Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition Announces Recipients of the 2016 Pioneering Woman and First Ascent Awards for the Snow Industry

January 12, 2016

Winners to be Recognized at the OIWC Keynote and Leadership Awards at the SIA Snow Show on January 30

BOULDER, Colo., January 12, 2016 – The Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition (OIWC) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2016 Pioneering Woman and First Ascent awards for the snow industry.

Kelly Davis, director of research at SnowSports Industries America (SIA) will receive the Pioneering Woman award. Kerry O’Flaherty, founder and owner of KerryO Sales, will receive the First Ascent award. Both awards will be presented at the OIWC Keynote and Leadership Awards presentation at the SIA Snow Show on January 30 at 7 a.m. MST at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.

The Pioneering Woman and First Ascent awards were created to honor women who have made significant achievements in the snow industry while working toward greater diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Nominated by their peers, recipients represent the present and future generations of innovative leaders in the snow industry.

With a career spanning 25 years in research in a wide variety of industries, Davis joined SIA as its director of research in 2007. O’Flaherty has worked in the ski and snowboard industry for more than 25 years, starting as a retail sales associate and later creating her own sales agency, KerryO Sales.

“Kelly and Kerry have extensive experience in their respective areas and have made tremendous contributions to the overall growth and sustainability of the snow industry,” said Deanne Buck, executive director of OIWC. “Our mission is to support women like Kelly and Kerry. We believe that women are the biggest opportunity for business growth and we are committed to supporting the snow industry in attracting and retaining top-tier female talent.”

In addition to the awards presentation, Mark Satkiewicz, president and general manager of SmartWool, a division of VF Outdoor, will be the keynote speaker. He will share how greater leadership diversity and workplace inclusion has played a role in the company’s near four-fold increase in annual sales since he assumed the helm.

The OIWC Keynote and Leadership Awards presentation is open to the public. RSVP is requested, but not required. For additional information about the award recipients, visit www.oiwc.org/?AwardRecipients.  For additional information about the event, or to RSVP, visit www.oiwc.org/SIAKeynote.

About Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition

The Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition is the only national organization dedicated to workplace diversity and inclusion by expanding opportunities for women and companies in the outdoor, snow, run, and bike industries. Learn more at oiwc.org.