ORIGIN STORY

Building Our House
In The Wild, Wild West

In 2015, Anna Cole and Jennifer Walton crossed paths in the high-altitude playground of Jackson, where creativity collides with mountain grit. As Director of Communications at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Anna shaped narratives, while Jennifer, a Writer and Editor at BigLife Magazine, a nationally-distributed monthly publication crafted stories that captured the spirit of the Mountain West. Their passions for words, branding, and storytelling met on the same trail.

Their professional exchanges quickly evolved into a friendship built on a mutual love of inventive narratives, lifestyle-focused design, branded experiences, and interior design. Theirs was a creative collaboration fueled by curiosity, candor, and the kind of gut instincts that turn good ideas into great ones. 

A decade passed, career paths shifted, but their shared sensibilities remained. So, when Anna departed her next role as Senior VP of Marketing at Bank of Jackson Hole and was tasked with building the brand for a new community bank, she knew exactly who to call. 

Enter Jenny, armed with a writer’s wit, a visual artist’s eye, and an editor’s intuition. What began as a one-off collaboration quickly ignited into something greater, something that felt inevitable, something that felt like their idea of a Nouveau Ouest. 

Their partnership was more than a project; it was a shared vision and the foundation of a new creative house—an anti-agency of sorts. Undeniably, they were building something together under one roof. And just like that, Ouest House was born and declared its home in the wild, wild West.

ABOUT FOUNDER ANNA COLE:

Anna Cole is a marketing executive and business leader with nearly 20 years of marketing, communications and business development expertise in finance, wealth management, outdoor recreation, and hospitality. Anna was formerly the Senior Vice President of Marketing at the Bank of Jackson Hole and prior the Director of Communications at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. In 2024, Anna started an independent marketing consulting business to bring her expertise to non-profit organizations and businesses, and shortly after, co-founded Ouest House to continue that work on a larger scale. 

Dedicated to giving back to the Jackson community, Anna has contributed significant time and talent toward uplifting many local non-profits, and currently sits on the board for Advocates for Multi Use for Public Lands (AMPL) and the Jackson Hole Land Trust. A lifelong skier, she moved to Jackson, Wyoming, from Virginia upon graduation from Vanderbilt University, and now lives in Wilson with her husband, daughter, and dog.

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ABOUT FOUNDER JENNIFER WALTON:

Jennifer Walton is a dynamic creative force with a rich background in music, photography, writing, publishing, and art direction. She has a significant career in artist management, and is a published author. Her journalistic work has been featured in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Forbes, and the Goldman Environmental Prize. With lifelong roots in her native Los Angeles and the Rocky Mountain West, Jennifer played a pivotal role in launching the Teton Geotourism Center and then was editor of BigLife Magazine, a nationally-distributed monthly publication, where she crafted stories that captured the spirit of the Mountain West. Her commitment to the Jackson community extended to her eight-year board membership of the Riverwind Foundation, where she championed sustainable tourism and its impact on the economy and environment. 

As a Ouest House founder and Creative Director, Jennifer excels in the development, strategy, production, and talent management of collaborative projects across various media. Jennifer brings an adaptive, highly-organized, and positive attitude to every project. An equestrian with international destinations under saddle, she has lived in Jackson for over a decade, accompanied by her rescue dog, Gigi.

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How We Work

Collaboration isn’t just part of the process—it is the process. At Ouest House, we’ll gather around our table, (make some toast), and get to the heart of what gives your brand its fire with an honest, deep-dive conversation that uncovers the grit, soul, and vision behind your story. 

The Process

Anna Cole

Founder, Strategic Vision

anna@ouesthouse.com

Anna Cole is a Wilson, Wyoming based marketing executive and business leader with 15+ years of marketing, communications and business development expertise in finance, wealth management, outdoor recreation, and hospitality. Anna’s approach to problem solving, team building, and business growth are data driven, innovative, brand centric and tangible. 

In 2024 Anna started an independent marketing consulting business, working with both non-profit organizations and businesses, hence the creation of Ouest House. Prior to going out on her own, she was at the helm of Bank of Jackson Hole (BOJH) as the Senior Vice President of Marketing. She directly supported a number of business initiatives to grow brand awareness, market share, and develop the private banking and Trust and Wealth Partners divisions of the bank. During Anna’s tenure at BOJH the institution grew 13% from 2021 to 2022 to be the largest bank in terms of deposits in Teton County beating out large national banks such as Wells Fargo to achieve the largest market share of loans and deposits. Her strategy for success at BOJH included leveraging an omnichannel marketing approach for clients and prospects through digital programs, organizing premiere events for top clients and community engagement and philanthropic initiatives.

Prior to her time at BOJH, Anna had a tenured career at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR), holding a variety of positions of leadership within the marketing and sales team, most notably as their Director of Communications from 2017 until 2021.  Under her leadership the resort business grew significantly and remained the number one ski resort in North America in terms of social media following and engagement.  She and her team oversaw internal communications for the resort’s 1,600 plus employees (at peak payroll in winter season) through new technologies such as SMS texting, password protected website and email in addition to creating and delivering successful earned media and corporate and crisis communications strategies for the internationally renowned destination resort. 

Dedicated to giving back to the Jackson community, Anna has donated her time and talents over the years to various non-profit organizations including, but not limited to, the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, Slow Food in the Tetons, Teton County School District, Working JH, Champions for Children and Wyoming Special Olympics.  She currently sits on the board for Advocates for Multi Use for Public Lands (AMPL) and the Jackson Hole Land Trust, and is passionate about accessible trail access for all user groups and people.  

Anna hails originally from central Virginia, and graduated from Vanderbilt University with a BA in Art History and a minor in Mathematics in 2004.  A life long skier, she moved to Jackson, WY upon graduation, and is proud to call Wyoming home.  She lives in Wilson with her husband, daughter and two dogs.  In her free time she enjoys reading, cooking, and ANYTHING outdoors.

 

Jennifer Walton

Founder, Creative Vision

jenny@ouesthouse.com

Jennifer Walton is a dynamic creative force with a rich background in music, photography, writing, publishing, and art direction. A native Angeleno raised off Laurel Canyon and Mulholland, Jennifer began her career in artist management, traveling the world on international tours with Prince and Pink Floyd. Her deep connection to the music industry defined the early part of her career until motherhood led her to explore new rhythms.

As a published co-author of SEAL: The Unspoken Sacrifice, Jennifer’s work has been recognized on platforms like NPR, Foreign Policy, Union-Tribune San Diego, and The Huffington Post and is suggested reading by the Navy SEAL Foundation. The book also inspired a year-long exhibit at The Pritzker Military Museum and Library in Chicago, showcasing her powerful storytelling. Her seven-year journey documenting the SEAL community culminated in a degree in Visual Journalism from the Brooks Institute of Photography, propelling her into diverse projects covering everything from country music and conservation to prison reform and veteran affairs. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Forbes, and the Goldman Environmental Prize. 

Her creative journey continued in Idaho, where she played a pivotal role in launching the Teton Geotourism Center. Later, in Wyoming, she became the editor of BigLife Magazine, a monthly nationally distributed title celebrating the Mountain West. Her commitment to the Jackson community extended to her eight-year board membership of the Riverwind Foundation, where she championed sustainable tourism and its impact on the economy and environment. 

As a Creative Director, Jennifer excels in the development, strategy, production, and talent management of collaborative projects across various media. Her broad cultural knowledge and enthusiasm for storytelling allow her to create distinct and impactful brand campaigns. Her responsibilities have ranged from conceptual development and overseeing creative executions to managing photo research and serving as the creative lead, whether in person, remotely, or on set, ensuring productions align with client standards and expectations.

Agile, adaptive, and highly organized, Jennifer brings a positive attitude and work ethic to every project. Her unwavering commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and representation at every stage is a professional ethos and a personal mission that inspires and motivates those around her.

With travel to over 40 countries, Jennifer’s experience in media and event planning, coupled with her excellent research skills, instills confidence in her ability to share her experiences and cultivate meaningful, trusted relationships. 

Her passion for ideas, stories, brands, design, art, and architecture is palpable. She nurtures collaborations with cross-functional teams and projects among C-suite executives, editorial stakeholders, advertising sales, marketing, and other creatives, fostering a culture of creative risk-taking that challenges traditional content creation while conveying equal parts ambition and compassion.

An equestrian with international destinations under saddle, she has lived in Jackson for over a decade, accompanied by her rescue dog, Gigi. While frequently visiting her daughter in London, she pursues her interests as an avid hiker, skier, and yoga enthusiast. She continues to travel, immersing herself in music, art, and food.