Outdoor Project Announces Outdoor Industry Veterans as Key New Hires

February 28, 2017

Kent Ebersole and Mike Wallenfels join Outdoor Project Team

— Kent Ebersole joins as VP of Sales —

— Mike Wallenfels joins Board of Directors —

PORTLAND, OREGON – Local startup Outdoor Project—found online at outdoorproject.com—announced today that long time outdoor industry veteran, Kent Ebersole, has joined the company as its first Vice President of Sales. The company also announced that Mike Wallenfels, VP Sales at Hydro Flask, has joined the company’s Board of Directors.

In bringing Ebersole and Wallenfels onboard, Outdoor Project is poised to continue its track record of incredible growth and position itself as a leader in the emerging group of new outdoor media companies. Ebersole’s career has been in media, most recently as General Manager, VP of the Outdoor Group at Active Interest Media. Joining Ebersole’s sales team is Abbe Simmons, newly named as Outdoor Project’s Director of Sales, bringing a career of media sales experience in travel and publishing in New York.

Ebersole commented, “I was immediately attracted to the amazing growth Outdoor Project has been able to generate through its community, one that was built organically and by word of mouth. I look forward to helping the business grow and integrating brands that are trying to attract a young and diverse audience of outdoor enthusiasts.”

The addition of Wallenfels to the company’s Board of Directors is a huge success for Outdoor Project. He brings his experiences from the early days of Mountain Hardware through the growth and acquisition stages of a business, including roles as CEO of Timbuk2 and now sales at Hydro Flask. His comments largely echoed Ebersole. “Outdoor Project is part of a completely new generation of outdoor related media that connects the end user with the adventures they want to share. Their focus on content through a grassroots approach has led me to an exciting opportunity to work with Outdoor Project on a strategic level. They are the new face of the outdoor experience and I look forward to finding ways to leverage my experience to help their vision come to life,” said Wallenfels.

Ebersole concluded, “Outdoor Project has quietly proven the connection between design, high quality content and audience engagement due in part to our unique contributor model. Being on the leading edge of this equation opens doors for our partners to have a real conversations with our community.”

About Outdoor Project

Outdoor Project’s goal is to create the most comprehensive online resource and the largest community for outdoor adventure and travel, with a plan to revolutionize the way that people find, search for and share their outdoor experience. The website provides photos, maps, and guides for all types of human-powered outdoor activities. The content aims to inspire users to explore new places, head a little bit further down their favorite trails, and get outside more often to find adventure. Outdoor Project starts with exceptional photography and adventure videos, custom maps, and guides. A community of members completes the picture. Outdoor Project, an Oregon Angel Fund and Cascade Angels portfolio company, can be found at outdoorproject.com.