OIWC Announces Jerry Stritzke, President and CEO of REI, as Featured Speaker at Pledge Celebration and Leadership Awards at Interbike 2015

OIWC Announces Jerry Stritzke, President and CEO of REI, as Featured Speaker at Pledge Celebration and Leadership Awards at Interbike 2015

Wednesday, September 16 (Interbike Day 1) at 6:00 p.m.

Boulder, Colo. – September 11, 2015 – The Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition (OIWC) is pleased to announce Jerry Stritzke, president and CEO of REI, as the featured speaker at OIWC’s Pledge Celebration and Leadership Awards at Interbike. 

The OIWC Pledge Celebration and Leadership Awards is a public event celebrating a shared vision for an inclusive and welcoming cycling industry. Please join us on September 16 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Mandalay Bay, South Pacific F Ballroom, Las Vegas, NV.

“We are honored to provide a forum for Jerry to share with other industry leaders and influencers why The REI Foundation, in honor of its founder Mary Anderson, invested $1.5M earlier this year in OIWC’s efforts to build a more inclusive industry where great ideas and innovation are born from a diversity of experiences.” said Deanne Buck, executive director of OIWC. “We are also looking forward to celebrating those leaders who have already signed the OIWC CEO Pledge in the cycling industry and welcome those who want to learn more.”

In addition to Stritzke’s remarks, the event will also include the presentation of the 2015 bicycling industry Pioneering Woman and First Ascent awards. Previous winners of these awards, include Sally McCoy, president and CEO of CamelBak; Jenn Dice, vice president of Business Network at PeopleForBikes; and Sally Jewell, U.S. Secretary of the Interior.

Thank you to Pledge Celebration sponsors: Fuji Bikes, Bicycling Magazine, Interbike, and NBDA; and to Bicycle Retailer and Industry News’ support of the Leadership Awards.

More about REI:

Since 1938, REI has had a well-deserved reputation for its friendly expertise and high quality products. From its humble first “store” – a shelf at a Seattle gas station – REI today is the nation’s largest consumer co-op with more than 5.5 million active members. The company sells more than 1,400 emerging and top outdoor brands through its 140 retail stores in 33 states, REI.com and REI-Outlet.com. REI also offers a wide range of programming through REI Outdoor School and REI Adventures.

About OIWC

Founded in 1996, the Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition is the only national organization dedicated to workplace diversity and inclusion by expanding opportunities for women and companies in the outdoor, snow, run, and bike industries. Learn more at oiwc.org

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