Marketing & Social Media Specialist

Mara McCloskey-Becker brings a passion for storytelling, community connection, and adventure to her role as Marketing & Social Media Specialist for the Bend Chamber.

Originally from Chicago, Mara headed west to attend The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, where her creative spirit and curiosity for the world took root. She launched her career in audio and video production, first as a radio DJ for Portland's KMHD and later as a camera operator and video editor for Portland's CBS affiliate. After relocating to Bend in 2014, she transitioned into marketing, blending her production expertise with strategic communications, brand storytelling, and content creation.

Her career has spanned agency life, in-house marketing roles for locally owned businesses, and entrepreneurship, giving her a diverse perspective on helping organizations connect with audiences through authentic stories and meaningful engagement.

At heart, Mara is an explorer. When she's not creating content or amplifying the voices of Central Oregon's business community, she's often chasing horizons, climbing mountain peaks, navigating whitewater rapids, paddling alpine lakes, carving snowy slopes, pedaling winding trails, diving beneath ocean surfaces, or setting off on adventures across the globe. Whether crossing continents or exploring her own backyard, she believes every journey holds a story worth telling.

She shares many of those adventures with her husband and their four-legged sidekick, Felix. Mara is also a sound practitioner and spoken word poet, bringing creativity, mindfulness, and a deep appreciation for human connection into both her work and personal life.