Schedule

Enjoy breakfast on Day 1 with The Conservation Alliance!

Press trips are a major investment for any outdoor brand or destination, and getting the coverage to justify the ROI takes more than a dialed itinerary. This session will share what separates a press trip that generates real coverage from one that generates a nice vacation for attendees. Expect candid advice on guest lists, itinerary pacing, and setting expectations upfront, from both the media and PR sides of the table. This breakout session is essential listening for anyone planning or pitching a press trip.

Social media moves fast, and what worked six months ago (and even a decade ago) changes day to day, month to month, and year over year. This session brings together perspectives from brand, media, and creator sides to break down the tactics actually driving engagement right now. Kelly Muededonck (Smartwool), Teaghan Skulszki (GearJunkie), and creator JJ Yosh share what's working across platforms from Instagram to YouTube to posting cadence to the collaborations that will move the needle. You'll get a grounded look at where social media followers’ attention is heading and how to meet them there, whether. This talk is for folks managing a brand account, a media publication’s social channels, or wanting to build your own following.

Whether you're a big brand with resources to spare or a scrappy team stretching every dollar, the lesson is the same: creativity beats budget. This session breaks down three case studies from brands who hit the ROI jackpot – when their marketing campaigns outperformed their spend. Speakers will share what the goal was, what the team actually did, and what they'd do differently next time. If you need proof that smart strategy can outperform cash, this session is built for you.

M&A in the outdoor industry is a mystery to most. Join our panel of esteemed speakers with decades upon decades of combined experience as they pull back the curtain on what actually happens when a brand changes hands – from valuation and deal structure to the negotiations that make or break a sale. This session is built for founders and executive leaders weighing an exit, or looking to grow through acquisition, who want a clear-eyed look at timing, pricing, and the pitfalls that tank deals. Attendees will come away with a sharper sense of what your brand is really worth and how to position it for the best outcome.

Pitching an editor, especially one at a Tier A outdoor publication, is part art and part guesswork. That is, unless you know exactly what they want. This session puts three editors on record: Will Egensteiner (HEARST), Jamie Spain (Condé Nast), and Maya Silver (Climbing Magazine) as they candidly share what's landing in their inboxes, what makes them stop scrolling, and where writers most often miss the mark. Expect candid insight into current editorial priorities, oversaturated story angles, and the pitch details that separate a yes from a form rejection. PR pros, freelance writers, and brands itching to catch their big media break, this session is for you.

Dive into how AI is transforming modern marketing strategies. Our AI-expert speakers will explore three cutting-edge applications reshaping the industry: Learn the basics of AI SEO techniques to optimize your content for AI-powered search engines and voice assistants; Explore AI tools that create cinematic-quality commercials and production content at a fraction of traditional costs; Uncover emerging AI capabilities that give forward-thinking marketers a competitive edge in digital campaigns, personalization, and customer engagement strategies; learn practical insights on the tools, strategies, and results behind building an AI-powered customer service engine that elevates satisfaction while driving revenue and growth.

Outdoor brand budgets are tight, teams are lean, and expectations keep climbing. Marketing leaders at some of the industry’s most iconic brands, from YETI to Mountain House and more, will get real about the resourcing challenges facing marketing departments across the outdoor industry right now. The session will cover topics from making headcount decisions to allocating spend outside of your in-house team to where dollars actually move the needle. Attend if you want an honest look at how established brands are prioritizing spend, structuring teams, and making the case internally for the resources marketing needs. Ideal for marketing leaders navigating their own budget conversations.

Policy shifts at the federal and state level are reshaping how outdoor brands operate, from public lands access to trade regulation. This session brings together executive-level voices across the industry for a roundup of what's changed, what's coming, and what it means for your business. Expect a fast-moving conversation covering the policy issues execs can't afford to ignore, with practical takeaways for staying ahead of regulatory shifts rather than reacting to them after the fact.

Hear pitches from peers. This speed-dating-style workshop puts media, destinations, PR pros and creators in the same room for quick conversations built to make real connections happen fast. Maybe it's learning about a destination you didn't know was worth covering. Maybe it's landing your next product contributed article. Maybe it's just getting a peer up to speed on your editorial calendar plans for the year ahead. Come prepared with a clear, concise pitch, and a few good questions. You'll leave with new contacts and momentum on stories, coverage, and partnerships that might otherwise take months to get off the ground. This workshop is moderated by: Jakob Schiller (Outside Magazine Contributor) and Andrew Knight (PR rep for Visit Montana)

Find your next brand collaboration partner! This speed-dating-style workshop puts media, destinations, and brands in the same room for fast, focused conversations designed to spark real partnerships. This workshop moderated by Mollie Hansen, Chief Marketing Officer at Airstream, and Zack Helminiak founder and CEO of Nomadix, will share their own case studies of brand collaboration success and share tips for pulling off your next successful product collab. Come prepared with a clear pitch and an open mind. You'll leave with new contacts, and maybe your next collaboration, already in motion.

Tariffs have upended supply chain math for outdoor brands, and the old playbook doesn't apply anymore. This session will dig into how companies are rerouting manufacturing, renegotiating with suppliers, and rebuilding margin in a volatile trade environment. Expect a practical, numbers-driven conversation on where brands are moving production, what tradeoffs come with speed versus cost, and how to build a supply chain that can absorb the next shock instead of scrambling to react.

Explore Asheville with our Brand Sponsors to test gear in the field. Excursions to include categories like: Hike, Bike, Paddle, Trail Run, Overland, Photography/Birding, Fly Fish, and more. It's time to adventure!

Meet up with adventure-centered states and towns at “Breakfast with Destinations” on Day 3. Media and brand attendees will rotate around the room meeting with destination marketers to learn more about the best places to hike, bike, and adventure hiking, bike, and adventure around the country. Destinations will hand out swag, plug media trips, share tourism info, and pitch story angles to media about their outdoor destinations and adventure travel opportunities.

A million subscribers doesn't happen by accident. A notable panel of highly-accomplished YouTubers with massive followings will break down the strategy behind scaling a YouTube channel from scrappy to seven figures, covering content formats, thumbnail, and title tactics to the algorithm shifts creators need to know about. This session is for brands and creators serious about growing on YouTube, with concrete tactics you can apply to your next upload instead of vague growth advice.

Freelancing sounds like freedom until you're chasing invoices and pitching into a void. This session shares the highlight reels of three successful full-time freelancers who've built sustainable careers in outdoor media. Heather Balogh-Rochefort, Corey Buhay, and Sucheta Rawal will share what actually pays the bills, how they land repeat clients, and the systems that keep them sane when work is unpredictable. Whether you're just starting out or looking to level-up an established freelance business.

Resale, repair, and recommerce programs are no longer a nice-to-have, they're a growing piece of the outdoor business model. Three brands from across the industry will break down what it actually takes to build a program that pays off, from logistics and pricing to customer perception and brand loyalty. This session offers a grounded look at the real ROI behind circular business models, for brands weighing whether recommerce is worth the investment or still figuring out how to make it work.

From shifting demographics to new spending habits, today’s consumer trends are reshaping the outdoor industry at every level. This executive session delivers a data-driven look at the current state of the industry, highlighting where demand is growing, where it’s slowing, and what’s next. Gain the intelligence you need to make bold, informed decisions in a rapidly changing market.

Some brands build customers. Others build communities so devoted they'll show up in brand gear on a random Tuesday or head to the middle of the mountains for a brand meet-up they’ve been looking forward to for months. Brand marketers, community managers, and social media mavens will unpack what separates a loyal customer base from an actual rabid following of brand lovers – and how brands can foster the kind of community that drives organic growth and repeat purchases. Expect real examples of clubs, ambassador programs, and grassroots gatherings that built lasting brand loyalty from the ground up.

Affiliate marketing looks nothing like it did five years ago. Affiliate managers, software providers, and commerce editors will break down how the affiliate landscape is shifting, from platform changes to new attribution models to the publications reshaping how commerce content converts. This session offers a current look at what's working in affiliate right now, for brands looking to sharpen their affiliate marketing programs and media looking to maximize their affiliate strategy.

The outdoor industry is changing fast—and so are the technologies shaping how brands connect with consumers. From AI-driven content platforms to advanced analytics, today’s marketing and media pros need to navigate an ever-expanding toolkit. This workshop will kick off by highlighting the latest tools that matter now: the ones streamlining workflows, personalizing campaigns, and tracking engagement in real time. Learn what’s hype, what’s here to stay, and how to make smart investments that future-proof your DTC e-commerce and marketing strategy. Whether leading a brand, managing media, or overseeing marketing strategy, you’ll leave with a template to sharpen your marketing/media tech stack.

Growth doesn't come from one channel anymore, it comes from how well they work together. This session shares tactics for building an omni-channel strategy that actually connects, from aligning messaging across touchpoints to using data to inform where to invest next and which to pull back on. You'll dig into what it really takes to get email, social, retail, and paid media pulling in the same direction instead of competing for attention. Expect practical growth hacks for executives, marketing leaders, and CEOs looking to break down silos between channels and build a more cohesive, higher-performing marketing engine that works as hard as your team does.

You survived OMS 2026. Your reward: dogs. Hang out with adoptable pups from a local shelter, grab a drink, and take a dog for a walk if you need to stretch your legs. While you're at it, meet the crew at Wilderdog, makers of rugged adventure dog gear with a give-back mission supporting shelters and rescues nationwide. Fair warning: people have left events like this with a new best friend.