The Daily - June 10,2022 - 11

Mercy
M'fon
Shammah
The
Envelope,
Please
Outdoor Retailer Inspiration Award
winners announced to packed house.
By Eugene Buchanan
WITH NOMINEES POURING IN THIS
spring and vetted by an esteemed
panel of outdoor industry judges,
the winners of the 12th Annual
Outdoor Retailer Inspiration
Awards embody everything the
industry stands for in protecting
the outdoors and promoting it for
everyone to enjoy. " It's a true marquee
event for the industry, " says
Show Director Marisa Nicholson.
" Inspiration is all around us, "
host and former award winner
Timmy O'Neill told the crowd at
last night's ceremony when the
winners were announced. " It's
in the skies and the earth, in the
people we know and meet, in our
homes and where we explore. It
sparks awe, motivates us to push
forward, breathes life into new
ideas, and instills others with
confidence. And it proves that
what may seem ordinary can have
extraordinary impact. "
INDIVIDUAL
Gloria Hwang, founder
and CEO, Thousand
Winning the top spot on the podium
this year was Gloria Hwang,
the founder and CEO at Thousand,
who started her Public Benefit
Corporation with a shared vision
to save lives and empower people
to safely get around their cities on
a bike, board, or scooter by making
helmets people actually want to
wear. Committing to being Climate
Positive, she also recently launched
Path Ahead Ventures at REI, accelerating
the success of company
founders of color.
EMERGING LEADER
Mercy M'fon Shammah, executive
director, Wild Diversity
The emerging leader award celebrates
those who empower others
to be their best and are committed
to creating positive change. This
year's award went to Mercy M'fon
Shammah, the executive director
of Wild Diversity who is dedicated
to diversifying the outdoors and
the activities people participate in
by creating a sense of belonging for
BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities.
MANUFACTURER
Goal Zero
The manufacturer award goes to
companies that care for adventurers
and communities alike by providing
clean, reliable solutions that
can improve time spent outdoors,
support humanitarian needs, and
save lives. This year, Goal Zero
rose to the top of the podium for its
pioneering role in making portable
power products and supporting
programs that bring more people
outdoors. The company has also
launched partnerships to alleviate
issues of energy and power deficiency,
and supports humanitarian
efforts around the world.
NONPROFIT
The National Forest Foundation
The National Forest Foundation
won this year's nonprofit category
for its efforts in making an impact
in communities, on public
lands, and the way people conduct
business to build a better future for
both people and planet.
RETAILER
Pack Rat Outdoor Center
In the hotly contested retail category,
whose finalists all encourage
the power of experience by providing
a direct link to helping people
get outside, Pack Rat Outdoor
Center of Fayetteville, Arkansas,
won for its commitment to giving
customers a great experience,
advocating for wild spaces, organizing
stewardship programs, and
serving as a model for responsible
business practices. These include
reusing business supplies, recycling
business-generated waste,
hosting community education and
seminars on sustainable living
and Leave No Trace principles.
LIFETIME
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Larry Harrison
In one of the award ceremony's
most anticipated honors, this
year's Lifetime Achievement
Award recognized Larry Harrison,
whose career in the outdoor
industry has spanned more than
50 years. Harrison has worked for
Eagle Creek, Wilderness Experience,
JanSport, Lowa, Rockport,
Sierra Designs, Adidas Outdoor,
and more, capping his illustrious
career with Outdoor Retailer (yes,
he's attended every single show).
He also served on the Board of
Directors for Outdoor Industry
Association and Outdoor Industries
Women's Coalition, and has
championed numerous outdoor
events and awards programs-all
creating more stewards of the
great outdoors.
OUTDOOR RETAILER SUMMER 2022 /
11
CARLO NASISSE
The Daily - June 10,2022

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