The OIWC Guide to Turning Your Passion into Your Profession

The Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition (OIWC) will launch a unique online guide for OIWC members and industry newcomers called The OIWC Guide to Turning Your Passion into Your Profession next month in Salt Lake City. As an insider’s perspective into the industry, the Guide is intended to be a navigation tool for those wanting to make their professions their passion. This valuable resource, which will make its debut at the upcoming Summer Outdoor Retailer trade show, is expected to quickly become the benchmark ‘how-to’ guide for navigating the outdoor industries.

The Guide, which was authored by many seasoned professionals of the OIWC, is a culmination of decades of industry experience organized in a usable, easy to read format to assist the user. The Guide begins by explaining the many segments of the Outdoor industry and offers advice on making the career transition; additionally it provides an overview of industry positions, available networking opportunities, non-profit resources, and much, much more.

Uniquely qualified to offer this guide, the OIWC is the only professional organization that works across all the key industries—outdoor, bike, and snow—and can offer perspective and guidance within each. Most importantly, the Guide emphasizes the OIWC mission of providing power, influence, and opportunity for women in outdoor-related businesses.

The Guide will be launched at an Outdoor Retailer luncheon on Sunday, August 10th at the downtown Marriot Salons G-I from 11:30 – 1 pm. The luncheon, graciously supported by Plum Recruiting, Keen Footwear, Outdoor Retailer, and the OIWC Education Foundation will be immediately followed by breakout sessions that focus on transitioning to the outdoor industry from three different perspectives:

•New to industry – for new grads or people from other industries. Break out session led by Katie Cosgrove – Director Recreation Outreach, American Canoe Association and Phyllis Grove – Director of Marketing, Mountain Hardwear.
•Transitioning within the industry – for those interested in moving between different segments (snow, bike, outdoor), functional areas (product, marketing, sales, operations), or from retail to vendor. Break out session led by Angela Hassan – Youth Division Manager, Backcountry.com and Heather Paul – Design/Athlete, Marmot.
•Re-entering the workforce or transitioning to different work/life balance – for women looking to shift their roles to improve their balance life/work or focus on family. Break out session led by Sarah Pitts – Marketing Manager Outdoor & Lifestyle Brands, Redwing Shoe Company and Sally Grimes – Executive Director, OIWC

OIWC will repeat this event (with different session leaders) in Portland on October 30, 2008 and in Seattle on November 7, 2008.
“We got involved with the OIWC over two years ago because we believe it is important to support the education and development of the people in the outdoor industries,” states founder and owner of Plum Recruiting, Betsy Curtin. “We truly think this guide will be an essential read for people who are pursuing professional opportunities within the outdoor industries and for those already gainfully employed looking to advance their careers.”

OIWC members can access the Guide and pre-register for the Salt Lake City, Portland or Seattle events online at www.oiwc.org. Visit the website to also learn about OIWC’s other events at the Summer Outdoor Retailer show and Interbike.

About OIWC
OIWC is a 501(c) 6 non-profit corporation focused on the mission of equipping women to achieve their success. The OIWC Education Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated specifically to providing women educational programs and career development resources. To learn more about the OIWC online member community or to become a new member or sponsor, please visit www.oiwc.org.

OIWC is sponsored at the Gold Plus level by EMS, Fox River, Keen, REI, Vasque and W.L. Gore & Associates. At the Gold level, sponsors are Jansport, Mountain Hardwear, and The North Face. Silver sponsors are Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, Burton, Camelbak, GearTrends/SNEWS, Giant Bicycles, Hi-Tec, Interbike, KPS3, Marmot, Outdoor Industry Association, Outdoor Retailer, SIA, Timberland, Tubbs Snowshoes, Twenty Four Seven, and Yakima. Bronze sponsors are Backpacker, Bikes Belong Coalition, Black Diamond, Cascade Designs, CGPR, Chaco, Contourwear, ExOfficio, Falcon Guides, Filson, Fuji Bicycles, GoLite, Gramicci, Guyot Designs, Kokatat, Moving Comfort, Nuun Active Hydration, Open Creative, Osprey, Outdoor Research, Plum, Primaloft, Quality Bicycle Products, Rogers Corporation, Schoeller, Shimano, Sierra Magazine, Specialized, Specialty Sports Venture, Terramar, Thule, and Turtle Fur. Friends of OIWC include, Aloe Up, Chaos, EarMitts, Earth Creations, Kiss My Face, ProTech Skin Care, Trade Association of Paddlesports, Wallaroo Hat Company and Zeal Optics.