In 2016, we conducted an extensive series of interviews and surveys to find out how OIA—the outdoor industry’s membership trade association—can best support outdoor companies. What we learned is that our members see us as a convener—the unifying entity best equipped to galvanize the industry around three important issues: policy, participation and sustainable business. We then identified individuals who are already working to move the needle on those issues within their respective companies.
Ever wonder how CEOs of big outdoor brands started their careers in the outdoor industry? We talked to Casey Sheahan of Keen and Peter Metcalf, formerly of Black Diamond, to find out. Turns out in this line of work, leadership is about more than business savvy and work ethic. Peter and Casey are utterly respectful and personally dependent upon public lands. They infuse that sentiment into every business decision they make. If you want to know authenticity in the outdoor industry, you need to know Sheahan and Metcalf.
Want to learn more about these individuals and the work OIA is doing to foster collaboration throughout the industry and to catalyze change? Visit
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