| October Newsletter / Issue 69 |
|
Vote Yes on 4: Maine Trails Bond
|
|
| MOB is proud to throw our support behind the Maine Trails Bond.
This fall, either at the ballot box or by mail, VOTE YES ON 4 and fund the future of Maine’s trails. Investment in our trails is an investment in our entire state. Trails strengthen community connections, bolster health and accessibility, and improve our quality of life.
Currently, Maine invests almost no public funding in our trails, even though they are a core part of our way of life. The Maine Trails Bond will provide sorely needed funding to repair and expand trails statewide, creating safe and accessible outdoor spaces for all Mainers. |
|
MOB Partnerships & Collaborations
|
|
| A big thank you to all of our members who took time to participate in our annual member survey. We’re excited to report that over 50% of our members across nearly all organization types have collaborated with fellow MOB members in the past year. Retailers and Brands Under $1M lead the way with the highest rates of collaboration, demonstrating the strength of community and the power of working together. |
|
Maine Amends PFAS Products Regulations
|
|
| Maine was one of the first states to adopt a law regulating the use of PFAS in consumer products. That original law required broad reporting of PFAS in products. In the recent legislative session, Maine amended the law to eliminate the general reporting requirement, and instead phase out intentionally added PFAS across several categories of products, require reporting on a select set of products granted extensions, and eventually phase out the use of intentionally added PFAS across nearly all products by 2032.
The new approach to phase out PFAS mirrors a growing number of states across the country—each with its own set of definitions, timelines, and exceptions. See MOB’s new fact sheet that provides an overview of the Maine law and a look at the national PFAS landscape. |
|
| Want to learn more? Join the session at the Maine Outdoor Economy Summit in November: “The PFAS Landscape: Phasing Out ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Outdoor Products”. |
|
Welcome MOB’s New Board Leadership
|
|
|
| Board members back row from left: Ponch Membreño, Marshall Merriman, Paul Botticello, Charlie Bruder, Kevin Haley, Mike Gantry, Jim Hauptman, Taki Miyamoto. First row from left: Jenna Klein Jonsson, Martha Bentley, Sokunthy Yean, Devin McNeill, Attessa Bradley. Not pictured: Jen Brophy and Kay Henry. Credit: Brian Thelkeld, Photography for the People |
|
| We are excited to announce new board leadership at Maine Outdoor Brands! Devin McNeill, CEO and Co-Founder of Flowfold, has been appointed as our new board president, succeeding Kay Henry, who we deeply appreciate and want to thank for her incredible commitment and service. |
|
| Devin McNeill co-founded Flowfold while attending the University of Maine. What began as a company selling a single wallet made from recycled sailcloth has evolved into a mission-driven brand offering a variety of products made from recycled materials. In 2020, McNeill pivoted his company to produce over a million face shields for hospitals and essential workers during the pandemic. |
|
|
| MOB is also excited to announce three new additions to its board. These leaders bring a wealth of experience in marketing, organizational development, and product innovation, all vital to advancing MOB’s mission: |
|
| Attessa Bradley, a seasoned marketer with nearly 25 years of experience, has driven growth for mission-focused companies like Stonyfield Organic and Orgain Clean Nutrition. Currently serving as Chief Marketing Officer at Grandy Organics, Bradley is passionate about sustainability and outdoor recreation, regularly engaging with Maine’s natural landscapes alongside her family. |
|
|
| Mike Gawtry is an outdoor product and retail expert, having held leadership positions at renowned brands like L.L.Bean, Orvis, and Umpqua. As a Registered Maine Guide for over 20 years, Gawtry brings both personal and professional dedication to outdoor pursuits, contributing his knowledge to elevate Maine’s outdoor economy. |
|
|
| Paul Botticello brings extensive expertise in organizational and leadership development, having spent nearly two decades at L.L.Bean, where he played a key role in corporate strategy, leadership development, and organizational transformation. Paul now runs his own consulting firm and has a deep history of board work and community engagement, with a focus on outdoor recreation initiatives. |
|
|
| Charlie Bruder of L.L.Bean has been nominated as vice president of the board, and Sokunthy Yean of Sea Bags will serve as treasurer.Lastly, we’re deeply grateful to Jim Hauptman for his leadership and founding vision, which helped position MOB as a key driver of Maine’s thriving outdoor economy. Jim, founder of Maine Outdoor Brands and partner at Blaze Partners, has termed off the MOB board after years of dedicated service. During MOB’s annual board retreat at Chewonki in early October, Jim was honored with a custom wooden canoe paddle from MOB member Shaw & Tenney in recognition of his leadership and contributions. |
|
| Are you a MOB member or interested in becoming one? Don’t miss our next MOB Scene next Thursday the 24th at Maine GearShare in Brunswick from 5-7pm. Come meet and connect with other members, learn about the cool things that are happening at Maine GearShare and you can even drop off your gear that needs to be repaired (just make sure it’s wicked clean!). |
|
Save Your Seat: Maine Outdoor Economy Summit
|
|
| With just one month to go, the Maine Outdoor Economy Summit is fast approaching, and tickets are selling out! Join us from November 13-15, 2024, at the Sunday River Grand Summit Hotel in Newry, Maine, for three days of collaboration and inspiration among outdoor industry business leaders, educators, community partners, policymakers, youth leaders, economic developers, and outdoor enthusiasts.
This is your chance to connect with other industry leaders, engage in discussions on critical topics and trends, and share ideas that will help shape the future of Maine’s outdoor industry.
Register now to secure your seat! If you’re a MOB member, don’t forget to email rebecka@maineoutdoorbrands.com for your member discount code!
We look forward to seeing you there! |
|
MOB Fall Finance Workshop Series
|
|
|
Check out our upcoming Fall Finance Workshop Series for outdoor businesses! These workshops offer three key sessions designed to help outdoor businesses succeed financially.
|
|
| The Fall Finance Workshop Series was created in partnership with Maine Technology Institute and Founded Outdoors. |
|
UMF Outdoor Recreation Career Job Fair
|
|
| MOB headed up to Farmington last week to attend UMF’s Outdoor Recreation Career Job Fair. In addition to connecting with other MOB members tabling there, we met a lot of highschool and UMF students who are interested in careers in outdoor recreation. The weather was typical Maine weather, warm, cold, sunny, breezy, rainy and windy, but we had a wonderful time on campus and are looking forward to working with area schools and the Outdoor Recreation Business Administration (ORBA) program this fall on some special projects! |
|
Leadership Maine Bus Tour
|
|
| MOB’s marketing director, Rebecka Dykstra, participated in a Leadership Maine bus tour of Central & Western Maine organized by the Maine Development Foundation this month.
The cohort visited several Maine organizations throughout the tour, beginning with Huhtamaki and Educare in Waterville. In Skowhegan, they met with Kristina Cannon at Main Street Skowhegan to explore downtown revitalization initiatives and toured Maine Grains. They ventured up to the Saddleback Ridge Wind Project with Patriot Renewables to see wind turbines up close, and then met up with George O’Keefe in Rumford to discuss economic and community development. From there, they stopped at the Nexamp Solar Array before continuing with visits to the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum in Bethel, Middle Intervale Farm, a seven-generation family farm, Hancock Lumber in Casco, and Maine Crisp in Winslow.
The experience provided a valuable opportunity to understand the community and economic attributes of the region, gain insights into the challenges specific to rural Maine, hear about best practices from organizations contributing to the area’s quality of life, and recognize the importance of collaboration and the leadership necessary to ensure success. |
|
| Check out the October issue of Month @ MOB, our roundup of 10 of the latest happenings in Maine’s outdoor industry each month. |
|
FLYN Designs Voting Sticker for Westbrook
|
|
| The city of Westbrook recently approached FLYN to create a voting sticker featuring a rascally raccoon holding his ballot at the polls. This charming raccoon painting will be transformed into stickers available FREE for Westbrook, ME voters after they fulfill their civic duty! |
|
Peace House Studio Launches Limited Edition “VOTE” Sweatshirt
|
|
| Commissioner Johnson Names New Director of Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation Read More → |
|
| Slow Fashion Durable Clothing Brand, Peace House Studio, Launches New Adult Collection More → |
|
|
| Maine Island Trail Association Names Ben Dougherty as Executive Director Read more → |
|
|
| Queerly ME is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to creating and increasing LGBTQIA+ visibility, resource accessibility, and Queer centered outdoor programming in Maine. Through initiatives such as our ongoing featured photo documentary, comprehensive resource directory, and diverse outdoor programming, we strive to facilitate meaningful, long-lasting connections and foster a sense of community belonging for LGBTQIA+ folks statewide. Each component of Queerly ME’s mission is vital in fostering spaces where individuals can form support networks and community connections while feeling empowered to engage in nature as their authentic selves. |
|
|
| We are a business set out to create a rafting company that offered the best whitewater rafting trips in Maine. Over the years, the Three Rivers Family has earned a reputation for its dedication to providing unforgettable experiences and excellent guest service on and off the river. We are now known around the world as “The Home of Serious Fun!” |
|
|
Thank You to Our Supporters!
|
|
| Tree Line: Bernstein Shur, MXH Marketing
Interested in sponsorship opportunities for 2024? Reach out to jenny@maineoutdoorbrands.com. Thank you for supporting Maine’s outdoor economy! |
|
| Maine Outdoor Brands is a member-driven alliance of outdoor product makers, experience providers, retailers and organizations invested in strengthening Maine’s $3 billion outdoor recreation economy. As champions of our state’s growing outdoor industry, we believe there is strength in numbers and aim to be a catalyst for growth. We empower outdoor businesses to thrive by providing collaborative marketing, networking, resource sharing and education in partnership with the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation. |
|
|
|
