Meet Jonnie Helfrich

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jonnie Helfrich. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jonnie below.

Jonnie , we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

Confidence in my abilities and a positive self-esteem started developing in my home as a child. I have always been a strong, independent sort, and my parents were amazing encouragers.

I learned that I was and would be all sorts of things … a daughter, a student, an athlete, a poet, a canoeist (later a kayaker and rafter), a friend, a wife, a mom and a business owner. I was encouraged to be the best I could be in each of those areas of my life. It’s helpful knowing that I can draw strength from any area when another area seems lacking.

There have been and will continue to be occasions of lacking. Initially, I can get discouraged. I try, though, to find the lesson in all seeming failures. Maybe I’m just bull-headed and unwilling to yield to negativity.

I am a woman guiding and running a business in a male-dominated field. Most of what I feel like I’ve had to battle has stemmed from that fact. I’ve had to be better to be considered equal, so I strive to be better. I continue to learn and grow. We humans are constantly presented with teachable moments. The trick is learning the lesson, applying that knowledge to future situations and celebrating the ensuing successes. Recognizing and celebrating the wins, no matter how small, bolsters one’s confidence and self-esteem.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I own and run a whitewater rafting business in western Oregon and run half-day and full-day trips on the McKenzie River and scenic raft floats on the Willamette River.

I’ve always loved being able to share rivers, the out-of-doors and new experiences with people. Our rivers are crystal-clear and easy to access. The scenery is beautiful. The whitewater is fun, not too intense, so we offer trips that families can enjoy together. Our scenic floats are great for people just dipping their toes in river-running waters.

I’ve been guiding for fifty years and married into a family that now boasts over 100 years in the business. That’s pretty special!
I am a respected woman guide and business owner in a predominantly-male industry and am proudly turning my business over to another woman, my daughter, who is a fourth-generation guide and outfitter.

Until last year, everything online and in print was influenced by me and my dad’s commercial art style. Last year, knowing that my daughter will soon be taking the lead, we worked with a company to create a refreshed company name, logo and website. We’re hopeful that this company that I built from a one-woman show will continue to grow and thrive.

We continually look for ways to join forces with area businesses and organizations to create customized trip offerings their clients and members will enjoy.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1) River running skills
My family started canoeing when I was 3 years old, so my river running training began early. Over time, I honed skills in “reading” water, paddling and rescue. Because running rivers has been a life-long adventure, it has become second nature. I don’t use time or energy having to think about how to move my raft, motivate my crew, avoid obstacles, raft through the fun stuff. It all comes naturally, and that frees me to more thoroughly enjoy the people and the experience.

2) People skills
I’ve always been outgoing; my kids will tell you over-the-top outgoing. I genuinely like people. I like hearing their stories, sharing stories and sharing the experiences of the river.

3) Compassion and Empathy
After so many years on the river, I’ve done and/or seen a lot of things; most wonderful, some not. I know that people are more comfortable and relaxed when they are in familiar surroundings/situations. Rarely is that the case with whitewater rafting guests; most are out of their normal realms. Giving them lots of detailed information, being able to answer every question, focusing on the details of putting forth a stellar experience all help create great memory-making trips.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

As my company has grown, times when I feel overwhelmed have increased. It’s inevitable when one adds more moving parts.

First, I recognize what I’m feeling … up a creek without a paddle is an apropos adage in my field. Initially, it can be debilitating.
I need to quiet myself and take a minute to process the situation that caused the angst. Once I’ve done that, I’m pretty quick to come to a solution to whatever problem.

Occasionally, too much happens at once, and I feel beyond overwhelmed. In the past, I would power through until I took care of things. Now, as I’ve aged and wisened, I ask for help. It can be from my husband; we each have our strengths. It can be from my guides; how do they see a resolution? It can be from my guests; what accommodation can they make to solve a problem? It can be from a friend; is s/he able to lend a hand?
For too long, I thought asking for help was a sign of weakness. It is not. It is a sign of strength. It shows that you know your limitations and are smart enough to recognize people in your life who can stretch those limits and help you be successful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.HelfricMcKenzieRafting.com
• Instagram: helfrichmckenzierafting
• Facebook: Helfrich Mckenzie Rafting
• Yelp: A Helfrich Outfitter

Image Credits

West Coast Action Photos for the whitewater rafting action shot.

All others are from my own cell phone.