Meet Kody Maynard | Cruise Director & Creative Dreamer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kody Maynard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kody, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
Life is too short not to enjoy every day to the fullest. I am a curious person, who leads with positivity and creativity. I find true happiness in bringing the people and community around me unconditional joy! Whether this is in a simple passing compliment, or by creating a customized, signature experience in someone’s life, I love to transform thoughts and imagination into reality. There is magic in the world and I love remembering the little details that make something exceptional, or the fun fact that makes someone feel valued. Happiness has looked like adventuring, exploring and traveling in life because my favorite collection is of monumental memories and moments living it up!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My creative map has so many dotted lines, destinations, and landmark moments. I have always been someone that teases, tinkers, and tweaks ideas that have been explored, while also running marathon’s in my own imagination to formulate my own style and spin on perception. In terms of tactile art, I remember at only a few digits old I would shop for holidays and celebrations with my parents, but would ask for envelopes and would nicely crease a custom coloring page for each member of the family. I understood the treasure hunting and hand made customization that elevates someone to a place of feeling understood, seen, and connected. While in single digits, I would spend time in my room intentinally crafting a centerpiece out of found items in my room at my gnome sized, round table to then later entertain the desert portion of dinner in my room for the family. My tactile art took off in high school when I realized that the gifts I was making for friends and family were just as luring to complete strangers. I started showing in co-op shops and at markets and realized quickly that making art was not only my passion, but could also wiggle its way into my profession. I studied theater education and as a middle school theater teacher I created signature evenings, while mentoring other artists, and utilizing the multiplicity of my brain’s cohort of ideas surrounding a show or themed season of shows. When teaching, I would ask my students to share their dream jobs and when it was my turn to go, I would tell them, “Someday I want to be a cruise director!’ Fast forward a few years, and another career in Outdoor Education, and I arrive at yet another dream job come true! When I’m not on vessels, I have time to continue to fuel my brand Even Keel Creatives. Which currently means, a series of custom constructed hats utilizing leather and thread designs, that my brain designs and my hands create.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’ve been lucky to live all over as the son of an Air Force Colonel, but Colorado Springs, Colorado has been home the longest. Currently I am a Cruise Director, so I am on the river and water ways across the USA with the company. I call Colorado home and can pig some favorites along. My favorite spot to go once I fly into in Denver is a restaurant called The Greenwich. I always get the ‘Alphabet City’ to sip while a peruse the seasonally inspired menu. Colorado has a ton of outdoor offerings, but one of my favorite spots to explore outdoors is Red Rocks Ampitheater, and is a bucket list concert for seeing any artist! If you’re feeling up for some more extreme fun, I would head down to Colorado Springs and swing by iFLY for some indoor skydiving! Favorite spots to go with a group are Avanti in Denver and Coati in Colorado Springs! Garden of the Gods is always worth a visit, and I recommend grabbing a to go lunch before you arrive and then finding a good spot to enjoy it along the trail!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My Shoutout is dedicated to my brothers: Ryan and Jaron. I’m the baby of the family and as the youngest of three boys, I was the creatively chaotic one! My oldest brother Ryan was born with Batten Disease, a degenerative, brain disease and so I learned at a young age to value every day that we are lucky to have. My middle brother Jaron, has always been the glue of the family who can navigate us through conflict and champion us through anything cumbersome. When Ryan passed away in 2013, my direction in life was rerouted based on the coordinates of his legacy in my life. Jaron and I leaned into life together, and both hit the ground running. Ryan is my daily guide into the uncharted chapters ahead, and Jaron continues to be my strength and stability when the storms of life swell.

Instagram: evenkeelcreatives

Facebook: Even Keel Creatives

Image Credits
My own photos