Recreation Northwest announces two Keynote Speakers for the 2017 Outdoor Recreation Summit in Bellingham, WA. From the state capitol in Olympia, Governor Inslee’s Policy Advisor on Outdoor Recreation and Economic Development, Jon Snyder, will be returning for a second year as a Summit speaker. Traveling from Colorado, Cailin O’Brien-Feeney, Local Recreation Advocacy Manager with the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) will join Snyder on stage as a keynote speaker. The Outdoor Recreation Summit will be hosted Friday, Feb. 24 from 9 am – 5 pm at Bellingham Technical College’s Settlemyer Hall (3028 Lindbergh Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225). This exclusive full-day conference brings together outdoor recreation manufacturers, retailers and organizations, as well as state and local-level policy makers for networking, learning and sharing ideas on how to grow Washington’s recreation economy and get more people outside. The event builds community and connections among Washington state’s recreation business professionals. Snyder will give an update on the status of Washington’s Recreation Economy. He will speak to the positive trajectories that established Washington-based outdoor manufacturing and retail brands like REI, Cascade Designs and Brooks are experiencing and to the great strides smaller startups like Nuu Muu, Swift Industries and Evo are making as well. Snyder will also address the challenges we face in how to continue to support our shared objective of providing the public access to the outdoors. He will provide historic perspective when he speaks about “our heritage of outdoor recreation as a part of Washington’s history since the dawn of time. We have inherited the outdoor pursuits of canoeing and fishing, for example, as local living traditions that have been unbroken for generations.” His talk will also address the challenges we are facing and how we can work together solve them. Representing the national interests of the OIA, O’Brien-Feeney will speak about the collective impact of the outdoor industry nationally and how states like Washington are providing a model for others to emulate. “When I speak to people around the country, I use Washington State as a leading example for other states to follow. Over the past year, I have enjoyed working directly with Jon (Snyder) in the Governor’s office to increase the impact and the value of the recreation economy. I’m looking forward to joining him as a Keynote Speaker for the Summit in February,” O’Brien-Feeney iterates. Following the Summit, the Recreation Northwest EXPO is open and free for the public on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 1 pm – 6 pm at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal in the Fairhaven district. The EXPO offers outdoor recreation-related exhibitors the opportunity to provide information to the public about their products, services and causes. Learn more at OutdoorRecreationSummit.org.
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Media Assets - Outdoor Recreation Summit photos About the Outdoor Recreation and Economic Development Policy Advisor to Governor Inslee Governor Inslee’s Policy Advisors work closely with stakeholders, constituents, legislators and state and local government agencies to develop policy initiatives in support of the Governor’s agenda. Washington State added this position in 2016 in response to recommendations to create a sector lead by the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Parks and Outdoor Recreation. For more information, visit Governor.Wa.gov About Outdoor Industry Association Based in Boulder, CO, with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is the leading trade association for the outdoor industry and the title sponsor of Outdoor Retailer. OIA unites and serves over 1200 manufacturer, supplier, sales representative and retailer members through its focus on trade and recreation policy, sustainable business innovation, and outdoor participation. Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is the national trade association for suppliers, manufacturers and retailers in the $646 billion outdoor recreation industry, with more than 1200 members nationwide. The outdoor industry supports more than 6.1 million American jobs and makes other significant contributions toward the goal of healthy communities and healthy economies across the United States. For more information, visit OutdoorIndustry.org. About Recreation Northwest Recreation Northwest is a Bellingham, Washington–based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting outdoor recreation and bringing people together to enjoy, preserve and improve the places where we play. The strategies to fulfill our mission are through Stewardship, Education and Fun. Stewardship through facilitating collaboration between outdoor enthusiasts, local governments, businesses and individual landowners to improve local trail networks, provide direct service to maintain local parks and develop a sense of pride and ownership; Education highlighting the importance of outdoor recreation to our local economy and the value open space holds for our community health; Fun with our multi-sport races and events getting adults and children outside to be active, build community and enjoy our trails, public parks and open water.
