OIWC Announces Award Winners for Outdoor and Snowsports Industries
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
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Posted by: Sally Grimes
Outdoor Industries Women's Coalition is excited to announce the winners of the 2009 Pioneering Woman and First Ascent Awards for the outdoor and snowsports industries.
Outdoor Industry
Pioneering Woman Award: Neide Cooley, Cooley Inc.
First Ascent Award: Megan Shrestha, ISIS
Snowsports Industry
Pioneering Woman Award: Tammy Hetrick, Burton
First Ascent Award: Ali Kenney, Burton
The Pioneering Woman Award honors women who have furthered the OIWC mission by demonstrating an outstanding commitment to mentoring female colleagues through exemplary leadership skills. The
First Ascent Award recognizes a woman new to the industry who demonstrates strong potential for leadership.
Dozens of incredible women were nominated for these awards, and these four ladies shined through as exemplary leaders who deserve to be recognized for their leadership and support of other women in the industries.
Outdoor Industry
Neide Cooley, the recipient of the 2009 Pioneering Woman Award for the outdoor industry, is an independent design and merchandising consultant and has worked within the outdoor industry for over twenty years in multiple leadership capacities. Her resume includes positions as an apparel designer, research director and journalist with organizations such as Salomon Sport S.A., Outdoor Retailer magazine and Skiing Trade News.
Prior to her most recent entry into independent consulting, Cooley was the director of apparel design and merchandising at Marmot Mountain Ltd., where she oversaw the conceptualization, design and development of all apparel. She also previously owned an independent sales agency within the outdoor, ski and action sports industries and has served as OIWC’s president from 2001-2005. Cooley, who resides in Colorado, currently serves as a board member of Breckenridge Heritage Alliance in Colorado.
Cooley is recognized as the recipient of the award for her tireless commitment to mentoring women on the importance of professional growth and personal balance. In addition to being a wife, mother and a grandmother, Cooley has been an industry leader for many years and is best known for her contributions in apparel design and for her gift of time and guidance to so many aspiring young women.
ISIS marketing coordinator Megan Shrestha as the winner of the 2009 First Ascent Award for the Outdoor Industry. Nominated by ISIS marketing director, Kim Callahan, Shrestha is being recognized for her relentless dedication to the role of marketing coordinator at ISIS. Shrestha came to ISIS from the healthcare industry where she ran a program for breast cancer research.
“From the first day Megan was poised, confident, friendly and determined. Although she didn't have experience in either marketing or the outdoor industry, we decided to hire Megan as marketing coordinator. It is one of the best decisions we have ever made,” states Callahan.
Entering the position at a busy time with limited supervision, Shrestha took on the job of developing the ISIS seasonal fall website, coordinating all of the ISIS product and lifestyle photography, and developing trade show materials without any hesitation. Shrestha is cited as not being afraid of what she doesn't know and is willing to take on new tasks and try things she has never done before - like enrolling herself in a graphic design course in order to increase the level of creativity in her work.
Shrestha is also a role model for the women at ISIS with her professionalism, enthusiasm and her can do, positive attitude. After losing her mother to breast cancer at a very young age, it was important for Shrestha to immerse herself in an environment lead by women. At ISIS, Shresta helps her peers see their potential and brings out the best in many of them. It is this exemplary spirit and determination that recognizes Megan Shrestha as this year’s recipient of the OWIC First Ascent Award.
Award Presentation
These women will be recognized for their accomplishments and receive their awards during the OIWC Gathering on January 23, 2009. The event will be held at Pierpont Place, located at 163 Pierpont Ave, downtown Salt Lake City. The awards ceremony will commence at 6:30pm with a reception immediately following. The event will include great food and networking opportunities.
Learn more and pre-register for the Outdoor Retailer event.
Snowsports Industry
The recipient of the Pioneering Woman Award for the snowsports industry is Tammy Hetrick, Director of Global Sourcing at Burton Snowboards.
Nominated by Donna Carpenter, Burton Co-owner and Founder and Director Burton Women's Initiatives, Carpenter states, “Tammy has always taken an interest in helping women advance their careers at Burton. She had years of experience informally mentoring women, especially in her area of operations, and then took that experience and passion and spearheaded both the mentoring programs at Burton. Today, she remains an active member of the WLI, the liaison between Burton and the Coaching Center of Vermont (and the biggest advocate for our women’s coaching program) and, as always, a strong mentor for women in her department. She is a natural leader dedicated to helping develop the women around her into leaders as well."
The recipient of the First Ascent Award for the snowsports industry is Ali Kenney, Assistant Product Manager for Women's Snowboards, Burton.
Todd King, Business Unit Director of Snowboards, Burton, stated, “Ali’s experience and experience with financial tools coupled with her consumer relevance and get it factor make her a dynamic woman of the industry with amazing potential. She rips on the snowboard and her inquisitive mind with a drive to learn more keeps Ali ahead of the rest. She is fun to work with, positive and is exactly what this industry needs. A competent woman, who gets it, is real and loves snowboarding.”
Award Presentation
Join these award winners and an elite panel on January 28, 2009 from 4:30pm-7:00pm at the SIA Seminar Room (show floor- X99) in Las Vegas NV. Moderated by Joy Spring, VP and COO, Leisure Trends Group, the panel includes; Letitia Ferrier Webster, Director Corporate Sustainability & Communications, The North Face, Donna Carpenter, Co-owner; Founder and Director of Women's Initiatives, Burton, Susan Viscon, Director of Merchandising for Action Sports, REI and Ce-Ce Plunkett, Human Resource Director, Spyder. Drinks and appetizers will be served during networking opportunities.
Learn more and pre-register for the SIA.09 event.
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