Beth Jensen Promoted to Senior Director of Sustainable Innovation for Outdoor Industry Association

January 4, 2017

BOULDER, Colo. (January 4, 2017) — Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), the trade association and catalyst for meaningful change for the outdoor recreation industry, is pleased to announce that Beth Jensen has been promoted to senior director of sustainable business innovation. A member of the OIA team for over six years, Jensen has helped forge the path to sustainable business for OIA members, facilitating multiple topic-specific working groups as well as the overarching Sustainability Working Group – which, in partnership with the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, has been instrumental in developing the Higg Index. This tool is becoming the industry standard for measuring and evaluating sustainability impacts across the supply chain and is being adopted by our industry’s best brands and suppliers.

“The hard work and dedication that Beth brings to her role on the sustainable business innovation team is evident in the sustainability resources and best practices OIA has been able to provide to the outdoor industry. From chemicals management to animal welfare and social responsibility to climate impacts on our businesses, she has led an impressive body of work at OIA,” said OIA Executive Director Amy Roberts. “We’re excited to see how Beth continues to build on the strength of sustainability, one of OIA’s three core pillars.”

In 2010, Beth was the first full-time employee hired by OIA to focus solely on sustainable business and supply chain practices – one of the first such roles within a trade association. She now enjoys the collaboration and efforts of several teammates in the Sustainable Business Innovation department at OIA, bolstered by a soon-to-be-hired program manager. She also provides input on regulatory issues related to OIA’s government affairs work.

“The OIA Sustainability Working Group has proven the viability of the pre-competitive, collaborative model to reduce the impacts of manufacturing outdoor products, and I am grateful to play a role in facilitating these efforts and driving meaningful change,” states Jensen. “I feel fortunate to work alongside and learn from outdoor industry product and supply chain experts every day – truly global leaders in product sustainability, who are passionate about the outdoors and leaving the planet a better place than they found it. I’m excited to continue growing the OIA sustainable business innovation program and driving sustainability practices throughout an industry I love.”

A Wisconsin native, Beth has lived in Boulder, Colo., since 2004. She likes self-imposed athletic physical suffering, trucker hats, tacos, Malbec, Camp 4 Coffee from Crested Butte, world travel, the Green Bay Packers and, of course, being an outdoorist. Beth holds a B.A. from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., and an M.B.A. from the University of Colorado at Boulder Leeds School of Business.

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 over 1300 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.