Naomi was born on April 22, 1984 in Bridgton, Maine and grew up a Valley local. Her first memory is of skiing down Attitash on her Grandfather's (Al Risch) shoulders. She graduated from Fryeburg Academy in 2002 and attended the University of Maine, Orono. There she majored in Women's Studies and graduated with an undergraduate degree in 2007. 

In the middle of her college career she dedicated a year of her life to the Americorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), a national community service program. She was based in Charleston, South Carolina and traveled to Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee. In each state her team completed service projects ranging from public health, environmental needs, education, community development and disaster relief. After completing 2,085 hours of service she learned that you can make a difference with a little compassion and a lot of hard work.   

While at UMaine, she developed a passion for rock climbing which has since taken her from her back yard of North Conway, New Hampshire to areas all over the world. When the rocks are covered in ice and it is too cold to climb them, she straps crampons to her boots and holds axes in her hands and climbs the ice instead. Her goal is to take as many climbing trips as possible and to visit the infinite number of climbing destinations around the world. 

She currently lives in Richmond, Vermont where she works as a social worker for a non-profit mental health agency. She works hard, plays harder and is fiercely devoted to making a difference in the world.