We are grateful to following businesses, institutions, and individuals who shared our vision to bring the outdoor recreation community together across our great state of Washington. I would like to draw specific attention to our Advisory Team— those people who really dug into it with us and helped guide and direct us toward a shared vision in our first year. We were onto something. Then, the pandemic!
We must regretfully announce the closure of our Washington Outdoor Business Alliance for the foreseeable future. This was the most difficult decision our board and staff made in recent months. As we change the nature of our business model, we must pull back from our intended statewide scope and impact to focus our efforts locally, here in Bellingham.
For a more complete story and a glimpse of the future: 2021 Recreation Northwest & The Alliance.
Alliance Advisory Team
Clark Campbell, Gear Aid
Brian Roche, Gear Aid
Kelli Taylor, Geocaching
Jon Snyder, Outdoor recreation and Economic Development Senior Policy Advisor to Governor Jay Inslee
Van Schoessler, Oregon Outdoor Alliance
Lorrie Mittmann, Peninsula Adventure Sports
Rich Siemer, SMC
Linda Balfour, Superfeet
Martina Brimmer & Jason Goodman, Swift Industries
Don Goldberg, Whatcom County Regional Economic Partnership
Gina Stark, Whatcom County Regional Economic Partnership
2020 Washington Outdoor Business Alliance Members
Businesses
Moondance Sea Kayak Adventures
Mount Baker Experience Magazine
Organizations
Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance
Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition
Government Land Managers
Skagit County Parks and Recreation
Individuals
Zach Wilkinson
Students
Who was Represented?
We represented recreationists: hikers, bikers, runners, paddlers, boaters, equestrians, anglers and other outdoorists.
We are the business owners and employees who support those passions; We are the staff, board members and volunteers who protect our natural places and who introduce people to the love of participating outdoors. We are students studying the multi-disciplinary elements of the outdoor recreation industry.
Alliance Reach
Our core work and direct representation was in our hometown of Bellingham and Whatcom County. Our objective was to share our success with others across Washington State. We have Alliance Chapters in the North Sound (Whatcom/Skagit/San Juan), Seattle/King County and potential in Port Angeles/Peninsula.
Our relationships were growing in: Everett/Snohomish; Olympia/Thurston; Wenatchee/Chelan/Douglas; and the Methow Valley/Okanogan.
Todd Elsworth is one of the many “Mossy-haired lunatics roaming the dripping peninsulas”, described in “I’m Here for the Weather” by Tom Robbins. As executive director, he works to fulfill our mission to teach the health benefits of nature, promote outdoor recreation, and steward the places where we play.
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