Augusta, MAINE – The Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation and Maine Outdoor Brands have announced the full agenda is now available for the first ME Outdoor Economy Summit. The Summit will be held on October 12 and 13 at Thompson’s Point in Portland with a special International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) Trail Workshop on October 14.
As the premier event for the outdoor industry to gather and focus on the shared vision of advancing Maine’s outdoor recreation economy, the agenda highlights innovation and entrepreneurship along with best practices of marketing, sustainability and economic development through professional development sessions. Governor Janet Mills will deliver opening remarks on the morning of October 13.
“We are excited about the depth and breadth of the agenda which features an impressive and diverse lineup of speakers. The sessions cover topics that are timely and relevant for the outdoor industry and we hope they inspire and provide some actionable takeaways,” said Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation Director, Carolann Ouellette.
Networking opportunities throughout the two days are a key element of the Summit, including a kick-off reception, meetups, and a product showcase of outdoor gear and equipment from Maine companies. In addition, Basecamp Outdoor, the 40,000-strong network of outdoor industry job seekers and leaders, will host Basecamp Gather: Maine a networking event and hiring fair in conjunction with the Summit. The event will feature leading brands like L.L.Bean, Sea Bags, Maine Summer Camps and Appalachian Mountain Club, open to anyone who currently works in the outdoor industry or wants to work in the industry in the future.
The ME Outdoor Economy Summit is jointly presented by Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation and Maine Outdoor Brands, and a key part of their collaborative work together to grow Maine’s outdoor recreation economy. Summit sponsors include Maine Marine Trades Association, Blaze, Headlight Audio Visual, Acadia Benefits, Outdoor Industry Association, Malone, NaviTour, Explore New England, L.L.Bean, Johnson Outdoors, Skowhegan Savings, Maine Connectivity Authority, Norway Savings Bank, Yarmouth Payroll Plus, Maine Trails Coalition, Rwanda Bean, Stroudwater Distillery and Bissell Brothers Brewing.
The agenda and registration for the Summit can be found at moesummit.com.
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About Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation
Maine’s Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR) was permanently established in 2019, to leverage Maine’s assets and outdoor recreation heritage to grow the outdoor recreation economy and build Maine’s outdoor recreation brand as part of a coordinated effort with partners from the public and private sectors. Learn more at www.maine.gov/decd/programs/maine-office-of-outdoor-recreation. Maine is a member of the Confluence of States, a coalition of eight states working to strengthen the outdoor recreation industry.
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 150 member brands that are a part of the mission.