travelers’ Century Club, where I find fellowship with other travel checklist sufferers. My latest affliction? Visiting every town in New Mexico (582 in total!) and writing a story about each one on my blog, New Mexico Travel Guy. I’m on track to complete the project by my early-mid 100s.

My writing lives at the intersection of nature, health, purpose, and people — always grounded in curiosity, care, and common sense. Whether I’m writing about Mexican gray wolves, trail nutrition, or how to navigate our divided world with a little more grace, my goal is to help people reconnect with what matters most.

My Approach

I’m politically independent and wired more as a peacemaker than a provocateur. I’m not here to fan the flames of culture wars — I’m here to write clearly, seek truth, and build bridges across divides. No small task in society today.

I believe storytelling can do more than inform — it can inspire reflection, shift perspectives, and spark action.

Much of my work explores the intersection of conservation, health, personal growth, and purpose. I draw from firsthand experience in wildlife biology, environmental planning, business strategy, healthcare operations, international security, and personal training — a mix that helps me connect dots others might miss.

Whether I’m writing about sustainable tourism, heart arrhythmias, biodiversity conservation, or horned lizard races at the annual Pie Festival in Pie Town, New Mexico, I aim to keep things grounded, thought-provoking, and useful. When possible, I also try to make it fun — although my early writing on physical protection systems for nuclear facilities and bioscience laboratories didn’t make it past the “fun” threshold. Next time.

Let’s Connect!

If you’re looking for a writer who brings together scientific depth, business insight, and a grounded, thoughtful voice — I’d love to hear from you.

📧 Email: mark@markaspelin.com
📞 Phone: 650-487-2648
🌐 Website: MarkAspelin.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/markaspelin

Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation