Camber Outdoors Announces 2018 ORSM Events, Call for Participation

The Business Case for Equity, Inclusion, and Intersectionality in the Active-Outdoor Industries

BOULDER, Colo. (May 14, 2018) – Camber Outdoors is pleased to announce its line-up of events during the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2018 in Denver, Colo., focused on advancing the active-outdoor industries through convening and conversations on equity, inclusion, and intersectionality.

“We know that the active-outdoor industries can accelerate business performance by focusing intentionally on bringing a variety of perspectives, experiences, and cultures in-house. In many ways, our industries are already at the leading-edge of prioritizing women’s leadership as a strategic business imperative,” said Deanne Buck, Executive Director of Camber Outdoors. “Camber Outdoors has always advocated for a business case and practices that support an equitable and inclusive workplace for all women. Our approach understands the importance of race, age, gender identity, sexual orientation and other critical dimensions of diversity. The word for this perspective and interplay of identities is intersectionality.”

Pre-Registration Event: Pitchfest
Showcasing the future of the active-outdoor industries, Pitchfest gives up-and-coming, early-stage businesses a platform to promote their companies, and an opportunity to receive professional guidance from experts. Seven high-potential companies have been selected not only as outstanding businesses, but also as the thought-leaders in innovation.
July 22, Day Zero, from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Register here

OR Show Floor: Breaking a Paradigm: Why Focusing on Women is not Enough
Camber Outdoors will facilitate a conversation on the show floor to explore why industry efforts aimed at inclusion must be intersectional. Research and experience show that companies that focus exclusively on women are often met with limited success in broader inclusion efforts. By understanding where white women and women of color overlap and diverge in experiences, we will begin to broaden our perspective and framework for the next generation of Camber Outdoors’ work.
July 23, Day One from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Breakfast Keynote: For All Women: From Backcountry to Boardroom  
This general admission event will feature five to six speakers who are actively accelerating inclusion and equity at the industries-level. Stories will range from a leader who has expanded and grown outdoor participation to a CEO who walks the talk by incorporating equity as a strategic business priority.
July 25, Day Three from 7-9 a.m.
Register here

Invitation-Only Event: Camber Outdoors Working Groups
Camber Outdoors will launch multi-stakeholder working groups that bring together member companies, non-profits, and other key stakeholders to co-create agreed upon industry indicators for accelerating business performance through a lens of more equitable and inclusive workplace cultures where a diversity of ideas, perspectives, and people lead.
July 25, Day Three from 3-6 p.m.

“One thing is for sure, there’s no ‘one size fits all’ model for unleashing the power of diversity, inclusion, and equity within an industry,” Buck said. “I am proud that so many of our industries’ leaders see the alignment of values and smart business practices as part of their business differentiator. Diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace are both smart for business and the bottom line, and Camber Outdoors is committed to making the active-outdoor industries the employer of choice for all.”

Camber Outdoors will release additional information on each event, including speakers and locations, as details are finalized.

About Camber Outdoors
Founded in 1996, Camber Outdoors (formerly OIWC) envisions a future of “Everyone’s Outdoors.” It is the only national organization dedicated to achieving equality for all women in the outdoors, from backcountry to boardroom, through innovative and thought-leading programming and initiatives, including the Thought-Leader Keynote, CEO Pledge, Pitchfest, and Cross-Industry/Company Professional Mentoring Program. More than 185 companies, 4,500 individual members, and 18,000 constituents engage with Camber Outdoors.

To learn more about Camber Outdoors please visit:
Website: camberoutdoors.org
Facebook: facebook.com/CamberOutdoors.FanPage
Twitter: @camberoutdoors
Instagram: @camberoutdoors
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/camberoutdoors