Lems Shoes Takes Its Foot-Shaped Design Into Fall with New Leather, Waterproof, and Vibram® Styles

September 15, 2026—Boulder, CO—Boulder-based footwear brand Lems Shoes unveils its lineup for the 2026 Fall Collection, bringing its signature foot-shaped design to the colder season with new options built for trail, work, travel, and everyday wear. For 15 years, Lems has built lightweight, minimalist shoes around the natural shape of the foot, and this fall’s lineup carries that ethos forward with new colorways, leather uppers, waterproofing, and grippier Vibram® Megagrip outsoles on additional styles.

The 2026 Lems Fall Collection includes:

  • Chelsea Boot Tuff – New Colorways & Vibram® Megagrip Outsoles: The Lems Chelsea Boot Tuff returns in two new colorways — Dark Roast waterproof (MSRP $215) and Stone (MSRP $205). Both are now built with new Vibram® Megagrip outsoles for improved grip and durability. The Chelsea Boot Tuff keeps the wide toe box and zero-drop platform Lems is known for, wrapped in a classic silhouette that transitions easily from the office to the trailhead.
  • Tactical Pro Boots – New Colorways: The Tactical Pro line, built on Lems’ widest last and equipped with a Vibram® Megagrip outsole, returns for fall in two new colorways. The Tactical Pro Mid arrives in Coyote (MSRP $215), delivering the traction, durability, and comfortable fit first responders need on the job. The Tactical Pro Tall arrives in Night Hawk (MSRP $235), featuring a 9-inch silhouette and AR 670-1 compliant construction designed for military and tactical use. Both styles are built with demanding work environments and uniform wear in mind, combining Lems’ foot-shaped fit with the performance and traction needed to stay on the move.
  • Trail Blazer – Leather (Men’s): The best-selling Trail Blazer debuts in leather for the first time in a new Bark colorway available in men’s sizing (MSRP $155). This bestseller keeps the wide toe box, rugged full-rubber outsole, and zero-drop design that have made it a go-to for hikes and everyday wear, now with the added durability, protection, and timeless style of a leather upper.
  • Trail Blazer Mid – Waterproof, New Colorway: The Trail Blazer Mid becomes waterproof this season and debuts in a new Knight Storm colorway (MSRP: $165). Built on the same wide toe box and zero-drop platform as the original Trail Blazer, the Mid adds ankle coverage and waterproof protection for hikes, wet-weather adventures, and everyday wear. The Trail Blazer Mid will be available starting in mid-October, following the rest of the collection.
  • Primal Zen – Leather (Men’s): The minimalist Primal Zen gets a polished upgrade with a leather upper in a new Walnut colorway, available in men’s sizing (MSRP $150). It retains the barefoot-inspired platform and relaxed, foot-shaped silhouette the Primal Zen is known for, while adding the timeless look and durability of leather. An easy choice for everyday wear, travel, and business-casual settings, it brings Lems’ signature comfort to a more refined look.

“We’ve always believed a shoe should be lightweight, flexible, and most importantly, it should work with the natural shape of your foot, not against it,” says Andrew Rademacher, founder of Lems Shoes. “With this Fall collection, we wanted to show how that philosophy can translate across everything from rugged terrain and demanding work environments to travel and everyday life. Adding Vibram® Megagrip, waterproofing, and leather to some of our bestselling styles gives people even more ways to get the fit and freedom they expect from Lems.”

The Lems 2026 Fall Collection will be available starting September 15 at www.lemsshoes.com and select retail partners, with the Primal Zen Leather and the Trail Blazer Mid following in October. For sales inquiries, please contact caileigh@lemsshoes.com.

For more information on Lems Shoes and the latest brand news, visit www.lemsshoes.com or contact Stacy Kline at stacy@darbycommunications.com.

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ABOUT LEMS SHOES

Founded in 2011 by Andrew Rademacher, Lems Shoes was born from a simple idea: shoes should be built around the natural shape and movement of the human foot. Frustrated by the lack of anatomically correct footwear on the market, Rademacher took matters into his own hands, literally, by dissecting traditional shoes, studying last construction and pattern making, and designing his own. The result? Minimalist footwear that strips away the unnecessary, delivering full flexibility, comfort, and a foot-shaped design. From its first release, the Primal, to its ever-evolving lineup today, Lems remains committed to creating lightweight, versatile shoes that let your feet move the way nature intended. Learn more about the brand at lemshoes.com.

Noto Group Adds Senior Partners Kirsty Schofield and Cody Johns to Expand Global Consumer Practice

PORTLAND, OR | LEEDS, UK — September 15, 2026 — Noto Group, an executive search and leadership advisory firm serving consumer brands across North America and Europe, today announced the addition of Kirsty Schofield and Cody Johns as Senior Partners.

The appointments expand Noto Group’s expertise and strengthen the firm’s ability to support clients through growth, transformation, and strategic change. “Cody and Kirsty bring highly complementary experience, deep consumer sector expertise, and a genuine connection to how we work,” said Sara Spirko, Managing Partner of Noto Group. “Both understand that finding the right leader starts with gaining full context including the desired outcomes beneath the hiring need. That perspective, combined with rigorous assessment and close client partnership, is central to how we approach every search.”

Kirsty Schofield Strengthens International Practice

Based in the UK, Schofield brings 15 years of executive search experience and will help grow Noto Group’s fashion, lifestyle, beauty, and wellness practices. She joins Senior Partner John Copeland in expanding the firm’s international reach, leveraging her network across Europe, Asia, and North America.”

A founding member and shareholder of PartnerWise, Schofield built a senior-level search practice serving leading consumer brands across functions and markets. She advises boards, CEOs, and executive teams on critical appointments, combining Hogan certification and assessment expertise with a strong understanding of the leadership required to drive growth, transformation, and long-term performance.

“Throughout my career, I’ve been drawn to organizations and leaders building something meaningful,” said Schofield. “Noto Group’s consumer focus, values, and proven Sure Hire process really resonate with me. I’m excited to work with our clients as they make important leadership decisions and shape the future of their brands.”

“I’ve known Kirsty for a while and have tremendous respect for the practice she has built,” said John Copeland, Senior Partner at Noto Group. “I’m thrilled to work alongside her as we extend Noto Group’s reach with top leaders and consumer brands around the world.”

Cody Johns Returns to Her Executive Recruiting Roots

Johns has nearly two decades of experience in executive search, talent strategy, and organizational transformation. She joins Noto Group after more than 14 years at Nike, most recently as Director, Talent Business Partner, advising VP and SVP leaders on succession planning, organizational capability, and leadership hiring across Sales, Direct to Consumer, Design, and Product. She also played a key role in a major realignment that moved more than 2,000 employees into a new operating model in fewer than 90 days.

Previously, Johns served as Nike’s Executive Sourcing Director, helping scale the company’s executive sourcing capabilities, and earlier led executive recruiting across Product Management, Merchandising, and Product Creation.

Johns’ move to Noto Group marks a full-circle moment. Notowitz gave her first opportunity in executive recruiting at Generator Group, the search firm he founded before Noto Group. She later built on that foundation through senior talent roles at Adidas and Nike.

“It’s been rewarding to watch Cody build an exceptional career,” said Notowitz. “She returns with a rare combination of executive recruiting expertise and firsthand experience advising leaders inside a global organization on talent, succession, and organizational transformation.”

“I’ve followed Noto Group’s growth and have always respected its commitment to helping great companies make consequential leadership decisions,” said Johns. “Having seen those decisions from both inside organizations and as a search professional, bringing that perspective to Noto Group feels like a natural next chapter.”

Johns will advise clients on executive search, leadership selection, and talent strategy, with a focus on fitness and sporting goods, fashion, wellness, and beauty sectors.

Expanding Noto Group’s Consumer Leadership Platform

“Kirsty and Cody strengthen our firm in distinct but highly complementary ways,” Notowitz added. “Kirsty brings extensive international search experience and deep relationships across global consumer markets, while Cody brings firsthand experience inside a world-class consumer organization. Together, they broaden our ability to help founders, CEOs, boards, and investors build leadership teams equipped to grow, evolve, and endure.”

About Noto Group

Noto Group is a global executive search and leadership advisory firm that helps consumer brands recruit, select, and prepare exceptional leaders for critical roles, often during periods of growth, transformation, turnaround, or strategic change.

Founded in 2009, the firm specializes in C-suite, VP, and Director-level search across sporting goods, outdoor, apparel, footwear, CPG, food and beverage, fashion, lifestyle, beauty, personal care, travel, and hospitality. With offices across the U.S. and UK, Noto Group combines the high-touch service of a boutique firm with the reach and assessment capabilities of the larger global search firms.

Noto Group is a Certified B Corporation since 2013 and a member of 1% for the Planet.

Visit www.notogroup.com to learn more.

Access Fund Celebrates 35 Years of Protecting America’s Climbing with a Community Celebration

BOULDER, Colo — Since 1991, Access Fund has worked to protect climbing access and conserve America’s rock climbing landscapes. On September 26, the organization will celebrate 35 years with a Birthday Celebration in Denver, Colo. The community event features special guest and professional climber Chris Sharma.

Access Fund is bringing the climbing community together to celebrate more than three decades of advocating for access, protecting public lands and crags, building trails, educating climbers and replacing bolts—work made possible by its many members, partners and supporters. On Saturday, Sept. 26, Access Fund is inviting the climbing community to Movement RiNo for climbing, clinics and games from 3-6:30 p.m., followed by an after-party at Improper City from 6:30-10 p.m. The after party will feature food, drinks, live music, giveaways, an Access Fund history exhibit and opportunities to connect with climbing legends, community leaders and professional athletes.

“We are incredibly grateful to our donors, staff, volunteers and supporters—this milestone belongs to all of them,” said Heather Thorne, executive director of Access Fund. “None of this work would be possible without the climbing community’s support, and this celebration is our way of giving back. Come join us in Denver as we celebrate 35 years together.”

Over the past 35 years, Access Fund has become the leading voice for climbers nationwide. Through its efforts, Access Fund has protected nearly 4 million acres of public land, completed over 100 land acquisitions, built thousands of feet of sustainable trail, and educated climbers across the country on responsible recreation ethics. At a grassroots level, the organization has partnered with more than 150 local climbing organizations and granted more than $1.7 million to climbing organizations, public agencies and grassroots advocates working to conserve and protect climbing areas in their own communities.

The Denver celebration is a chance to thank the community that has protected climbing access for 35 years, and to help carry that work into the next 35.

For tickets and event details, visit Eventbrite. To learn more about Access Fund and become a member, visit Accessfund.org.

About Access Fund
Access Fund is the national advocacy organization that leads and inspires the climbing community toward sustainable access and conservation of the climbing environment. Access Fund represents more than 8 million climbers nationwide in its work to protect and conserve the land, fight for sustainable access, and build a community of inspired advocates. Access Fund staff have more than 100 years of public policy and advocacy experience and have permanently protected nearly 4 million acres of public land across the country, establishing climbers as a powerful voice in the fight to protect public lands. For more information, visit accessfund.org.

U.S. Riders cover an estimated 62 million miles on eBikes with a Bosch System

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (September 3, 2026)

Since the first eBikes equipped with the Bosch smart system reached riders in the United States, those riders have covered an estimated 62 million miles, according to anonymized, aggregated usage data from Bosch eBike Systems.

More than 52 million of those miles are measured directly, drawn from riders who have opted into the eBike Flow app through activity tracking and connected-bike odometer readings. Conservatively extrapolated across the full number of eBikes running the Bosch smart system in the U.S., the total comes to roughly 62 million miles.

Laid end to end, 62 million miles is close to 2,500 laps of the Earth at the equator, or about two-thirds of the distance from here to the sun. It is also a little more than 22,000 rides of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, the 2,745-mile ribbon of dirt that runs from Banff, Alberta, to the Mexican border. These miles were not covered by a fleet or a field of professionals, (though there are many eBikes with a Bosch system used for deliveries and bike share). They were covered by commuters, parents hauling kids and groceries, mountain bikers, and riders returning to cycling after years away.

“These are real miles, ridden by real people, on ordinary days,” said Jocelyn Vande Velde, NA Marketing Director at Bosch eBike Systems. “Many of them are on the trail: eMTB riders getting in one more climb, one more descent, staying out longer than they expected to. The rest are commutes, errands, and school runs. What the data tells us is that the bike has become both a way deeper into the mountains and a practical answer to trips that used to belong to something else. That is the outcome we have been engineering toward for more than a decade, and it is the reason we take the responsibility of building these systems as seriously as we do.”

That rider mix maps onto a broader shift underway across the U.S. market. A recent PeopleForBikes analysis describes an eBike market moving from recreation toward everyday transportation, and from the enthusiast toward the everyday rider: families, commuters, and errand-runners who never thought of themselves as cyclists. Categories built for hauling, electric cargo bikes among them, are now some of the fastest-growing in the country. The same analysis found the market to be considerably larger than headline retail figures suggest. Once direct-to-consumer and peer-to-peer channels were counted, close to one million e-bikes were bought or sold in the United States in 2024, roughly double the size the conventional numbers had shown. Sales figures capture what riders buy; usage data like the eBike Flow figures captures what they do with the bikes afterward, and both point in the same direction.

The figures cover only eBikes running the Bosch smart system, and only riders who have opted in to sharing data through the eBike Flow app. The first of those bikes did not reach the U.S. market until 2023, which makes the total a picture of roughly three years of riding rather than a full accounting of eBike travel on Bosch systems. Given that previous versions of Bosch eBike systems were introduced in the US market starting in 2014, the cumulative mileage on Bosch-equipped eBikes is massive.

Earlier this year, Bosch offered a free software update via its eBike Flow app, the Performance upgrade 2.0, allowing users to increase the motor’s performance values, with more torque and support, for select drive units of the smart system. This over-the-air update became available starting May 2026 for nine of Bosch’s drive units, aimed at perfecting the natural riding experience by offering the ideal balance of performance, durability, and range. In addition to over-the-air updates with new features and system improvements, the Bosch smart system, through its app, provides a central hub to track activities and ride statistics. The app also offers digital theft protection, smartphone connectivity, customized riding modes, navigation by connecting directly to apps like Strava, komoot, Apple Watch and compatible Garmin devices for route, and health tracking.

Bosch eBike Systems works with more than 100 of the world’s leading bicycle brands, supplying networked drive systems including motors, batteries, displays, and the eBike Flow app. The company’s approach draws on Bosch’s 139-year history in mobility, and on a conviction that the value of an eBike is measured in the trips it makes possible, and the memories along the way, rather than in any single specification.

For more information about Bosch eBike Systems and its range of offerings, please visit https://www.bosch-ebike.com/us/why-ride-bosch.

Source: anonymized, aggregated usage data from opted-in Bosch eBike Systems smart system eBikes in the United States, as of July 2026. Distance comparisons are illustrative and calculated by Verde Brand Communications.

Press photos and infocharts are available on the Bosch Media Service at www.bosch-press.com.

Contact:

Jocelyn Vande Velde
jocelyn.vandevelde@us.bosch.com 

Contact person/s for press inquiries:

Alexa McRoberts

bosch@verdepr.com

About Bosch

Having established a presence in North America in 1906, today the Bosch Group employs around 38,000 associates in more than 100 locations in the North American region (as of Dec. 31, 2025). In 2025, Bosch generated consolidated sales of $18.8 billion in the U.S., Mexico and Canada in 2025. For more information visit www.bosch.us, www.bosch.mx and www.bosch.ca.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 413,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2025). The company generated sales of 91 billion euros in 2025. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. With its business activities, the company aims to use technology to help shape universal trends such as automation, digitalization, electrification, and artificial intelligence. In this context, Bosch’s broad diversification across regions and industries strengthens its innovativeness and robustness. Bosch uses its proven expertise in hardware, software, and services to offer customers cross-domain solutions from a single source. It also applies its expertise in connectivity and artificial intelligence in order to develop and manufacture intelligent, user-friendly, and sustainable products. With technology that is “Invented for life,” Bosch wants to help improve quality of life and conserve natural resources. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 500 subsidiary and regional companies in over 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch’s global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. Bosch’s innovative strength is key to the company’s further development. Bosch employs some 82,000 associates in research and development.

The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as “Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering.” The special ownership structure of Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it possible for the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant upfront investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-four percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a limited liability company with a charitable purpose. The remaining shares are held by Robert Bosch GmbH and by a company owned by the Bosch family. The majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG.

It is entrusted with the task of safeguarding the company’s long-term existence and in particular its financial independence – in line with the mission handed down in the will of the company’s founder, Robert Bosch.

Additional information is available online at www.bosch-press.com, www.bosch.com.

Sea to Summit Announces B Corporation Certification

PERTH, Australia & BROOMFIELD, Colo. — Sept. 3, 2026 — Sea to Summit, the award-winning global outdoor brand known for its innovative, lightweight gear, is now a Certified B Corporation™, marking a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its social and environmental performance.

Sea to Summit completed the B Corp certification process in June 2026 through B Lab, the global nonprofit organization whose standards evaluate companies on social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. Sea to Summit’s certification follows an assessment across five impact areas: governance, workers, community, environment and customers.

For Sea to Summit, the certification represents a company-wide achievement, reflecting how the business operates across areas including governance, its people, supply chain and environmental practices. Unlike certifications focused on individual products, B Corp certification evaluates the organization as a whole, providing a broader measure of its social and environmental performance.

“Becoming a Certified B Corporation isn’t the finish line. It’s a checkpoint,” said John Rosair, CEO of Sea to Summit. “We build gear for people who go further, off-track and out past the treeline, and we wanted our own house to be held to that same standard: verified, transparent, accountable. This certification tells us where we stand today. The work now is making sure we’re in an even stronger position when we’re re-assessed in the years to come.”

Achieving B Corp certification is the result of work across the business and provides a framework for Sea to Summit to continue building on its progress. The company’s ongoing efforts will include supplier partnerships, responsible sourcing, supplier screening and audits, chemical management and material compliance.

The certification places Sea to Summit among a global community of businesses working to advance more inclusive, equitable and regenerative business practices. More importantly, it represents an ongoing commitment rather than a one-time achievement, with B Corps required to undergo recertification every three years to maintain their certification.

ABOUT SEA TO SUMMIT

Sea to Summit is an award-winning global brand that equips and inspires outdoor enthusiasts with innovative, lightweight adventure gear. Founded in Perth, Western Australia in 1991, the brand has grown into a global leader in the outdoor industry, known for its meticulously engineered products across sleep, carry, travel, and camp kitchen categories. For more information, visit seatosummit.com and follow @seatosummit.

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Access Fund Sues Trump Administration For Reduction of Bears Ears National Monument

BOULDER,  Colo. (Sept. 2, 2026) – Against the recommendations of Access Fund and the climbing community; President Trump issued a proclamation on July 13th, drastically reducing  Bears Ears National Monument in southern Utah. President Trump has removed protections from nearly 91% of the 1.36-million-acre Bears Ears National Monument—reducing the monument to just 121,000 acres. Under this proclamation, more than 1.2 million acres lose national monument designation, including world-class climbing areas.

The national monument reduction reverses the mineral withdrawal for over one million acres of federal lands and puts undue risks on the environment, recreation, wildlife, paleontological resources and cultural heritage of Bears Ears. Bears Ears National Monument includes Indian Creek, one of the world’s greatest rock climbing areas. The reduction also undermines the work that has been done by local Tribal Nations, in collaboration with Access Fund, to designate and protect the land. The monument was proposed and conceived of by  five sovereign tribal nations—Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Zuni Tribe, and Ute Indian Tribe.

President Trump first reduced the size of Bears Ears National Monument in 2017, after it was originally designated in 2016. As a result,  Access Fund filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the monument reduction in federal court. In 2021, the lawsuit was temporarily suspended when President Biden restored the monument.

On Sept. 2, Access Fund filed a motion asking the court to re-open its existing lawsuit against the President’s unlawful actions and permit it to challenge this latest attempt to dismantle Bears Ears National Monument.

“The illegal reduction of Bears Ears National Monument threatens a landscape of extraordinary ecological, cultural, historical and recreational significance,” says Access Fund executive director Heather Thorne. “Bears Ears protects critical habitat, sacred places and cultural resources of deep importance to Indigenous peoples, irreplaceable archaeological and paleontological sites, and some of the country’s most exceptional outdoor recreation opportunities, including world-class climbing. Sacrificing these lands for the short-term interests of extractive industries would cause far reaching and unnecessary harm to America’s public lands.”

For more information about Bears Ears and what Access Fund is doing to protect it, visit www.accessfund.org and follow the conversation at @accessfund.

About Access Fund

Access Fund is the national advocacy organization that leads and inspires the climbing community toward sustainable access and conservation of the climbing environment. Access Fund represents more than 8 million climbers nationwide in its work to protect and conserve the land, fight for sustainable access, and build a community of inspired advocates. Access Fund staff has more than 100 years of public policy and advocacy experience, and has permanently protected nearly 4 million acres of public land across the country, in addition to establishing climbers as a powerful voice in the fight to protect public lands. For more information, visit accessfund.org.

Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) Announces New Hires to Strengthen Leadership Team, Deepen Support for Members and Industry

BOULDER, Colo. — Aug. 26, 2026 — Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), the leading trade association for the outdoor industry, today announced a series of key leadership hires and promotions that reflect the organization’s continued investment in the talent and expertise needed to serve its members and advance the industry’s shared priorities. Its two new leadership hires include Adam Pugh, Sr. Director of Advocacy & Government Affairs, and Lindsay Hogan, Sr. Director of Marketing & Communications.  

The additions and promotions span government advocacy, marketing, operations, and sustainability, bringing together leaders with deep roots in the outdoor industry. Chief Operating Officer Andy Fletcher was hired on full-time at the end of 2025; Keelin Christensen was promoted to Sr. Manager of Sustainability in August; and new hire Robert Kyte is joining the organization as Marketing Specialist in September. As a collective, the team has senior experience at outdoor companies including Patagonia, Backcountry.com, VF Corporation, Vail Resorts, and Alpenglow Expeditions, alongside proven expertise in federal policy and sustainability-focused business strategy.  

“As the issues facing our industry grow more complex, from federal policy to sustainable business practices to the evolving needs of our members, the strength of our organization depends on the strength of our team,” said Kent Ebersole, President of OIA. “These hires and promotions represent a significant investment in the expertise, leadership and continuity our members count on. Each of these individuals brings deep experience and a genuine commitment to this industry, and together they position OIA to deliver even greater value to our members and to advance the work of the outdoor economy.” 

Adam Pugh, Sr. Director of Advocacy & Government Affairs 

Adam Pugh joined OIA as Sr. Director of Advocacy & Government Affairs on Aug. 24 and will be based in Washington, D.C., strengthening OIA’s capacity to serve its members. In this role, Pugh leads OIA’s federal government affairs strategy, advising OIA’s leadership and its members on legislative and regulatory developments affecting trade, recreation, permitting, and environmental policy, and representing OIA’s interests before Congress and federal agencies. 

Pugh brings a decade of federal government affairs experience to OIA. He most recently served as Director of Government Affairs for the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, where he led federal advocacy strategy on agriculture, energy, environmental permitting, and tax and trade policies for the aggregates and construction materials industry. His work included drafting legislative language for major federal permitting reform proposals and leading direct engagement with congressional offices and federal agencies on policy initiatives affecting industry timelines and regulatory certainty. He previously held policy and advocacy roles at the National Association of Home Builders, the National Association of Counties, and the National Association of Conservation Districts, where he advanced advocacy on environmental regulation, land-use policy, and infrastructure funding affecting member companies and local governments nationwide, and began his career in the U.S. House of Representatives.  

Pugh has a deep personal passion for the outdoors and believes some of life’s most meaningful experiences happen outside, whether camping with family, exploring a new trail or simply giving kids the opportunity to experience something beyond a screen. As a father, he is especially passionate about ensuring the next generation has opportunities to experience and enjoy the outdoors. This connection is a big part of what motivates his work to help ensure the outdoors remains accessible, welcoming and vibrant for generations to come. 

Lindsay Hogan, Sr. Director of Marketing & Communications 

Lindsay Hogan joined OIA as Sr. Director of Marketing & Communications on July 13. In this role, Hogan is responsible for executing the strategic direction for OIA’s marketing, branding, and communications work. She is central to the execution of OIA’s signature events, including Switchback and Rendezvous. She’s focused on building a broader channel strategy and thought leadership platform for the organization, designed to amplify and give voice to OIA’s voice in the outdoor industry, including its government affairs and advocacy work. Her role will continue to support the development of member-facing programs, services, and products. 

Hogan brings more than two decades of marketing and communications leadership in outdoor, travel, and member-based organizations. She most recently served as Sr. Director of Communications at Vail Resorts, where she led enterprise-wide integrated marketing and communications strategy across 42 destination resorts in four countries — overseeing digital and social strategy, brand positioning, media relations, community engagement, and crisis communications. She previously spent 13 years at the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, where she served as Sr. Director of Marketing Communications, leading promotions and publicity for Team USA at multiple Olympic Games, collaborating with broadcast partner NBC Universal on promotional campaigns and events, and delivering measurable value for corporate partners.   

Andy Fletcher, Chief Operating Officer 

OIA also announced that Andy Fletcher has transitioned from contractor to full-time Chief Operating Officer, effective December 2025, formalizing the strategic and operational leadership role he has held since joining as interim-COO in June 2025. In this role, Fletcher oversees OIA’s finances, internal operations, and organizational infrastructure, ensuring the association has the systems, resources, and cross-functional alignment needed to execute its strategic priorities and deliver consistent value to members. 

Fletcher brings more than two decades of strategy and operations leadership across the outdoor, retail, and consumer products industries. Most recently he served as Chief Operating Officer at Ellavate Wagon, an electric stroller-wagon startup, where he oversaw finance and operations. Fletcher also served as Head of Strategic Planning at Patagonia, where he led the company’s strategic planning function and guided cross-functional transformation initiatives. He previously served as Head of Owned Brands at Backcountry.com, with multi-million-dollar P&L responsibility for the Backcountry, Basin + Range, and Stoic apparel brands, and held strategy and business development leadership roles at VF Corporation and Nordstrom. 

Keelin Christensen and Robert Kyte 

Rounding out the announcement, Keelin Christensen has been promoted to Sr. Manager of Sustainability, effective Aug. 1, continuing to lead OIA’s sustainable business work since joining the organization as Manager of Sustainability in March 2023. Over the past three years, she has led sustainability compliance for members, enhanced member collaboration opportunities related to sustainability, and supported member education and engagement on climate action. Robert Kyte will join OIA as Marketing Specialist on Sept. 8, bringing cross-channel marketing experience from Alpenglow Expeditions and prior work as Lead Storyteller for The Global Climbing Initiative. 

Together, these hires and promotions reflect OIA’s ongoing commitment to building a team equipped to meet the outdoor industry’s evolving needs — a deliberate investment in talent that strengthens the organization’s ability to serve its members and advance the industry as a whole. 

About Outdoor Industry Association 

Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is a catalyst for meaningful change. A member-based collective, OIA is a passionate group of business leaders, climate experts, policy makers and outdoor enthusiasts committed to sustainable economic growth while protecting — and growing access to — the benefits of the outdoors for everyone. For more than 30 years, OIA has catalyzed a thriving outdoor industry by supporting the success of every member company across four critically aligned areas: market research, sustainability, government affairs, and inclusive participation. OIA delivers success for its members through education, events, and business services in the form of solutions and strategies, consultation, collaboration, and opportunities for collective action. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org. 

Offgrid Provisions Selects Darby Communications as PR Agency of Record

August 25, 2026 – West Gosford, Australia- Offgrid Provisions, the Australia-based brand renowned for its chef-crafted, fresh, and shelf-stable meals for outdoor adventures, proudly announces its partnership with Darby Communications, a leading PR and digital marketing agency representing outdoor, hunt, fish, and endurance brands. Effective immediately, Darby Communications will serve as Offgrid Provisions’ PR agency of record, leading communications strategy as the brand launches its Australian-born, American-made meals in the U.S. market.

Offgrid Provisions was founded in 2020 by James Viles, an Australian chef, author, restaurateur, and food entrepreneur known for his deep commitment to sustainability, local produce, and cooking philosophy centered around ethically sourced wild ingredients. Raised in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Viles started cooking professionally at a young age and has since founded multiple award-winning restaurants and food brands. His love for the outdoors inspired him to create Offgrid Provisions: fully cooked, preservative-free meals designed and crafted to help adventurers eat well, wherever they roam.

Now considered Australia’s premium brand for ready-to-eat meals, snacks, and supplements, Offgrid Provisions will make its stateside debut this fall as the first brand to launch fresh, preservative-free, ready-to-eat meals in the outdoor industry. American customers will have access to favorites like Bloody Good Bolognese, Butter Chicken, and Ranchers Chili— of which some are gluten-free, lactose-free, halal, and made in the U.S. with locally sourced ingredients.

“Making healthy, delicious food for people has been my passion for as long as I can remember,” says Viles. “I started Offgrid Provisions to help people reconnect with what they eat on their adventures, to fuel their adventures with purity and nutrition. I wanted to show them that there’s a better, more natural way to make meals for the outdoors—real, chef-prepared food that’s responsibly sourced and easy to make, with no water required. We’re so excited to bring that model to the U.S. market. Every meal American customers buy will be made in the U.S. using locally sourced ingredients. That means the food is fresher, tastes better, and has a smaller impact on the planet.”

“From the first time we met the OffGrid Provisions team, we knew this was a brand we had to help launch in the U.S.,” states Angie Robinson, President of Darby Communications. “James and his team are dedicated to providing locally sourced, real food that tastes good for folks who are spending time outdoors, and that really resonates with us. We can’t wait to help OffGrid Provisions make a huge impact in the ready-to-eat meals category in the outdoor, overlanding, and hunt, and fish industries.”

Offgrid Provisions will be available to U.S. customers starting in November 2026 online and through selected retailers across the U.S. For more information, contact Katie Richter at katie@darbycommunications.com.

About Offgrid Provisions

Offgrid Provisions is redefining outdoor food with chef-crafted, fully cooked meals made from real, responsibly sourced ingredients. Founded by Australian chef and restaurateur James Viles, Offgrid brings chef-driven recipes and high-quality ingredients to backcountry and outdoor adventures, without sacrificing flavor or convenience. After establishing itself as a leading ready-to-eat meal brand in Australia, Offgrid is bringing its chef-crafted approach to the U.S., with meals made in America using locally sourced ingredients. For more information, visit https://www.offgridprovisions.com.au/

About Darby Communications

Darby Communications is an East Coast-based public relations and digital marketing agency dedicated to supporting leaders within the outdoor, endurance, hunting, and fishing industries. We blend technical expertise and creative storytelling across a full range of services to grow awareness, strengthen reputation, and turn media and customers into brand advocates. Darby Communications is a trusted partner of respected brands such as KUIU, Shimano, Jetboil, Old Town, Skratch, and HydraPak, and was named Outdoor Media Summit’s 2025 Agency of the Year. For more information, visit www.darbycommunications.com