Meet the Speakers at the 2024 KORE Summit
The Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise (KORE) Outdoor Summit is Canada’s only conference dedicated to the outdoor rec-tech manufacturing and product design sector. The summit will be held October 3-4, 2024 at the Kimberley Alpine Resort’s Conference Centre in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia and there will be an optional “stay and play” day on the 5th for those who would like to explore and recreate.
Industry thought leaders and speakers will be giving presentations throughout the event and anybody interested in outdoor rec-tech manufacturing and product design in British Columbia, Alberta, Pacific Northwest and the U.S. Western States are invited to attend.
For more information about the speakers at the event, see the listings below.
Rob Owens, Founder & President of OnwardUP Sales and Marketing
Rob began his career as an outdoor retail sales representative in 2001 when he started as a technical rep for Petzl. At that time he was a professional ice and alpine climber and had begun the path toward becoming an IFMGA Mountain Guide. Rob established OnwardUP Sales and Marketing in 2009 and now represents nine outdoor brands including Patagonia. While pursuing his path as an alpinist, and then as a mountain guide, Rob developed a relationship with risk that has served him well in many aspects of running his business. Just as a focus on outdoor education led him to guiding, he feels his current business can enable elevated outdoor experiences that in turn elevate the participant’s mind, body and spirit.
In his presentation “The Mountain Athlete X Entrepreneurship Relationship” Rob will share key assets that are developed on the mountains, rivers and trails that serve the entrepreneur very well.
Carollyn Schafer, Past Interim CEO Accelerate Okanagan
Carollynn Schafer is an active angel investor with a background in law. She is passionate about building ecosystems and has recently spent a year acting as the Interim CEO of Accelerate Okanagan. She is trained as a lawyer and spent her first eight years practicing at a corporate firm in Winnipeg, focusing on Technology, IP and Privacy law. From there, she went in-house and worked with LemonFree.com, a start-up venture co-founded by her husband in the automotive marketing space until their acquisition/merger with LotLinx in 2015. She is a General Partner of OKGN WMAN, a past director and Fund Manager of the OKGN Angel Summit, and acts as the facilitator for their investor discussions.
In her presentation, Kailey will touch on how to think more conscientiously and sustainably, and to use design and digital technology as a tool to better our futures.
Robbie Roberts, Industrial Designer, Form3 Design
An Industrial Designer and Principal at Form3 Design in Vancouver, Robbie and his team tackle diverse design projects with special focus on bike, ski, and outdoor sectors. He is passionate about how industrial design brings together art, creativity, and emotion with the technical aspects of physics, materials, and manufacturing; always striving to blur the boundaries between disciplines. Robbie lived his childhood years on a bike in Cranbrook while also kicking off a love for skiing in Kimberly and is pumped to return to the roots of his outdoor passion at the KORE summit.
Mallory Ottariano, Founder of Youer
Mallory Ottariano is the founder and Chief Everything Officer at Youer. She started her brand as a creative side project making one-of-a-kind apparel and has grown it into a full line of active lifestyle apparel for women. Today, Mallory owns her own factory in Missoula, Montana. In her presentation she will talk about growing a brand with $0 in marketing, building a community through in-person events and how to start a factory in North America.
Joël Mertens, Director of Higg Product Tools at Cascale
Joël Mertens is the director of Higg Product Tools at Cascale, a global non-profit dedicated to collective action on sustainability for the consumer goods industry. His work involves collaborating with Cascale members, NGOs, governments, and academic experts to ensure the Higg Product Tools use credible, scientific, life-cycle assessment data to help companies measure the environmental impacts of their materials and products. Before joining Cascale, Joël was with Mountain Equipment Co-op where he held roles on product sustainability, material research and development, quality assurance, chemical compliance, and supply chain environmental responsibility. He holds a Master’s Degree in Materials Engineering from the University of British Columbia.
Cam Stuart, R&E Manager at Arc’teryx
Cam Stuart is an engineer with a passion for the outdoors and the tools that enable us to explore them. He manages Research & Engineering on the Advanced Concepts team at Arc’teryx. With the mountains as his lab, he has been involved in development and validation of several technical products with a focus on how product interacts with the human body.
Clare Kelly, Chartered Professional Accountant
Clare Kelly lives with her family in Nelson, BC and she has owned and operated multiple businesses in the Kootenays since 2008. She dedicates her business knowledge and technical skills for the social, environmental, and financial success of her community. In addition to being a CPA, she is also Certified Xero Advisor, a Quickbooks Certified ProAdvisor, and an avid runner, cyclist, and nordic skier. In her presentation, she will discuss solutions to common outdoor industry accounting issues, such as how to supervise external bookkeepers, how to deal with inventory or point-of-sale apps, and decision-making around cashflow tools.
David Harley, Founder of Far West & Valhalla Pure Outfitters
From dishwasher and taxi driver to lifelong entrepreneur, David is one of the architects of Canada’s Outdoors industry. David founded the Far West company in Vernon in the 1980s and was WL Gore’s fifth customer. It wasn’t long before he became North America’s largest Gore-Tex apparel producer. From 1990, David has built Valhalla Pure Outfitters into Canada’s largest premium outdoor retailer with sales of over $50 million annually.
Jack Finn and James Hearn, Founders, Skeleton Crew Creative Studio
Jack Finn and James Hearn launched Skeleton Crew Creative Studio in Vancouver in 2020. Since then, the duo have used their combination of branding and advertising experience to inform the design ethics of multiple brands from Shimano and Red Bull to the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival. They have worked in the graphic design space and marketing space for over a decade and in their presentation at the KORE Summit they will offer guidelines to creative decision making in the presentation “Yes, Yes, Yes. No, No, No.”
Jenna Celmer, Co-founder, Basecamp Outdoor
Jenna Celmer is an outdoor industry tech founder and investor with a devastating wit and a passion for breakfast foods. She came to the outdoor industry via The US Olympic Committee (Team USA) where she was a Scientific Communicator. Before that Jenna worked at an aerospace and tech startup launching an accelerator with the US Air Force Academy to help make entrepreneurs more competitive for government contracts. A self-proclaimed “Chief Hype Officer,” Jenna helps connect and empower the outdoor industry in all capacities through co-founding Basecamp Outdoor, a community and career hub for everyone from students to CEOs.
Cam Shute, Owner of Dark Horse Innovations
Cam Shute of Dark Horse Innovations worked for G3 for 18 years before setting up his own company that designs and engineers a variety of outdoor products from hiking poles to cookware. He says of his business: “I like envisioning and then creating sustainable products that enable people to adventure farther, longer, and with less effort.”
James Retty, Sales Specialist, Uptrack Solutions
James has worked in the outdoor adventure industry for over 25 years and is the founder of Uptrack Solutions, the former director of Escape Route Adventure Group, and the former owner of Arc’teryx Whistler. He is highly regarded for innovating and executing strategies that enhance brand awareness for selected vendors, increase the efficiency of operations, and grow revenue. He brings excellent analytical and critical thinking skills to evaluate business problems and to identify and apply appropriate solutions. Although he has been focused on specialty retail in the physical and e-com platforms, he has a particular interest in linking D2C and wholesale processes.
Truls Ytre-Eide, Research Engineer, Composites Knowledge Network
Truls Ytre-Eide is a research engineer with the Composites Knowledge Network and works directly with small and medium enterprises across Canada to support them with their composites manufacturing. He experienced working in composites manufacturing in the aerospace and defense industry before joining the CKN.
Brent Firkser, Founder, GoSo Cookware
Brent is a Nelson, BC-based entrepreneur who is bringing innovation to Outdoor Cookware market. He’s previously worked in the outdoor industry as a canoe, hiking and winter camping guide and he works as a shop teacher helping students enter careers in the trades. His popular YouTube Channel @ADVEats shows people how to cook great meals while riding their off-road motorcycles in the backcountry and in 2024 he launched GoSo Cookware with a crowdfunding campaign that exceeding funding expectations by 1000%.
Ricky Lee Jones, Founder of North45
Entrepreneur and marketing expert Ricky Lee Jones recently gave a presentation at the KORE Speaker Series in which he described how he took a company from $50K in annual sales to $1.5 million in just 12 months thanks to various social media strategies he employed. Ricky has worked with a variety of brands over the years and he launched his own company called North45, which manufacturers merino wool headwear and face masks with anti-fog capabilities.
Dan Durston, Owner of Durston Gear
Dan Durston is an ultralight hiker, adventurer and self-described gear geek based in Golden, British Columbia. He’s hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and Great Divide Trail (both ways) and had plenty of time on those trips to obsess about the design of ultralight backpacking tents. He came up with his own concept and it proved to be so popular, it’s the world’s top-selling trekking pole tent. His company Durston Gear now sells ultralight backpacks, hiking poles and various tents.
Chase Anderson, Industry Relations Manager, Utah State University
Chase Anderson is the Industry Relations Manager for the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University. He earned a Masters Degree in Instructional Technology and a bachelors degree in International Business, both from USU. He fell into the outdoor industry volunteering for Cotopaxi during their early years and has since worked for NordicTrack, Proform, iFit, and Altra. He’s a student of the industry and is one of the collaborators behind the Outdoor Recreation Archive, USU’s effort to preserve the print materials and history of the people, products and brands of the outdoor industry. Chase is the host of the Highlander Podcast, a weekly show focused on the past, present, and future of the outdoor industry.
Matt Mosteller, Senior Vice President, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
“Powder Matt” Mosteller is on a mission to share the positive energy of the mountains and his crazy love for flakes. As chief storyteller for Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, he has organized some of the first social media influencer meet-ups, which helped put the Powder Highway on the map. He continues to collaborate regularly with outdoor/travel/adventure influencers to craft powerful stories that are helpful, humorous, timely, worthy, inspiring and authentic.
James Friedrich, Senior Merchant, Mountain Equipment Company
James Friedrich is a product consultant who specializes in helping businesses unlock growth and he’s also a senior merchant for Mountain Equipment Company who oversees a $60M product portfolio, collaborating with some of the outdoor industry’s major brands. But before all that, James was an engineer and startup founder. His primary goal is to offer entrepreneurs the guidance and support he wished he had many years ago.
Pat Simpson, Owner of Ghostrider Equipment
Pat Simpson has a background in mechanical engineering, specifically with the design of automated packaging machinery. From there he moved into heavy industry and worked in the maintenance and reliability fields for 20 years. Now, he’s applying his skills to the outdoor recreation industry and has launched Ghostrider Equipment, which manufactures the world’s first bear spray canister holder for bikes.
Christian Rawles, Owner, Ambler Mountain Works
Christian Rawles has over 20 years of experience in the outdoor industry ranging from retail sales, supply chain management and wholesale sales management. Most recently, he has been the owner of Ambler Mountain Works, an apparel accessory brand based in Nelson, BC. He has spent the last few years working with other entrepreneurs to help them launch, build and grow their businesses through coaching and consulting. Christian is a KORE board member, an Executive in Residence with KAST and the host of the KORE Outdoors Podcast.
Nicholas Courval, Founder, Basecamp Repairs
Basecamp Repairs is a company that specializes in repairing recreational outdoor equipment. It was co-founded by Nicholas who had worked for leading national outdoor equipment retailers and found there was huge problem in the industry he loved: all of it revolving around waste. On a daily basis he saw returns come through the door, many of them easily fixable. In this workshop he will talk about the growing industry of gear repair, how it applies to your business, and how money can be made from it.
Pablo Tseng, Partner, MacMillan LLC
Pablo is an experienced intellectual property (IP) lawyer assisting companies at various stages of maturity in the acquisition, commercialization and enforcement of IP rights. With expertise in all aspects of patent and trademark prosecution and portfolio management, he assists clients in a range of industries, including the chemical, technology, energy, and food, beverage and agribusiness sectors.
Dylan Murray, Founder, Indigenous Backcountry Safety Training
Dylan is a backcountry ski and rafting guide who lives in Revelstoke. He d
It seeks to foster collaborative relationships between local First Nations and backcountry operators and to inspire a deep appreciation for ancestral knowledge, environmental stewardship, and personal growth, inviting participants to embark on a journey that honours the Indigenous communities that have sustained it for generations.Robert Piasentin, Partner, McMillan LLC
Robert is a Partner in the Vancouver office of McMillan LLP and is the National Chair of the firm’s technology Law Group and manages Ascent, the firm’s startups and emerging companies initiative. Robert brings a highly practical and business-minded approach to the practice of law that drives the success of his clients’ leadership, governance and strategic negotiation initiatives. He has contributed to the growth of a wide range of businesses in Canada, the United States, England and beyond. His strong commercial practice encompasses technology outsourcing transactions, software development and licensing solutions, strategic IP and technology commercialization arrangements, and privacy and cybersecurity issues. Assisting startups and established companies, Robert works with clients in a range of industries including technology, sports, media, communications and entertainment.
JoJo Das, Executive Director, SOARE
Born in Kolkata, India, JoJo has hopped and skipped his way through his home country, Canada, Indonesia, the United States, and Saudi Arabia. He had never considered himself an outdoors-oriented person until he moved to Vancouver in 2013. On the ancestral and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, JoJo developed a strong love and passion for rock climbing. He is now a firm believer that walls are meant for climbing instead of keeping people apart. JoJo is crafting his outdoors career, from working at Mountain Mentors, VIMFF, and is currently the Executive Director at SOARE, helping it become the best incubator for outdoor rec-tech it can be.