Marla Covey is an experienced, service-oriented professional with a deep, personal commitment to go the extra mile helping clients meet their desired outcomes. Her extensive education, professional and life experience, along with a genuine devotion to guiding people to achieve goals, makes her exceptionally well suited for Ralston Group and the clients we love to serve.
A native of Kansas gifted with true mid-West values, Marla and her family have enjoyed living and contributing to the Boise community since 1998. She graduated from SMU with a bachelors in Business Administration, and later a MS in Exercise Physiology from Colorado State University. With a love of the outdoors and teaching healthy lifestyles, summers included serving as an instructor at NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) and 10 years at the Yellowstone Institute instructing on wilderness backpacking skills and general ecosystem training. An avid outdoorswoman, Marla has even climbed on North America’s highest peak, Denali.
Meeting husband Doug as graduate students at CSU, both worked at REI including a brief stint in Seattle where Marla was contracted to support a medical health behavior program including Microsoft’s Corporate Wellness Program. After moving to Boise, her professional work included many years serving as a manager/educator/instructor at Boise’s renowned YMCA. From 2008-2014 and as part of an interdisciplinary medical team, Marla played an instrumental role at St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital developing and implementing a healthy lifestyle educational curriculum and sustainable program to guide children and their families in health improvement strategies. Marla is still a widely recognized local leader in wellness education and fitness training.
Marla’s community volunteer service is also well known. Since 2006 she has served as Troop Leader for Girl Scouts of Silver Sage Council providing a wide range of planning, direction and support for educational programs that include promoting leadership skills, independence and self-esteem for girls K-12. Sustained dedication to this important life-changing program resulted in awards including Rookie Leader of the Year and Service Unit Volunteer of the Year. Marla also has a long association with student exchange programs through the EFHigh School Exchange Year/Cultural Care Au Pair program. This includes acting as liaison with local high school administrators, recruiting host families and matching them with foreign high school students and college aged au pairs while ensuring adherence to Department of State J-1 Visa requirements.
Marla and Doug have raised three great kids here in Boise- Meredith is currently a graduate student at University of Utah and has just begun a career as a city planner for Park City, UT, son Anders attends Western Colorado University in Gunnison, and youngest Caroline attends Boise State University.
In addition to family, community and helping clients meet their real estate and healthy lifestyle goals, other passions include running (+ 50 marathons), skiing and just about anything connected to the great outdoors.
Contact Marla Covey: 208-340-9361 | marla@ralstongrp.com.
