Meet Marlina Ackerman | Owner & Curator, Mountain Made Gift Box

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

Hi Marlina, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I’ve worked in Product, Marketing, and Creative roles for 15+ years of corporate experience. While this has been fulfilling and rewarding, I’ve always had a voice telling me there is something more. The truth is these roles were working with some of the most creative people I’ve ever met, but my part was always to lead projects, assign the work, and keep everything on track, not to create. I discovered there was unfinished business with my creative self. Those close to me know I’ve always been very into gifts and gift wrapping, and I have a knack for choosing well-designed, quality products. So one day, while having breakfast with my husband in our kitchen, I told him I wanted to start a gift box business. An idea grew into a concept; it evolved into business planning, then started rolling. When in the brand identity phase, a mountain lifestyle theme was an easy choice. I grew up in the foothills of Colorado, so incorporating inspiration from home was a natural fit. There were starts and stops along the way with a full-time job and a family, but I kept at it, and we arrived at the launch!

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.
I started my career in product marketing for Nike, Inc. It was such a dream job for a recent college graduate. I got to travel domestically and internationally, and it was the first time I was exposed to the creative process. There I learned how much I loved materials and color, leading me to go back to school for Interior Design. While in school, I worked at OZ Architecture and again learned how the creative process translated into another industry. After school, I accepted a job at Whole Foods Market doing Decor for the Southwest region. I got to put my new skills to the test and led large projects for store remodels and design. In this role, I learned how marketing and design could transform a space, and the biggest lesson was how it could be both on brand and represent the local community. Life brought me back to Colorado to marry my husband, and I worked in a few marketing departments along the way. My most significant experience was my recent job at Hunter Douglas, where I was a Creative Services Manager for the Corporate Marketing team. I led all the in-house creative projects from various cross-functional partners within the company. Now, as an entrepreneur, I can look back and see how these experiences in product, marketing, design, and creativity have led me to combine my skills and put them into my own business.

Mountain Made Gift Box is more than a curated gift. It’s about giving, community, and connection. I love being part of something that brings others joy, comfort, and celebration in life’s best and worst moments. The first box we made was donated to the WOW Children’s Museum in Lafayette for charity. My favorite part of this journey has been the connections I’ve made with product makers, other entrepreneurs, and new friends.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Day 1 – Breakfast at The Buff in Boulder, and spend the day shopping on Pearl Street. Dinner and margaritas on the rooftop at The Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant.

Day 2 – Head up to Rocky Mountain National Park. Stop in Estes Park, tour the Stanley Hotel, and walk the shops. Continue driving over Trail Ridge Road to Grand Lake, rent a boat, and picnic on the lake. Stay the night in a modern a-frame Airbnb.

Day 3 – Continue up to Aspen. Stay at The Little Nell, and have lunch at The White House Tavern. Do a day hike at Maroon Bells, then head to dinner at The Wild Fig for Mediterranean Cuisine.

Day 4 – Spend the morning at the spa. Then head back to the city. Stop for late lunch at Westbound & Down in Idaho Springs. In Denver, have sushi at Uchi followed by music and drinks at Nocturne Jazz. Stay at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Day 5 – Brunch/Lunch at Denver Milk Market, followed by a tour of the Denver Botanic Gardens. Visit the Denver Art Museum in the afternoon. Dinner at Tavernetta, followed by photos and drinks around Union Station.

Day 6 – Drive to Colorado Springs, visit the Garden of the Gods, and maybe the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Head to Red Rocks for a show that evening.

Day 7 – Back to Boulder, hike Chautauqua, and then have lunch at The Kitchen.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Starting a small business is daunting, and for me, it was a challenge to believe it could happen. From the first time the idea escaped from my mouth, my Mom, Melinda Pena, has been my biggest cheerleader along the way. My mother-in-law, Evelyn Ackerman, always reminded me of my talent and creativity when I questioned myself. And my husband, Matt Ackerman, provided support and love, especially with taking on extra child duties while I worked late nights and weekends.

From a professional perspective, I felt lost about where to begin. I gained courage, encouragement, and clarity from Jessica Zweig at SimplyBe. Agency. While searching for a guide to creating brand identity, I found her book, Be., and then took her course, The Be. Experience and listened to many of her podcast episodes. I love that in today’s world, there are entrepreneurs everywhere teaching entrepreneurs how to start small businesses.

Website: mountainmadegifts.com

Instagram: @mountainmadegiftbox

Facebook: @mountainmadegifts

Image Credits
Mountain Made Gift Box LLC