Camber Names Renita E. Smith as Co-CEO
Posted On July 30, 2021
BOULDER, Colo. — The Board of Directors of Camber announced today that they have named Renita E. Smith as Co-CEO. She joins Emily Newman at the helm of the membership-based organization focused on workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion across the $887 Billion Outdoor Recreation Economy. Together, the two will lead Camber in equipping the leadership of 300+ Fortune 100, small business, and nonprofit member organizations to achieve systems change.
Smith brings to Camber more than two decades of strategic leadership experience spanning both corporate and nonprofit sectors, including a deep understanding of how to engage multicultural consumers, audiences, and communities. In her most recent role as Camber’s Chief Programs Officer, Smith envisioned and operationalized an interactive, engaging suite of actionable resources to empower partners to build inclusive, equitable, and diverse workplaces. In the past year, Camber membership increased 50% and member engagement in Camber resources grew 300%.
Prior to joining Camber, Smith founded Principles Marketing, a strategic consultancy focused on building purpose-driven brands for superior performance and social impact. Notable projects included work with Microsoft, the Los Angeles Urban League, and several large health systems and venture-backed healthcare companies. Smith began her career in consumer marketing at General Mills, where she was one of a cohort of individuals worldwide honored with the Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Performance. Smith holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Stanford University and a Master of Business Administration from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
“I am energized to take on the Co-CEO role at a pivotal moment for industry leaders to transform workplaces so that people from all communities, backgrounds, identities, faiths, and worldviews can thrive. Our new leadership model will allow us to take action that is commensurate with the scale of this opportunity. Together with Emily and our Camber Partners I look forward to building workplaces that engage a broader pool of talent to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse consumer base. Camber is poised to be a catalyst and a model for meaningful and measurable systems change in our industry — and in our society as a whole,” Smith said.
“I could not be more excited to be standing together with Renita – and the outstanding Camber team and Board of Directors – to make our community and companies stronger. Inclusive, equitable and diverse workplaces are vital to the future of the Outdoor Recreation Economy. Our new Co-CEO structure is truly an example of one plus one equals three – we can go further, faster, together,” Newman said.
As the result of this new leadership structure, Camber will be a Black- and woman-led enterprise, positioned to benefit from both Renita’s and Emily’s diverse insights and perspectives. Co-CEO leadership of the organization is effective immediately. To read Renita Smith’s bio click here. To read Emily Newman’s bio click here.
About Camber
Camber is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing inclusion, equity, and diversity across the workplaces that comprise the $887 billion Outdoor Recreation Economy. Camber provides a growing community of corporations, nonprofits and small businesses with programs and tools that accelerate workplace systems change. To learn more about Camber, visit www.camberoutdoors.org.
