The Steamboat Pilot & Today has a new reporter, Kit Geary, in its newsroom.

“Kit came to us with an impressive resume and workload from college,” Editor Eli Pace said of the newspaper’s newest hire. “She’s incredibly eager to build her career, enjoys the outdoors and winter sports, and she should be a great fit for the Pilot’s small team of rugged journalists. I am sure our readers will enjoy Kit’s contributions almost immediately.”

Geary will handle the Steamboat Pilot & Today’s public safety, county government and education beats, in addition to general assignment reporting responsibilities.

“I’m excited to get to know the community,” Geary said. “It seems like an awesome one with the potential to have and already has a robust news cycle. And I’m excited to work with a multifaceted, talented group.”

She is taking over the role held by reporter Spencer Powell, who is stepping back from his full-time job at the Pilot to focus on other opportunities. However, Powell shouldn’t disappear from the Pilot’s pages, as Pace said the newspaper will look to him to handle some of the Pilot’s arts and entertainment coverage.

Geary graduated from Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont, in May 2022, with a degree in media studies, journalism and digital arts and a minor in English.

“Kit is sharp, astute and well prepared for success in the journalism industry,” Pace said. “Many of her interests align with exactly what we’re looking for, and her love for skiing was just a bonus that helped lure her here.”

Prior to graduation, Geary authored a book, “Big Ideas, Big Money, Big Problems: White-Collar Crime in the Suites Could Harm You More Than Crime in the Streets.” The book explored technology’s impact on the execution and expansion of white-collar crime in a variety of political and corporate landscapes. In her writing, Geary sought to offer new perspectives on this sector of criminology by amplifying the untold stories of victims.

Additionally, Geary worked as a newsroom intern for WCAX TV Channel 3 in South Burlington, Vermont. In that role, she assisted production and editing staff in daily operations including writing scripts, editing footage, stacking shows and line producing for a station that covered local and national news for northern New England and some of Canada.

That internship came after Geary worked as a community relations intern for The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division. Geary is a self-described political junkie and was also the politics editor for “The Defender,” a small publication in Colchester, Vermont, from September 2020 to January 2021.

“I’m someone who learned the ropes of journalism in a mountain town, and I’m really excited to be back in that environment,” she said.

Geary loves skiing and surfing, but balances her love for the outdoors with a healthy amount of documentaries, whether they be news centric or more adventure-focused. She’s also long been involved with Best Buddies program, which builds relationships and opportunities for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

“I just feel like this is the coolest little town,” she said. “I’m a huge skier, and I’ve always heard about Steamboat as being a ski mecca. I know a few people in town and have heard it’s just a great community and one I’m lucky to now be a part of.”