I'm excited to share my conversation with Mike Cachat, a pioneer in our industry and someone I've known for many years.
Mike's journey from building a small bike repair business as a teenager to founding Jenson USA is a testament to seeing the future, perseverance, and innovation.
This episode is for you if you enjoy learning about the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and leadership or seek inspiration in growth and resilience.
Streaming on all podcast platforms, or watch on YouTube & Spotify.
Enjoy your day!
🏔 🚲 🌿 – Tony
I’m so happy to share this conversation with Nancy Dynan, someone I’ve had the privilege of knowing both professionally and personally. Nancy’s journey from the rowing world to the C-suite is nothing short of inspiring. We talk through her career evolution, the lessons she’s learned, and how she’s built strong, successful teams with LL Bean, prAna and NIXON to name a few. If you’re curious about aligning personal values with professional growth, this episode is a must-listen. Enjoy the insights, the wisdom, and a few surprises along the way.
Today, I sit down with a marketing maven with deep roots in the outdoor, endurance sports, nutrition, and fashion industries.
Christian Lepley takes us through his journey from an ad agency to spearheading innovative campaigns for Levi Strauss & Co., The North Face, a VF Company, and GU Energy Labs.
Listen now to hear us discuss launching buzz-worthy campaigns and professional pizza making.
Christian's curated magazine list
Like The Wind
https://www.likethewindmagazine.com/
Adventure Journal
https://adventure-journal.com/
Trails Magazine
Monocle
01:28 Christian's entry point into the outdoor industry
04:20 MO when taking on VP of Marketing at GU Energy Labs
08:51 Creating Buzzworthy content
09:17 We don't know exactly
10:21 creating emotion
10:58 Most powerful emotions
16:09 Do you need to be authentic?
20:33 Difference between agency side versus brand side
29:50 Endemic or general Marketing agencies in the outdoor industry
33:05 Transitioning your marketing from agency to in-house
Highline Outdoor Group
https://www.highlineoutdoor.com/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/outdoorindustryrecruiter/
Tony O'Neill sits down with Keith Denny, an outdoor and athletic footwear pioneer.
With a career spanning decades working at iconic brands such as Keen, Converse, Timberland, and Nike, Keith has grown businesses with integrity and excellence, focusing on people development and innovative product creation.
He shares his experiences and insight into the industry, stressing the importance of strong team culture, effective consumer insight and the necessity of innovation for growth. Keith also highlights the significance of sustainability and the future of the industry.
Keith Denny's book recommendations
Leaders Eat Last
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
01:13 Nike Rep brings a bag of shoes to choose from
02:39 Second part of this clip
05:59 Hiring the right fit for Nike retail
06:38 Nike Ekin Team
13:51 Using consumer insights
22:08 Overcoming challenges to grow Timberland globally
26:14 Building culture on a global scale
29:17 Global culture in the footwear industry
31:40 Balancing brand integrity, innovation and P&L globally
40:16 Outdoor Industry Sustainability Progression
Highline Outdoor Group
https://www.highlineoutdoor.com/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/outdoorindustryrecruiter/
Today, I sit down with the remarkable Troy Michels, an active lifestyle enthusiast and brand leader in the action sports, CPG, and the Outdoor Industry.
Troy's passion for outdoor activities has led him to experiences with various pro athletes, renowned brands and properties, including; Shaun White to Tiger Woods, Aspen Skiing Company/Snowmass, Budweiser, Burton Snowboards, @Coachella, JOCKO FUEL, K2, Nike, Oakley, ORIGIN® USA, Outside Magazine, the Olympics, Red Bull, Target, Universal, WME Sports/IMG, X Games, to name a few.
We dive deep into Troy's life as he crisscrossed North America, accumulating experiences that most of us can only dream of being part of.
Books discussed
How Highly Effective People Speak: How High Performers Use Psychology to Influence With Ease
The Ride of My Life
Decoded
https://a.co/d/hIYBdBg
Highline Outdoor Group https://www.highlineoutdoor.com/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/outdoorindustryrecruiter/
Join me today as I sit down with Bala Footwear Founder and CEO Brian Lockard, who developed a new footwear category after parting ways with Nike. Brian shares his incredible story of resilience, innovation, and unwavering determination in this episode. Discover how losing a job drove his mission to transform how healthcare professionals are treated and supported, just like elite athletes.
With a passion for bridging the gap between business and impact, Brian reveals the pivotal role that codified values and a strong company culture play in overcoming challenges and fostering success.
His story will inspire as he takes you behind the scenes of his groundbreaking healthcare footwear venture, where he listens and learns from healthcare professionals and actively involves them in the product creation process.
Book of Basketball
https://www.amazon.com/Book-Basketball-NBA-According-Sports/dp/0345520106
Insider Tips from an Outdoor Industry Career Transitioning Coach and Executive Recruiter. Join our host, Tony O’Neill, as he sits down with fellow Outdoor Industry career expert Katie Crafts to discuss how to land the best jobs in the Outdoor Industry. Katie shares valuable insights and actionable tips for job seekers looking to break into exciting and meaningful work. From customizing your resume to networking effectively on and off Linkedin, you'll discover the strategies that can make a difference in landing the best Outdoor Industry jobs in this highly competitive market. How to stand out and succeed in your Outdoor Industry job search. Proven strategies for success in navigating your job search. Secrets to landing your dream job in the Outdoor Industry. 00:00 How to get a job in the Outdoor Industry 00:55 Katie's path into the Outdoor Industry 07:19 How to align your passion to your career in the Outdoor Industry 12:28 Misconceptions about breaking into the Outdoor Industry 14:29 Making one of the most important life decisions 27:08 Internal goal vocalization and networking to land your dream job 28:17 The Outdoor Industry Job Market is Highly Competitive Katie Crafts https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiecrafts/ The KC Approach https://www.thekcapproach.com/ Katie’s Linkedin tutorial https://www.thekcapproach.com/freebie-linkedin-download
Today, I'm sitting down with Devon Sullivan, a mountain bike engineering savant, to discuss the world of mountain bike product development. We'll explore the differences between products designed for enthusiasts and those tailored for UCI Elite professional mountain bike racers.
Notably, Devon isn't just a mountain bike engineer; he's also an accomplished rider. He'll share his industry journey and emphasize the importance of patience and trust in product development.
We'll cover everything, from the significance of the product development process to the intricacies of engineering the Mountain Bikes that UCI World Cup racers use to secure the top spot on the podium.
Whether you're a passionate mountain biker or simply curious about the behind-the-scenes aspects of cycling industry product development, this episode promises to captivate and inform.
Highline Outdoor Group
https://www.highlineoutdoor.com/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/outdoorindustryrecruiter/
Join me as I sit down with Chuck Abood, Chief Operating Officer, and industry executive with over 28 years of experience in Run Specialty Retail.
From his early days selling health and life insurance to senior citizens, Chuck's journey led him to discover his passion for the sporting goods industry and eventually climb all the way up the ladder at Roadrunner Sports.
We dive deep into the fascinating evolution of his career progression and the growth of the business.
Chuck shares valuable insights into the challenges and strategies in expanding the company from one store to a retail network of 46 stores.
We also discuss the impact of the pandemic on the industry and the importance of staying active and embracing sustainability. Get ready to be inspired and gain valuable industry insights in this thought-provoking episode!
Chuck's recommended book
The Four Agreements: https://a.co/d/7q5YoWR
Highline Outdoor Group https://www.highlineoutdoor.com/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/outdoorindustryrecruiter/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/highlineoutdoor/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@outdoor_industry_recruiter
Tony O’Neill welcomes Alex Adema to discuss his incredible journey navigating the outdoor industry from the Snowsports side as the CEO of DPS Skis. From the challenges of financial sustainability to the resilience shown during the difficulty of a notoriously seasonal snowsports business.
Alex's story is one of adaptability and determination. They discuss the impact of: seasonal manufacturing, the Kickstarter campaign to launch the disruptive Phantom Glide ski treatment, DPS Skis’s brilliant culture, doing business in Utah, and their innovative solution of producing medical face shields by partnering with other outdoor industry brands during the lockdowns.
Join us as we delve into Alex's experiences, lessons learned, and the importance of transparency, community engagement, and embracing change in pursuing success.
Tune in on Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, Google and Apple to gain invaluable insights from this outdoor industry executive.