Sue Rechner Comments on the “Economics of Recreation”
Confluence CEO, Sue Rechner, recently responded to an op-ed piece written in the Washington Times by South Carolina Senator Jim Demint. Her letter to the editor in response was published by the Washington Times and has received coverage from the outdoor industry.
Sen. Demint says the White House is conducting a “land grab” that could hurt already slow economic growth, and singled out outdoor activities such as backpacking as the wrong priority over private use for job growth.
In Sue’s response to the article, she notes that outdoor recreation is a great contributor to the economy and responsible land stewardship is essential to sustaining the outdoor economy in the future.
The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) also released a statement today on their website thanking Sue “for making the voice of recreation heard in the national debate.”
Related Links:
Read Sen. Jim Demint’s original op-ed “White House Land Grab” at the Washington Times website.
Read Sue Rechner’s Letter to the Washington Times Editor ” Outdoor Recreation Stimulates the Economy” at the Washington Times website.
Read the Outdoor Industry Association’s release “Confluence CEO Rechner Challenges Senator’s Diminishment of Recreation.”
Sue’s Blog – Canoecopia Wrap-Up
March 16, 2010
So, what is a Canoecopia??
a. an edible canoe
b. a paddlesports show hosted by Rutabaga Paddlesports
c. a canoe stuffed with fruit
If you chose “b”, then you’re correct. If you chose “a” or “c”, you probably could use some lunch right now.
Seriously, it’s my third year attending this well-known, 3-day consumer show in Madison, Wisconsin, aka “badger country.” Held this past weekend, it was clear that paddlers came out of their winter torpor in droves looking to buy new equipment or upgrade their existing. My instincts tell me traffic was up substantially up and I spoke many first time buyers.
Lots of seminars from industry experts like Bill Schultz, Wilderness Systems Pro Fishing Staff, on kayak fishing; Steve and Cindy Scherrer on various topics including choosing the correct kayak and paddling safety, a women’s approach to paddling and many, many more.
Showstopper: Wilderness Systems Commander 120. A high performance, stable boat for general use or when angler equipped, a best-in-class boat for fishing. It’s clear that kayak fishing is growing exponentially.
Category winner: Composites!! Our new production methodology has enabled us to provide a lighter, better and less expensive boat. In general, these are not inexpensive products, but they were flying off the racks. One would think fannie mae and freddie mac were offering no interest financing based on the number of composite boats we sold.
Congratulations to the Rutabaga team for executing such a great show. If this show’s success is any indication, I look forward to a very successful paddle season.
I’m excited for the next big consumer show being hosted by Jersey Paddler at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset NJ on March 26-28th. See you there!
Brad Taylor Joins Confluence Watersports as Director of Field Sales
March 10, 2010
Confluence Watersports has hired Brad Taylor for the newly created position of director of field sales. In this role, Taylor will have responsibility for the company’s US field sales team to further develop their outdoor specialty dealer segment.
Taylor is well known and respected in the paddling world. He has been in the industry since the late 1990’s, including four successful years with Dagger and Perception, as a factory rep. Most recently, he was vice president of Hurricane Kayaks. He is an avid kayaker and an eloquent advocate for all of paddlesports.
“We are always striving to improve our level of service and support in ways that more effectively deliver success at the retail level,” said Shelly Moore, VP of sales at Confluence. “We welcome Brad and look forward to his input, his expertise and his creativity as we further develop our dealer support to capitalize on growth opportunities with our customers. Brad will be instrumental in leading our team to drive specialty store growth through our brands, products and programs.”
The director of field sales is a new position and will not interrupt the relationship retail partners have with their Confluence sales representatives. In his travels with the sales team, Taylor plans to eventually meet with all Confluence dealer partners to review the company’s dealer support programs and address additional strategic opportunities.
