From the future of retail to the future of the planet and an outdoors for all, the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) Outdoor University Program will deliver robust education at Outdoor Retailer Summer

August 3, 2021

BOULDER, Colo. (August 3, 2021) — Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), the nonprofit trade association for the outdoor industry, will again deliver a full lineup of live keynote and education sessions at Outdoor Retailer Summer in Denver, August 10–12, 2021. Education will kick off with a keynote from bestselling author and founder of the global consultancy Retail Prophet, Doug Stephens, and will continue through the week. Other featured speakers will include Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet (D), Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), and Attorney General Phil Weiser.

“As we come back together in person for the first time in 18 months, our industry faces a lot of questions about what the future will look like, not only for our businesses, but also for our planet, for people who get outdoors and for future generations,” said Phyllis Grove, OIA’s board chair. “The role of the trade association is to support our members with education and programs to help them take individual and collective action on the issues that matter to our industry. Our team has curated a slate of timely and relevant panels and sessions that will help attendees navigate these unfamiliar challenges.”

Key live OIA education sessions at Outdoor Retailer Summer 2021 include  the following:

OIA INDUSTRY BREAKFAST: THE THRIVING FUTURE OF RETAIL

Day 1, Tuesday, August 10, 2021, 7 a.m. (MT), Colorado Convention Center (MR 400s)

Keynote speaker Doug Stephens, a bestselling author and founder of global consultancy Retail Profit, will provide an incisive look into the future of retail in a post-COVID-19 world. The topics of changing consumer behavior and company roles, the future of physical and online retail and how global supply chains will adapt will all be tackled in his gripping talk.

 THRIVING PLANET AND PEOPLE: CONFRONTING THREATS TO THE OUTDOORS: TWO VOICES FROM COLORADO AND CAPITOL HILL

Day 1, Tuesday, August 10, 2021, 11 a.m. (MT),Colorado Convention Center (MR 400s)

OIA Executive Director Lise Aangeenbrug will host a conversation with Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Joe Neguse about their efforts to address climate change, wildfires and land and water conservation, all while ensuring more diversity and equity in the outdoors.

THRIVING PEOPLE: PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR HEALTHY YOUTH AND STRONG COMMUNITIES

Day 2, Wednesday, August 11, 2021, 11 a.m. (MT), Colorado Convention Center (MR 400s)

UnitedHealth Group donated $30 million to increase health access for underserved Colorado communities. The attorney general’s office will help direct $5 million from the fund toward organizations that provide mental health services and opportunities to youth. Outdoor Foundation Managing Director Stephanie Maez will interview Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser about how public-private partnerships can help close the equity gap and increase health outcomes through outdoor nature-based programming.

THRIVING BUSINESS: TARIFF RELIEF FOR OUTDOOR COMPANIES: HOW THE NEW TRADE LEGISLATION CAN HELP YOUR BOTTOM LINE

Day 2, Wednesday, August 11, 2021, 3:30 p.m. (MT), Colorado Convention Center (MR 400s)

Join OIA Government Affairs Director Rich Harper and outside counsel Ron Sorini to learn how your company can take advantage of tariff relief measures and how you can get involved in OIA’s trade policy work to help develop new trade initiatives.

THRIVING BUSINESS – WORKFORCE TRENDS IN THE POST-PANDEMIC ERA

Day 3, Thursday, August 12, 2021, 11 a.m. (MT), Colorado Convention Center (MR 400s)

Workforce educators and industry leaders will discuss how innovative workforce development and hiring programs, forward-thinking employee engagement strategies, cutting-edge industry research, and private-public partnerships will support individual companies and the industry at large in meeting the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the new world of work.

In addition to the live panels being offered at the trade show in August, OIA hosted a monthlong series of virtual education sessions, powered by Brandlive, including the following:

 Climate Action: Ambition, Collaboration and Practical Steps to Guide Our Industry’s Path to Climate Positive

Building an Outdoors for All: How Outdoor Youth Programming Is Helping Address Equity Barriers in Communities Across the Country

 Implementing 30×30: The Essential Partnership of State and Local Stakeholders

 A Historic Opportunity on Climate and How Outdoor Companies Can Help

You can watch the virtual sessions on-demand.

About Outdoor Industry Association  

Based in Boulder, Colo., 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 manufacturer, supplier, sales representative and retailer members through its focus on trade and recreation policy, sustainable business innovation and outdoor participation. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org or call 303.444.3353.

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