Third Annual Senator Patrick Leahy Trailblazer Legacy Award Recipient
Fifty-five years ago Johannes von Trapp launched the first cross-country ski center in the United States out of the 27-bed guest lodge that his mother, Maria von Trapp, was operating in Stowe. Today, the Trapp Family Lodge is an international destination for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, trail running, adaptive skiing, and events. Johannes (and his children) have expanded the property and the business: it now includes more than 45 miles of trails as well as an outdoor center, gear shop and an award-winning brewery.
Join us for the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance's Outdoor Economy Summit on November 2nd where we will award the Senator Patrick Leahy Trailblazer Legacy Award to Johannes von Trapp for his lifelong contributions to VT's outdoor economy, landscape, and communities.
Register for VOBA's Outdoor Economy Summit today!
VOBA Fifth Annual Outdoor Economy Summit and Member Meeting
Thursday, November 2nd from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
HULA, 50 Lakeside Avenue, Burlington
Join this networking event bringing together 125 Vermont outdoor businesses, organizations, service providers, and policymakers to envision Vermont’s future outdoor economy.
- Keynote speakers will acknowledge the social and economic impact of the fast growing outdoor economy in Vermont’s communities;
- Panel speakers will highlight entrepreneurship and career pathways, conservation and recreation infrastructure, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives;
- Discussions will identify opportunities for growing outdoor businesses and informing policy issues related to the outdoor economy;
- The ceremony for the third annual Trailblazer Legacy Award will honor the historical and long-lasting contributions of industry leaders; and,
- Don't miss the closing reception with views of Lake Champlain!
Register today and see you on November 2nd!
The cost of registration for VOBA members is offered at a sliding scale between $25 - $75. Registration for non-members is $50 and membership can be added for $125.
AGENDA
10:10 - 11:30 Re-Create the Outdoor Economy: Forums
- Conservation, Recreation, and Business Collaborations for the Outdoors: 30 by 30 and Other Opportunities
- Moderator: Drew Simmons, Principal, Pale Morning Media
- Nick Bennette, Executive Director, Vermont Mountain Bike Association & Co-Chair, Vermont Trails and Greenways Council
- Shelby Semmes, Vice President New England Region, Trust for Public Land, Jamey Fidel, General Counsel/Forest and Wildlife Program Director, Vermont Natural Resources Council & Forest Partnership
- Move Forward Together Vermont Business Conversation
- Jackie Dagger, Program Manager, Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative
- Claire Polfus, Recreation Program Manager, Vermont Dept of Forests, Parks and Recreation
12:00 Welcome & Reflections
- Lucia Campriello, Chief Growth Officer, HULA
- Wendy Knight, VOBA Board Vice-Chair
- Kelly Ault, Executive Director, VOBA
12:20 Remarks from Governor Phil Scott
12:40 Re-Create the Outdoor Economy: Panel
- Moderator: Adam Howard, Editor and Publisher, Height of Land Publications
- Nate Formalarie, Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives, Agency of Commerce and Community Development
- Randy Elles, Brand Director, First Stop Board Barn
- Weiwei Wang, Executive Director, Community and Policy, Vermont Professionals of Color Network
- Claire Zhu, Founder, Hootie Hoo
1:30 Re-Create the Outdoor Economy: Workshops
- Building Career Pathways and Businesses in Outdoor Communities - Moderator: Ann Nygard, Director, Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, VT State University; Doug Stewart, Retail Manager, Skirack, Mariah Keagy, Owner, Sinuosity Flowing Trails; Robin Crandall, The Gear House
- Creative Marketing to Grow Outdoor Businesses - Moderator: Katie Flagg, President, Press Forward; Andrea Charest, Petra Cliffs Climbing Center and Mountaineering School; Corinne Prevot, Founder, Skida & VOBA Board Director; Julia Zema, Brand Marketing and Operations Manager
- Advocating for Outdoor Economy and Climate Resiliency Policy - Moderator: Jill Sudhoff-Guerin, Owner, Maidstone Public Relations
3:00 Remarks from Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak
- Introduction: TJ Whalen, General Partner and Managing Director, FreshTracks Capital, VOBA Board Director
3:30 Third Annual Trailblazer Legacy Award Celebration
- Emcee: Lisa Lynn, Editor, Vermont Sports & Vermont Ski+Ride Magazines, VOBA Board Secretary
- Recipient: Johannes von Trapp, President, Trapp Family Lodge
4:00 Networking Reception
Governor Scott will provide opening remarks at the VOBA Outdoor Economy Summit.
On October 12, Governor Scott and the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) announced $6 million in funding to support communities across the state to strengthen their local outdoor recreation economies. The 2023 VOREC Community Grant Program is accepting applications for tracks including support for communities to recover flood impacted recreation resources and business projects to expand outdoor equity. The grant application deadline is December 15.
Bring your outdoor gear and clothing in need of repair to the Outdoor Economy Summit and staff from The Sandbox, a no-bounds creator space that promotes sustainable action through creativity, community and curated experiences, will fix it on site for a fee.
Sterling College students repaired fixed zippers, puffy coat holes, broken backpack straps, and seam failures during last year's VOBA event.
Thank you to the following partners and sponsors of the VOBA Outdoor Economy Summit
For sponsorship information, email [email protected].
2022 Outdoor Economy Sessions: Photos by Katie Palatucci
BECOME A MEMBER OF VOBA
In 2018, a Steering Committee of outdoor businesses established the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance (VOBA) as a statewide, nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening, expanding, attracting, and retaining outdoor recreation economy businesses in Vermont. Business roundtables around the state coalesced the sector around needs in financing, workforce, infrastructure, and branding.
Since then, VOBA’s 115 members and partners such as the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) have been behind VOBA's economic and social impact in building relationships, developing businesses, elevating the sector, advancing outdoor economy policy, and ensuring justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.
Looking ahead, we envision continued progress with VOBA's strategic priorities in networking and education, business collaborations, and growing companies and careers. To expand programming in the areas of VOBA's 3 - year strategic priorities and build a sustainable organization, VOBA relies on member contributions. Become a member today!
Source: Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance Tue, Oct 17
