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ME Outdoor Economy Summit - Thompson's Point Portland Maine

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

(subject to change)

Wednesday, November 29, 2023
(The Samoset)

Summit Opens - 2:30pm

Afternoon Concurrent Workshops

2:30pm - 4:30pm

Building Blocks of DEI Success

Rachel Hailey, DEI Outdoors

What makes a great diversity initiative? What metrics should we track? Why D.E.I. in the first place? How do we make the outdoors more inclusive? Find the answers to this and other questions at this session centered on diversity, equity, and inclusion
in the outdoors. You will leave with the latest strategies and action steps toward a powerful diversity initiative for your organization.

2:30pm - 4:30pm

Marketing the Great Outdoors: On Seas and Shores!

iBec Creative & Atlantic Sea Farms

Jesse Baines, Chief Marketing Officer, Atlantic Sea Farms; Justin Bazzano, Digital Marketer, iBec Creative; Liz Adley, Digital Marketer & Social Media Influencer, iBec Creative; Ross Webber, Digital Project Manager, iBec Creative

iBec Creative and Atlantic Sea Farms take you through the decision-making processes and opportunities available to outdoor brands in marketing.Through a review of their partnerships’ successes and challenges, these experienced marketers will share how they create an initial ad strategy, how they optimize based on data, and new opportunities out there in the marketing world that your organization could and should employ, including venturing into TikTok.

Location

Bissell Brothers,

Mezzanine

Rwanda Bean

2:30pm - 3:30pm

Managing Increasing Demand for Recreation in Maine

Moderated by Gabe Perkins, Executive Director, Inland Woods + Trails

Panelists include Susan Adams, Recreation Manager, Elliotsville Foundation Inc.; and Rex Turner, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands; and Stacey Keefer, Maine Marine Trades Association

Outdoor recreation in Maine is a draw to residents and tourists alike. Understanding increases in demand in Maine’s outdoor spaces informs and strengthens recreation management decisions. Participants will get a glimpse of what outdoor recreation use trends land and water managers are seeing and responding to in Maine. Learn and discuss strategies, tools and resources available to help best meet the growing demand.

 

Post workshop, join us for a gathering of the Maine Trails Coalition. Hear updates on what they’ve been working on since their formation in 2019. This will be a short presentation followed by a social meet and greet.

Stroudwater Distillery

3:30pm - 4:30pm

Maine Trails Coalition Meet-Up

All are welcome!

Stroudwater Distillery

5:00pm - 7:00pm

Summit Kick-Off Reception and Product Showcase Reveal

Brick South

Thursday, November 30, 2023
(The Samoset)

7:00am-7:45am

Thompson's Point Walk with Paul Drinan

Paul Drinan, Executive Director, Friends of Fort Gorges 

Please join us for some fresh air, networking, and a guided walk of the Thompson’s Point Trail network. Meeting location: Brick South at Thompson’s Point

Brick South

8:00am-8:30am

Breakfast

Brick South

8:30am-10:00am

Welcome 

Governor Janet T. Mills 

Commissioner Heather Johnson, Department of Economic & Community Development

Brick South

The State of the Outdoor Market

Kelly Davis, Director of Research, Outdoor Industry Association 

Outdoor Innovator Stories: Outdoor Equity Fund

Anthony Jackson, Nature Based Education Consortium

Defining and Driving the Outdoor Recreation Economy

Jessica Wahl Turner, Executive Director, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable

Outdoor Innovator Stories: Sidecountry Trails

John Anders & Akeem, Sidecountry Trails

10:00am-10:30am

Coffee Break

Brick South

Resource Hub

Ask an expert about fueling business, organizational and community growth

10:30am-11:15am

Discovering New Audiences - Dark Skies

Moderated by Jenny Ward, Appalachian Mountain Club 

Panelists include Nick Puleo, Founder of Comsint; Bridget Ryan, John D. O'Bryant School; Jessica Doonan, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; and Rondi Stearns, Appalachian Mountain Club

Brick South

Breakout Space

Discussion with Outdoor Industry Entrepreneurs

Moderated by Ponch Membreño, Outdoor Industry Consultant 

Panelists include Amanda Hatley, Founder & Director, She Summits Company;

Dylan Veilleux, Founder, Tree Free Fire, Ainsley Judge, the Gear Hub

Brick South

Main Room

11:30am-12:15pm

Retail and Consumer Trends

Matt Powell, The NPD Group

Brick South

Main Room

How Local Economies Can Benefit From Outdoor Recreation Trends Thinking Bigger For A Greater Economic Impact

Rachel Selsky, Camoin Associates

Brick South

Main Room

Outdoor Access for All

Moderated by Doug Beck, Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands. Panelists include Enock Glidden, Go Beyond the Fence; Gerry James, Together Outdoors Coalition Lead; and Anthony Jackson, Nature Based Education Consortium

Brick South

Breakout Space

12:15pm-1:00pm

Lunch

Brick South

Resource Hub

Ask an expert about fueling business, organizational and community growth

1:15pm-2:00pm

Authentically Using Your Business as a Force for Good

Moderated by Jenna Klein Jonsson, Partner, Blaze Partners 

Panelists include Devin McNeill, Co-Founder, Flowfold;

Beth Greenlaw, President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Sea Bags

Brick South

Breakout Space

Leveraging Outdoor Recreation to Grow Rural Economies

Moderated by Carolann Ouellette, Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation

Panelists include Mike Wilson, Northern Forest Center; Kristina Cannon, Main Street Skowhegan; Gerry Seavo James, Together Outdoors Coalition Lead/ Consultant, EPA Recreation Economy For Rural Communities; Polly Mahoney, Mahoosuc Guide Service; and Jennifer Neptune, beadworker, basketmaker and herbalist

Brick South

Main Room

2:00pm-2:50pm

Brick South

Outdoor Innovator Stories: Maine Gear Share

Emily Mackeown, Maine Gear Share

Evolution of the Outdoor Industry

Drew Simmons, Pale Morning Media; Kristin Hostetter, Outside Inc.; and Russell Walters, Northern Outdoors, Adventure Travel Trade Association

Outdoor Innovator Stories: Beach Box 

L.L.Bean 

2:50pm-3:20pm

Energizer Break

Brick South

Resource Hub

Ask an expert about fueling business, organizational and community growth

3:20pm-4:20pm

Brick South

Outdoor Innovator Stories: Streetlight Project

Kathleen Bell, University of Maine 

Outdoor Innovator Stories: Shred Electric 

Nick Planson, Shred Electric

Workforce Solutions Interactive Discussion: Creative Ways to Market Your Company Culture to Attract Talent 

Nate Wildes from Live + Work In Maine is going to get participants thinking about their company culture and how they can use it (or develop it) to recruit new talent.

Brands already sell their products and services to customers, but not all brands have invested resources in selling themselves as desirable employers. Please come to this session thinking about if you were promoting your brand as an employer, what would you want to promote? And how? We can also share ideas and discuss how MOB can do the same and collectively promote Maine employers. 

4:20pm-4:30pm

Closing Remarks

Brick South

5:00pm - 7:00pm

Basecamp Gather: Maine

Outdoor industry career networking and hiring event. FREE to anyone who works in the outdoor industry or wants to!

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Friday, October 14, 2022
(Lone Pine Brewery, Gorham)

9:30am-12:30pm

BONUS WORKSHOP

International Mountain Bicycling Association Trail Building - Planning & Design

Lone Pine Brewery, Gorham

IMBA Trail Ride

Steve Kasacek, IMBA

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