Grassroots Outdoor Alliance strengthens community, communications and collaboration with promotion of Dana Howe to role of Vice President

August 24, 2023

Howe’s expanded role is anticipated to include oversight of overall organizational communications with the Grassroots community, top-level engagement in strategic organizational initiatives, and collaboration on internal team dynamics and leadership with Gabe Maier, president of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance.

EAST RIDGE, TENNESSEE (AUGUST 24, 2023)/OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Grassroots Outdoor Alliance (www.grassrootsoutdoors.com), the national organization working together for the health and growth of specialty outdoor retail, this week named Dana Howe as Vice President.

The new role is an expansion of Howe’s previous work as Director of Membership and Education, a role which she has held since spring of 2021.

Howe’s expanded role is anticipated to include oversight of overall organizational communications with the Grassroots community, top-level engagement in strategic organizational initiatives, and collaboration on internal team dynamics and leadership with Gabe Maier, president of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance.

“While the growth of interest and membership in Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is certainly a strong positive indicator for the health of the broader outdoor industry, it’s also a testament to the people who make up our community and keep it all moving forward,” said Howe. “That spirit of connection makes Grassroots a truly unique organization, and I look forward to our work together in the coming years.”

“As the independent specialty outdoor marketplace continues to grow and evolve, Grassroots is matching those positive changes with a few staffing adjustments of our own,” said Maier. “While Dana’s promotion is great news for the Grassroots organization, it’s also great news for the specialty retail community, as her knowledge, energy and dedication are assets that we will all continue to benefit from.”

Howe originally joined Grassroots in September of 2015 as retailer relations manager before being elevated to Director of Retail Membership in July, 2020. Prior to that, Howe held outdoor industry management roles with Stonewear Designs/Great Trango Holdings and Elevation Outdoors magazine.

Howe’s experience includes service as an Outdoor Industry Association board member (2018-2021), as well as graduation from the Skip Yowell Future Leadership Academy (2017). She is currently a member of the Camber Outdoors Allyship Program, and completed their Mentorship Program in 2015.

In her local community of East Ridge (Tennessee), Howe serves on civic boards including the City of East Ridge Planning Commission (Vice Chair), City of East Ridge Camp Jordan Park, Sports & Recreation Expansion, and City of East Ridge Centennial (Chair).

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ABOUT GRASSROOTS OUTDOOR ALLIANCE:

Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is a retailer-owned active network of 101 independently owned outdoor retailers and 69 vendor partners, working together for the health and growth of specialty outdoor retail. Through data collection and analysis, direct member support, specialty events and deep vendor partnerships, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is creating both a vision and roadmap for the long-term success of independent specialty retail. Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is recognized as a catalyst for the success of its retailers and vendor partners; an advocate for specialty independent retail; a promoter of education and community within the specialty channel; and a key influencer of the national outdoor industry. For more information on Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, please go to www.grassrootsoutdoors.com.

Connect by Grassroots is our twice annual legacy show experience that spans 4 days offering an efficient and structured format for retailers to conduct their pre-season line showings and business conversations. Connect appointments are scheduled well in advance of the show which supports brands that already have established business with our retail attendees. Connect is focused and efficient and allows retailers and brands to conduct business together at the right time in the buying cycle, while also incorporating opportunities to celebrate the outdoor industry and retail community. The next Connect will be held June 12-15, 2023 (Knoxville, Tenn.). For more information, please visit https://connect.grassrootsoutdoors.com.

Discovery Marketplace by Grassroots is our exploration experience aimed at introducing our attending retailers to new, niche, and exciting brands in a 3-hour unstructured open format offered at the beginning of Grassroots. The Discovery Marketplace is about making introductions and building new relationships between retailers and emerging brands. The next Discovery Marketplace (LINK) will be held June 11, 2023 (Knoxville, Tenn.).

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