Successful Succession
Succession planning is critical in securing long-term success for future owners of a business, and cementing the legacy of current ones.
Portfolio
This page contains links to many (but not all) of the articles I’ve written over the years, primarily my outdoor business pieces for Outside Business Journal and SGB Media. Below the top section you'll find select articles from other publications.
Outdoor business writing
The Risk of Not Investing in Tech
A look at the costs of investing—or not investing—in the latest the latest software and what the future may bring.
What's Next in Ski Area Technology?
Tech vendors dish on how diffierent innovations can help reduce friction and improve the guest experience.
Interview: Agile Supply Chain Helps Drive a Company’s Financial Success
A smoothly run supply chain and procurement department operates in anonymity, and that’s traditionally been the case at Vista Outdoor, according to David Stokoe, Vice President Strategic Procurement and head of the company’s Supply Chain Center of Excellence.
The two young entrepreneurs taking over a century-old boot company
Limmer Boots has produced world-class footwear since 1919. After working through a few years of transition, the business has new leadership in Chris Sawyer and Adam Lane-Olsen, two brand loyalists who want to carry the company's legacy forward.
BOA chief executive: 'We have fewer brand partners today than five years ago—and that’s on purpose'
Shawn Neville, who joined BOA five years ago, dishes on his company’s recent ownership change, how Covid impacted demand, threats to the brand’s success, and what’s next.
Spyder Footwear executive dishes on the brand’s launch, aspirations
Former Amer Sports sales director Jon Hanson plans to make a name for the nascent brand reminiscent of Spyder's rise to prominence in skiwear.
Stocks update: Outdoor industry continues to climb out of deep hole
More outdoor companies saw their shares grow rather than decline in October, but the industry still lags behind other sectors as supply chain concerns intensify.
Outdoor industry sales numbers grew moderately in Q3, despite headwinds
In the third quarter, even in the face of continued supply chain congestion, outdoor-focused public companies continued to post positive sales and profit figures.
Solo Brands went public today. Here's where the IPO pricing landed.
The recently formed parent company of four outdoor brands began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday.
Why is Patagonia now selling wine?
Patagonia Provisions this week unveiled a collection of wines, ciders, and sake, bolstering its existing lineup of food and beer.
REI opens first Wyoming location with new Jackson Hole store
The co-op, which has offered adventure tours in Wyoming for more than a decade, on Nov. 5 will open its first store in the state.
PrimaLoft steps into the spotlight with its first consumer-focused campaign
The ingredient brand—which “people feel but usually don’t see,” in the words of CEO Mike Joyce—is now talking directly to those who buy the products its technologies enhance.
Market research company NPD Group sold to PE firm
NPD Group, which tracks product sales data for the outdoors and numerous other industries, found itself in the crosshairs of one outdoor group earlier this year.
Outdoor DEI coalition Together Outdoors unveils council members
Together Outdoors, a coalition supported by the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and composed of businesses across the outdoors, has grown to 77 member organizations.
6 films about outdoor equity compete for $25,000 production grant
The Redford Center is highlighting films that present the myriad benefits of being outdoors while also shining a spotlight on the current, historical, and social inequities of nature accessibility.
REI to close on Black Friday for seventh year in a row
REI is continuing its annual #OptOutside campaign—despite a tough sales environment due to Covid in 2020—by closing its doors on Black Friday and encouraging customers to spend time outdoors.
Solo Brands—owner of Solo Stove, Oru Kayak, and more—announces IPO
Only incorporated since June and currently PE-backed, the platform is already preparing to go public as it looks to leverage the success of its four outdoor brands.
Study: Climate change poses an existential threat to outdoor recreation
As the climate warms in coming years, demand for outdoor recreation in the U.S. is expected to decrease, a new study from Utah State University finds.
Outdoor industry stocks suffer setbacks in Q3
Outdoor-focused publicly traded companies saw their collective shares sink 6.1 percent in the third quarter, signaling a return to earth after a scorching first half of 2021.
REI launches DEI-focused charity with initial $1 million investment
The REI Cooperative Action Fund will support “nonprofit organizations promoting justice, equity and belonging in the outdoors.”
150 outdoor journalists, marketers, and brand reps gather at Outdoor Media Summit
The 5th annual event in Estes, Colorado, gave outdoor journalists a place to learn, collaborate, and network and a select number of brands to really connect with their message.
Confluence of States officers met at Outdoor Media Summit to collaborate on growing the outdoor economy
The Confluence of States event included the signing of new offices of outdoor recreation and ways that ORECs can work with media and brands to further the outdoor economy.
Gore unveils new membrane for outdoor apparel and gear
The ingredient brand has combined its expanded polyethylene (ePE) with another polymer, polyurethane (PU), to create a new membrane that improves durability and performance.
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Other sports/outdoor business writing
Sourcing Snow - Tomorrow's Technology
Material innovations on display at this year's Sourcing Snow – held all four days on the main floor of Snow Show – are further proof the industry is hearing consumers' demands for warmer, drier, lighter and more breathable apparel.
Show Newcomers
New exhibitors at SIA Snow Show include apparel-makers and gear innovators.
Open Source
Sourcing Snow enters its fourth year at the SIA Snow Show as an increasingly popular and essential destination for any manufacturer seeking a fresh crop of fabric, textile and fastener suppliers.
Rally Time
As soon as he heard the Memphis Redbirds were coming to town in 1998, Buddy Young bought season tickets and has renewed them every year since.
Conserve and Protect
Iconic nautical images abound on the modern-day Mississippi River, this country’s largest and most storied river system. Stroll along the banks of the “Mighty Mississippi” and it’s possible to see a tugboat pushing a barge against the current, a steamboat churning through the muddy waters, a Coast Guard cutter darting across the choppy surface.
A River Runs Through Us
Paddle a canoe down the Ghost River section of the Wolf River in Fayette County and you’ll travel through multiple, distinct ecosystems teeming with wildlife. But while animal sightings convey the true spirit of the Wolf, only one creature – the elusive “river rat” – can verbalize why this river and its wetland corridor are so important.
One for the ages
The U of M football team's historic win over the University of Tennessee, the Tigers' first in 16 tries, is still fresh on the minds of fans 10 years later.
Swinging for the fences
The U of M's Bureau of Sport and Leisure Commerce teams up with the Memphis Redbirds to give students real-world sports marketing experience.
Out of Africa
They're not often in the spotlight, but these two University of Memphis Tiger basketball players have equally compelling stories.
Errol Kerr
My Q&A with pro skier Errol Kerr for Warren Miller's SnoWorld magazine.
Jeremy Jensen
My Q&A with binding-less snowboard pioneer Jeremy Jensen for Warren Miller's SnoWorld magazine.
Kalen Thorien
My Q&A with pro skier Kalen Thorien for Warren Miller's SnoWorld magazine.
Kevin Giffin
My Q&A with ski patroller Kevin Giffin for Warren Miller's SnoWorld magazine.
Lexi du Pont
My Q&A with pro skier Lexi du Pont for Warren Miller's SnoWorld magazine.
Tyler Ceccanti
My Q&A with pro skier Tyler Ceccanti for Warren Miller's SnoWorld magazine.
Carving a New Path
Three winters ago, as Elizabeth Alvarado stood atop a bunny hill at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area and strapped into a snowboard for the first time, she felt hopelessly lost. Part of it was her surroundings. But mostly it was emotional disorientation. At 15, Alvarado had no idea what the future held. With nothing to lose, she pointed her board downhill.
Changing Face of Snow Sports
Stakeholders look beyond the core to reverse the participation plateau. That means attracting a more diverse audience and offering something more than the traditional skiing and snowboarding experience.
A Decade of Neon
Shred and Slytech -- and the companies' co-owners Ted Ligety and Carlo Salmini -- celebrate 10 years standing out in the goggle and protective-gear business.
Back to Basics
Snowboarding icon Jeremy Jones stays true to roots. And he preaches that simple philosophy to an industry that looks to grow its audience.
Eco-Friendly Focus
Brands exhibiting at SnowSports Industries America's Snow Show look to go green without sacrificing performance, including Niche Snowboards and Scarpa North America.
One for the Record Books?
Guinness bid highlights importance of ski/snowboard lessons and critical efforts of Mary Jo Tarallo, executive director of the Learn to Ski & Snowboard Month and Bring a Friend initiatives.
Smash the Silos
Panel at SnowSports Industries America's 2017 Snow Show encourages collaboration and taking advantage of state, community resources for growth.
Vision Quest
Goggle-makers aim to differentiate at SnowSports Industries America's 2017 Snow Show through technological advances.
Snowboard and Ski Retailer Wisdom
Alpine, snowboard and Nordic retailers share their strategies for SIA Snow Show's On-Snow Demo.
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Other business writing
How Telematics Can Reduce Fuel Costs for Truck Fleets
Big data can provide trucking companies with actionable business intelligence to influence the bottom line. As one example, telematics — data analysis designed specifically for transportation — can help carriers curtail one of their biggest expenses: fuel costs.
How to Stay Healthy as a Truck Driver
As a truck driver, it isn't easy staying healthy. Compared to the general population, drivers experience higher rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, poor nutrition, tobacco use and other health issues, studies have shown. The good news: You can take steps to improve your health prospects.
California Has a New Trucking Sustainability Plan
A newly enacted freight sustainability initiative in California could change the face of the state's transportation industry and perhaps create a blueprint for other states to follow. Here's what you need to know.
3 Equipment Finance Tips for Trucking Companies
As the economy continues to improve and consumer demand increases, trucking company ownerssometimes have trouble keeping pace. It's not always easy to secure adequate equipment financing to purchase large assets such as new tractor trailers and the latest technology to modernize their operations.
Q&A: How to Grow the Value of Your Trucking Company
While improving the top and bottom lines will always be front of mind for trucking company owners, growing the value of the business is just as critical. Stronger valuations can garner more lucrative offers for companies looking to sell and deliver a better return for those focused on succession planning.
Trucking Business Valuation
Do you know what your trucking company is worth? It's a critical question to address for numerous reasons, from potential acquisition action to succession planning. Here's why you should care about an accurate valuation of your business, along with three specific methods for measuring it.
5 Tips To Manage Port Congestion
The last thing a trucking company needs is drivers sitting for hours waiting to pick up shipments at overcrowded ports. But the frustrating reality is that congestion at many ports leads to delayed deliveries, increased driver hours and cuts to the bottom line.
5 Mobile Security Tips for Truckers
Smartphones have made life on the road more convenient for truckers. They use mobile apps to map routes, schedule pickups, update hours of service and submit freight bills. But trucking company owners need to get as serious about protecting their information as they are about protecting their cargo. The following tips may help keep important data out of the wrong hands.
Tunica's New Cash Crop?
When Xiaolin “Charles” Wang was introduced at an October press conference announcing plans to build a $1 billion hybrid automotive plant in Tunica County, he was described by the emcee as a man who “dreams big and drives fast.” Six weeks later and those are the only things known about the Chinese businessman whose project would rival Northwest Mississippi’s casino industry.
Taking Off
Aviators attain flight and control the movements of their aircraft by precisely balancing the forces of lift, thrust, drag and gravity. The people piloting the aerotropolis initiative – the promotion of Memphis’ economy focused on the airport, other transportation assets and the connectivity among them – are negotiating their own set of physics in hopes of becoming airborne.
Next Stop: Fayette County -- Norfolk Southern’s intermodal plans take shape
The freight trains that rumble through Memphis are hard to ignore, especially the ones that parallel or bisect main thoroughfares and disrupt traffic. But even people who don’t cross railroad tracks during their commutes are likely to hear the distant blare of horns at some point during the day as locomotives make their way into and out of the city.
Flight Plan
Memphis appears to be sitting pretty as the Delta-Northwest merger is forged, but expert navigation is needed for the city and the airport to stay on course.
Getting CERIous about quakes
Natural disasters can destroy cities and leave death in its path - Hurricane Katrina showed us that. So what about the so-called big earthquake predicted for the Mid-South, is it fact or fiction? Researchers at the U of M's Center for Earthquake Research and Information answer that question.