In the newly created position, Silva will serve as the strategic thought partner and advisor to Camber’s CEO Tiffany Smith
Camber Outdoors, the non-profit organization with the mission of supporting workplace inclusion, equity and diversity for outdoor-recreation focused organizations, announces Mindy Silva as Chief of Staff, effective immediately. In this newly created Chief of Staff position, Silva will act as a right hand, strategic thought partner and advisor to Camber’s CEO, Tiffany Smith.
Inspired by her purpose and passion to create systems change, Silva has dedicated the last 18 years of her career to helping grantmakers and field-leading nonprofit organizations explore their vision and strategy for delivering diverse, equitable, and inclusive impact across the United States. During that time she also operated her own philanthropic consultancy, The MS. Group Consulting. For the past two years, Silva has served as the Director of Special Projects for Camber, conducting strategic alignment of cross-functional initiatives that contribute to measured impact in workplace DEI across the outdoor industry – including the Camber Survey System.
As Chief of Staff, Silva will lead alongside and be a sounding board for the CEO regarding new ideas and strategies, and communicate with other executives, Camber partners, and stakeholders. Silva also will build strong relationships with team members across Camber in order to influence outcomes and maintain momentum. She will shape the internal leadership communications so that staff are informed and inspired to see how their day-to-day work connects to Camber’s mission.
“I look forward to working alongside Mindy in her new role to execute on Camber’s strategic plan which includes five key priorities in the next three to five years: amplifying the narrative of Camber’s mission; catering to the needs of underrepresented groups -women, BIPOC community, LGBTQIA and other marginalized groups with new programming and initiatives; assessing the group’s core needs through Camber Survey System; creating a more diverse pathway of professional talent in the Outdoor-Recreation industries; and continuing to find ways to strengthen Camber as an organization,” said Tiffany Smith, CEO of Camber Outdoors.
“Michelle and I are so proud of Mindy and the work that she has done at Camber over the last two years. Her commitment to excellence has shown through in her work and we know that she will do an amazing job in this new role,” said Reggie Miller, co-president of Camber’s Board of Directors and Vice President, Global Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer of McDonald’s. “With Mindy’s leadership on the Camber Survey System, this best-in-class survey is the gold standard of workplace DEI measurement and progress across committed partners in the outdoor industry. Camber Partners have a unique opportunity to accelerate workplace change as they gain strategic insights and actionable data to learn from, take action on, and make change.”
In addition to the initial findings from the 2021/2022 Camber Survey System, Camber has rolled out a number of programs, including the Future of Work internship program (in partnership with Winnebago Industries Foundation), the Mentor Allyship program (in partnership with KEEN), and the Voices from the Future of Work listening sessions (in partnership with the VF Foundation). Next month, Camber will be rolling out a new fundraising campaign aimed at strengthening leadership opportunities for women in the Outdoor Recreation industries.
With new programming, new leadership, and a reorientation towards its expanded mission, Camber is planning for its future,” explained Michelle Wardian, co-president of Camber’s Board of Directors and Chief Strategy Officer of Youngone America. “Mindy brings a depth of understanding and compassion to this work and has already made significant contributions to our organization. I am so excited for her to amplify and extend her presence in the industry, ‘making change happen’ as a steward of inclusion and forward thinking leadership.”
“As a Latina woman of faith, I am honored to be part of the Camber team that embodies Workplace DEI where I am able to show up as my authentic self and bring the best of my creativity to the workplace,” said Mindy Silva, Chief of Staff for Camber Outdoors. “This feeling of belonging and celebration of diversity, equity, and inclusion continues to drive my passion to support other organizations who are committed to accelerating workplace change across the outdoor industry. Working for Camber has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. I remain inspired by the thoughtfulness Camber continues to display at all levels of leadership and I am optimistic about what the future holds.”
To learn about the many benefits of becoming a Camber Partner, including a robust library of resources and transformative programming, as well as an assigned Relationship manager-guiding your workplace DEI journey, please visit www.camberoutdoors.org. Eligible small businesses and nonprofits receive full or partial member sponsorship.
About Camber Outdoors
Camber Outdoors is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to removing barriers and providing access to women and other underrepresented groups by supporting workplaces as the vehicle of change to create diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces across the outdoor industry. Camber provides a growing community of corporations, nonprofits and small businesses with programs and tools that accelerate workplace systems-change. To learn more about Camber Outdoors, visit camberoutdoors.org.
