Maine Outdoor Brands Continues to Grow, Adds Brian Threlkeld as Membership and Marketing Director
Maine’s non-profit outdoor alliance hires its second full-time staff member.
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PORTLAND, Maine (March 30, 2021) – Maine Outdoor Brands (MOB), the non-profit outdoor alliance working to strengthen Maine’s outdoor recreation economy, is excited to announce that it has hired Brian Threlkeld as its second full-time employee. As Marketing and Membership Director, Threlkeld will support member networking, education, and collaborative marketing initiatives, including MOB’s involvement in consumer and B2B trade shows such as Outdoor Retailer, which the group attends annually.
Maine Outdoor Brands unites business leaders and entrepreneurs in raising awareness of Maine’s outdoor recreation economy and strengthens Maine’s outdoor product/service companies through knowledge sharing, collaborative marketing and commerce efforts, and access to professional resources. The appointment of Threlkeld to MOB comes after the organization grew membership by 35% in 2020 – and now includes 125 Maine outdoor product, service, and retail companies and organizations – from outdoor gear makers to outdoor experience providers.
“From his experience working with outdoor brands, running his own business, and showcasing outdoor recreation in Maine through storytelling and photography, Brian is uniquely positioned to promote, support, and connect our growing membership base,” said Jenny Kordick, Executive Director of Maine Outdoor Brands. “The past year has underscored that outdoor recreation is a competitive advantage to our state. Bringing Brian on board allows us to further foster the development of the outdoor brands that call Maine home.”
Prior to joining MOB, Threlkeld worked in the education and nonprofit sectors in Maine over the last 15 years. Additionally, Threlkeld runs his own photography business – creating content for numerous MOB members including Good To-Go, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, Brant & Cochran, Grandy Oats, Equinox Guiding Service, Salt Pump Climbing Co, Back 40, Granite Backcountry Alliance and Maine Huts & Trails. He also sits on the advisory board for Baxter State Park as well as the board for Friends of Baxter State Park.
“I am so excited to join the small but mighty Maine Outdoor Brands team,” said Brian Threlkeld, the new Marketing and Membership Director of Maine Outdoor Brands. “Watching Jenny harness the strength of members and volunteers to grow the organization to where it is today has been tremendously inspiring. After working with the initial MOB advisory board back in 2017, it’s really fun for me to come full circle and continue the work we dreamt of doing from day one. I look forward to my role in elevating the outdoor recreation economy, collaborating with our amazing member brands, and inviting new brands into the MOB community. We are truly better together.”
Outdoor recreation made up 4.2% of Maine’s economy – double the national average. Maine is one of the top five states in the country in the value outdoor recreation adds to statewide GDP.
Amidst a boom in outdoor participation during the pandemic, Maine Outdoor Brands sees this continuing to grow in 2021 and beyond.
About Maine Outdoor Brands
Maine Outdoor Brands continues to work to unite, grow, and give a voice to the state’s outdoor recreation industry, supporting knowledge sharing, collaborative marketing, and commerce efforts and access to professional resources. MOB is committed to seeing Maine-based products, services, and retail brands thrive, and today has over 100 members and supporters that are a part of the mission. The organization was formed by leaders from Blaze Partners, Good To-Go, Flowfold, Trailspace and Stabil (now owned by Implus) in 2017.
