DENVER, Colorado – (June 11, 2022) – The recipients of the 12th annual Outdoor Retailer Inspiration Awards were announced on Thursday, June 9, 2022, during Outdoor Retailer Summer at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. Awards were presented in five categories to individuals and organizations encouraging more people to get outside and creating a better outdoor experience. This year’s Lifetime Achievement award honored Larry Harrison, who has spent 50 years working in the outdoor industry.
“The outdoor community continues to make progress because of the people who push and inspire us,” said Marisa Nicholson, Outdoor Retailer senior vice president and show director. “We’re lucky to be working and exploring alongside the recipients of the 12th annual Outdoor Retailer Inspiration Awards, who are all dedicated to building a stronger outdoor community, and who are willing to tackle challenges in order to change perspectives. We were incredibly excited to also honor our colleague and friend, Larry Harrison, for a career dedicated to building the community that is our industry.”
The recipients were determined by a judging panel based on impact, leadership, community engagement, philanthropy, sustainability, and other factors as presented with the nominations.
The 2022 recipients:
Individual: Gloria Hwang, Founder and CEO at Thousand
Emerging Leader: Mercy M’fon Shammah, Executive Director at Wild Diversity
Manufacturer: Goal Zero
Nonprofit: National Forest Foundation
Retailer: Pack Rat Outdoor Center (Fayetteville, Arkansas)
This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Harrison, who’s career in the outdoor industry has spanned 50 years. He worked with and for Eagle Creek, Wilderness Experience, JanSport, LOWA, Rockport, Sierra Designs, and adidas Outdoor, among others, concluding his full-time career with Outdoor Retailer where he holds the rare distinction of having attended every Outdoor Retailer. Harrison also served on the Board of Directors for the Outdoor Industry Association and the Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition (now Camber), and has spearheaded numerous outdoor events, experiences, and awards programs while serving the community and creating more stewards of the outdoors.
Read about each of the finalists and recipients in the June 9, 2022, issue of The Daily, and highlights of the ceremony are available online.
Outdoor Retailer Summer is closing out five years in Denver this week. Next year, Outdoor Retailer moves to Salt Lake City and County and the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center, starting with Snow Show from January 10-12, 2023. For more information on exhibiting, sponsorships, and other opportunities, visit www.outdoorretailer.com.
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About Outdoor Retailer
Outdoor Retailer, the largest U.S. trade show and premier business event for the outdoor industry, brings together retailers, manufacturers, industry advocates and media to conduct the business of outdoor recreation through trade shows, Outdoor Retailer Magazine, product demo events, media events and web-based business solutions. The Outdoor Retailer trade shows are the premier outdoor industry events for North America, providing platforms for critical face-to-face business initiatives, line previews, innovations, launches, networking and retailer education. Visit www.outdoorretailer.com for more information.
About Emerald
Emerald is a leader in building dynamic, market-driven business-to-business platforms that integrate live events with a broad array of industry insights, digital tools, and data-focused solutions to create uniquely rich experiences. As true partners, we at Emerald strive to build our customers’ businesses by creating opportunities that inspire, amaze, and deliver breakthrough results. With over 140 events each year, our teams are creators and connectors who are thoroughly immersed in the industries we serve and committed to supporting the communities in which we operate. For more information, please visit www.emeraldx.com .
