PINEDALE – Big things are happening in the small mountain town of Pinedale. Many towns around Wyoming would be thrilled to have at least one citizen chosen for the Wyoming Business Report’s annual Forty Under 40 list. Pinedale, meanwhile, has two business owners named this year.

At the end of May, Great Outdoor Shop co-owner Laura Hattan and Pinedale Arts and Crafts owner Mae Orm received news that they were among the top 40 individuals under the age of 40 in the entire state.

Great Outdoor Shop

Near the rushing waters of Pine Creek in the heart of Pinedale rests the Great Outdoor Shop – a staple for all-things outdoors and recreation for 41 years.

Laura and Josh Hattan originally resided in Lincoln, Neb., where Laura attended the University of Nebraska to study journalism. The pair often escaped to the Rocky Mountains whenever they had the opportunity.

“We had come here in the past to go backpacking in the Winds,” Laura said. “Our passion is being in the mountains. The Great Outdoor Shop was hiring, so we moved out West and never looked back.”

About 13 years ago, Laura and Josh Hattan made Pinedale their new home and managed the Great Outdoor Shop when the business was under the ownership of Rex and Linda Poulson. Fast forward to 2017, and the Hattans are now in their third year of co-owning the business.

“It’s a gear shop we love in a place we love; it just fit,” she said. “It was kind of a Cinderella moment.”

The local business provides both locals and town tourists with the gear and equipment necessary for recreational opportunities in the pristine mountain landscape just outside of town. They stock fishing, backpacking, climbing, skiing and snowboarding gear, along with offering guided fishing trips for folks.

“We get a massive number of tourists in the Wind River Range,” she said. “We make sure everyone who comes here has a positive experience and want to come back.”

The couple has a daughter, Sierra, and as a family, they enjoy all things recreation in their free time.

Last year, Josh and Laura brought the first-ever Wind River Mountain Festival to Pinedale, bringing live music, demos, workshops and more to town for three days. The event returns this year, running July 21-23 this year in town.

Laura is unsure if she was named to the Forty Under 40 list due to her involvement with Great Outdoor Shop or in making the Wind River Mountain Festival a reality. Regardless, she is honored for the recognition.

“I was surprised,” she said. “It was really humbling to find out that somebody had that level of confidence in me.”

Pinedale Arts and Crafts

Kentucky natives Mae and Eric Orm, along with children Mason and Nolan, came to Pinedale almost four years ago from their previous home in Louisville. The family came out to visit in-laws who had just moved to the area. Upon their initial arrival, Pinedale moved them in a profound way and they made the permanent move just 30 days after returning home from the trip.

“We fell in love with Pinedale,” Mae said.

She began her new life in Pinedale working odd jobs around town, but as an avid lover of art, believed the town needed a location for the art community to buy items locally, as there wasn’t an option at the time.

“I personally had an interest in art, but there was no place near here to get art supplies,” she said. “I felt there was a need for it, as there are a lot of artists, crafters and crocheters here.”

Because of that, Mae took the plunge in February 2016 and opened Pinedale Arts and Crafts on South Sublette Avenue. Nearly a year later, she moved her business to Pine Street to take advantage of the prime location for her business with a more open space that she said was inviting to the store’s guests.

She’s had an interest in art since attending DuPont Manual High School in Louisville, where she was accepted into the visual arts magnet program. She graduated in 2003 and moved on to take courses with the University of Phoenix online.

“I always did art-related things in my spare time,” she said. “I started art classes in Kentucky teaching teachers; I really enjoyed that.”

Mae’s business offers a wealth of art supplies for purchase and has an open studio for artists to use for free during business hours on Monday and Saturday every week. She holds free knitting and crocheting events from the fall through the spring and is active in multiple community events to give back. She has helped judge the art and craft section of the Sublette County Fair, is a partner with Mystery Print Gallery and Frame and Boondocks Pizza & More for local gallery openings and much more.

The news of being named one of the Forty Under 40 in Wyoming came as a surprise to the new local business owner.

“I was extremely honored,” she said. “I don’t know who nominated me, but it’s amazing. My family is very excited for me; it’s a huge honor to be selected for something like this.”

Outside of operating her business, Mae enjoys taking care of her chickens and duck and dabbles in gardening. She stays connected with local art exhibits in town and keeps quite busy with keeping up with her kids and family as they live the “day-to-day life” in their new mountain town home.

“I love my job; I love this place and I love coming to work every day,” she smiled. “This community has a great group of people.”