What relevant business experience do you have that aligns with the requested skillsets and experience that the board is currently seeking?   

I am a firm believer in the power of the outdoors, both personally and professionally. I see outdoor recreation as a key to a healthy and thriving community on all levels.  

Having served three years already on the OIA Board – first on the Audit & Finance Committee, now on Strategic Initiatives Committee (SIC) – I have built the institutional knowledge, financial fluency, and constructive engagement directors are asked for. The SIC allows me to operate at the intersection of brand operation, financial oversight, and sustainability – a portfolio of skills I am confident I possess.  

I bring 30 years of consumer products leadership, most of it in outdoor. As VP of product at Leatherman and a senior leadership team member, I set vision and operate inside the discipline of executive accountability. Across Gerber Gear, Bates, KEEN, and Nike, I have owned P&Ls from $50M to $200M, expanded margins, restored growth, and led brands through change. I led Fiskars Group’s ESG agenda at Gerber and have consistently built inclusive, consumer-focused teams. 

My network spans heritage manufacturers, performance footwear independents, and global athletic businesses – useful for membership growth, brand-building, and mobilizing the industry’s collective voice on the issues that matter most to OIA’s members.  

Background 

Keith Carrato is VP of product at Leatherman Tool Group and a 30-year leader of consumer brands in the outdoor and athletic industries. At Leatherman, where he serves on the senior leadership team, he directs product management, industrial design, and engineering for the company’s tool and gear roadmap. 

His career has been built running businesses, not just functions. As VP and general manager of Gerber Gear, a $100M outdoor brand within Fiskars Group, Keith led a turnaround that grew gross margin by more than 10 points in four years, launched the brand into camp cookware with 70% sell-through on hero items at major U.S. sporting goods retailers, and led Fiskars Group’s ESG agenda for the Gerber brand. At Bates Footwear, a Wolverine Worldwide division, he returned a $50M brand to growth after four flat years. At KEEN, he ran the $100M global Trailhead hiking footwear business. Earlier, at Nike, he held multiple roles across strategic planning, product management, and creation and community impact.  

He holds a BA in business economics, cum laude, from Willamette University. 

What relevant business experience do you have that aligns with the requested skillsets and experience that the board is currently seeking?   

Over the course of my career, I’ve been fortunate to find myself in boardrooms, congressional offices, on peaks, in rivers, and around countless tables where people with very different perspectives came together to solve hard problems. One lesson has been consistent: We are stronger together. And another immediately follows: Someone needs to lead, to be the convener. OIA is that convener. 

This is a pivotal moment for the outdoor industry and for OIA. Decisions being made today will have lasting implications for our businesses, our lands and waters, and the communities we serve. I can contribute by bringing a collaborative perspective, an understanding of how to navigate complex stakeholder environments, and a willingness to build bridges to help OIA continue leading and convening on the issues that matter most. 

Policy, government affairs, and advocacy work have been an important throughline during the time I’ve spent in this industry we love. I’ve spent years helping connect business, environmental, and community organizations; elected officials; and industry leaders around shared goals. Our industry has a critically important role to play in shaping a future of a strong economy, thriving businesses, healthy places we love, and vibrant communities. OIA is in a unique leadership role to drive that work forward, and I would be honored to be a part of it. 

Background:  

Outdoor industry veteran Laura Schaffer leads marketing & impact for Orvis, the family-owned and operated outdoor brand specializing in fly-fishing and wingshooting gear, dog products, and outdoor apparel. She strives to create the most inspiring, engaging customer experience across the Orvis brand ecosystem and to leave the campsite better than she found it. 

Laura is responsible for leading the overarching brand, marketing and creative vision, engaging the Orvis community and building the long-term conservation and sustainability strategy for the company with deep roots in habitat restoration and protection. 

Prior to joining Orvis, Laura led POWDR Adventure Lifestyle Company’s Play Forever corporate responsibility commitment. During her time at POWDR, she played an integral role in the development of the ski industry’s Climate Collaborative Charter and was named NSAA’s Hero of Sustainability. Her career has also taken her to Mountain Hardwear, Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort, and the Salt Lake Organizing Committee (for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games). At Snowbird, she was named one of the ski industry’s “Top 15 Under 30” by Ski Area Management Magazine, and she has served on the board of directors of Protect Our Winters (POW) and Camber Outdoors. Laura holds an MBA in sustainable global enterprise from Cornell University and a BA in economics from Wesleyan University. She aims to start every day with a cartwheel.  

What relevant business experience do you have that aligns with the requested skillsets and experience that the board is currently seeking?    

As the current chair of OIA’s Nominating & Governance Committee and a member of the Executive Committee, I have a strong understanding of how this board operates – including our approach to director recruitment, board composition, and succession planning. I’ve been part of guiding the association through periods of strategic prioritization and organizational change, and  

I am committed to continuing that work. 

Beyond my governance role at OIA, my operating background spans retail, ecommerce, brand leadership, global manufacturing, and P&L transformation – which gives me a broad and current perspective on the challenges our member brands are navigating. In my current role at Youngone Corporation, I work daily at the intersection of global supply chain and North American brand strategy, which I believe is increasingly relevant as cost pressures, sourcing disruptions, and manufacturing resilience become central issues for the industry. 

I’m running for re-election because I’m genuinely invested in OIA’s mission and the long-term health of this industry. After three years on the board, I have the institutional context, the relationships, and the working knowledge of our governance practices to continue contributing meaningfully – and I’m committed to doing that. 

Background: 

Diana Seung is a seasoned executive and board director with more than two decades of leadership across global retail, apparel, and manufacturing organizations. She currently serves as a senior vice president of strategy & business development at Youngone Corporation, a global apparel and accessories manufacturer, where she leads the company’s Vancouver liaison office and directs strategic initiatives, business development, and supports client partnerships across North America.  

Prior to Youngone, Diana served as president of tentree International, a global B-Corp apparel impact brand with a mission to plant trees for every item purchased. Earlier roles include general manager of North America for Jack Wolfskin, EVP of merchandising at Backcountry.com, VP of ecommerce at The Children’s Place, and senior leadership positions at Gymboree, Ann Taylor, Saks 5th Avenue, and Bloomingdale’s. 

On the governance side, Diana currently serves as board director and chair of the Nominating & Governance Committee at OIA, board advisor to Outdoor Research, and advisor on the Regional & Civic Affairs Committee of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. Diana holds a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University and is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. 

What relevant business experience do you have that aligns with the requested skillsets and experience that the board is currently seeking?   

Throughout my career, I have led organizations through growth, transformation, and change by combining financial discipline with leadership and strategic thinking. Having served as CFO and COO for three organizations before becoming CEO of Cotopaxi, I bring extensive experience in financial oversight, governance, risk management, operational excellence, and long-term value creation. I believe these experiences align well with the needs of the OIA Board and the Audit & Finance Committee. 

As CEO of Cotopaxi, I have the privilege of leading one of the outdoor industry’s purpose-driven brands during a dynamic period. Consumer expectations are evolving, global supply chains continue to shift, and the retail landscape is changing rapidly. These challenges present an opportunity to strengthen our industry, create jobs, expand outdoor participation, and reinforce the outdoor industry’s economic impact across the United States and globally. 

I am passionate about helping shape the future of the outdoor industry through strong governance, responsible financial stewardship, long-term strategy, and policies that support a vibrant and sustainable outdoor economy. I would be honored to contribute my experience, collaborate with fellow board members, and help OIA strengthen the industry, advance its policy priorities, expand access to the outdoors, and ensure our collective impact continues to grow. 

Background:  

Lindsay Shumlas is chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors of Cotopaxi, where she leads the company’s global strategy, growth and purpose, inspiring people to get outside while creating positive impact. Since becoming CEO, she has focused on strengthening the Cotopaxi brand, accelerating omnichannel growth, expanding international opportunities, reinforcing the company’s commitment to impact as a certified B corporation and demonstrating that business growth and positive environmental and social impact can go hand in hand. 

With more than 25 years of executive leadership experience, Lindsay has led consumer brands through growth, transformation and operational excellence. Having served in CFO, COO, and CEO roles, she brings expertise in strategy, governance, finance, operations, supply chain, retail, and wholesale, with a proven track record of scaling businesses and building high-performing organizations. 

Prior to joining Cotopaxi, Lindsay held executive leadership roles at VICI, where she served as chief executive officer, and Manhattan Beachwear, driving growth through brand development, strategic partnerships, global expansion, and organizational transformation at both companies. 

Lindsay is passionate about expanding access to the outdoors and believes the industry has a unique opportunity to create positive environmental and social impact while driving sustainable economic growth. She has championed purpose-led strategies that balance financial performance with responsible business practices and community impact. 

Lindsay earned her bachelor’s degree in business from Michigan State University and her MBA from the University of Michigan. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two children, and two Labradoodles and plans to relocate to Park City in 2027. Inspired by a childhood spent camping and hiking with her family, she continues to make time for hiking, skiing, travel, and exploring the outdoors. 

What relevant business experience do you have that aligns with the requested skillsets and experience that the board is currently seeking?    

I am a lifelong lover of the outdoors and am an active trail runner, cyclist, and skier. My professional career and passion for this industry come from my own personal connection to the outdoors. 

Along with my professional experience with iconic outdoor brands, I bring deep experience in industry governance and board service. This includes two terms as board chair of PeopleForBikes and prior to that as president of the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association (BPSA). I believe this experience gives me a clear understanding of how advocacy and trade associations create durable value for outdoor participants, members, and the industries they represent. 

I am an experienced leader, operator, and strategist with more than 25 years of experience in the outdoor specialty industry. I have led businesses and industry associations through both times of growth and prosperity as well as during times of turmoil and strategic change. I take pride in being able to adapt to different environments and markets and to align organizational interests around strategy, priorities, and a focus on execution.    

I am driven by a genuine personal passion for the outdoors, the outdoor industry, and a deep belief in the value of time outdoors. I’m excited to add value to OIA.   

Background:  

Chris Speyer is chief merchandising officer and an equity partner at MEC (Mountain Equipment Company), Canada’s only national specialty outdoor retailer.   

Chris brings more than 35 years of merchandising, product creation, and marketing experience and 25 years of senior leadership in the outdoor specialty industry.  

Prior to MEC, he served as chief merchandising officer at REI, North America’s largest consumer cooperative, and prior to REI he served as CEO and managing director of Accell Group North America, a leading global portfolio of cycling and mobility brands. His career spans brand, product, merchandising, and commercial strategy across both U.S. and Canadian markets. He has also served as board chair of PeopleForBikes and president of the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association. 

Chris and his wife Carolyn currently live in North Vancouver, British Columbia, where they love the amazing access to the mountains, trails and oceans. They have three wonderful children who have a shared affinity and passion for the outdoors.    

He is committed to the long-term health and global relevance of the outdoor industry. 

What relevant business experience do you have that aligns with the requested skillsets and experience that the board is currently seeking?   

I bring a perspective grounded in building a healthy, sustainable outdoor industry – one that balances growth, brand integrity, and long-term environmental and community impact. 

In a key VF Outdoor leadership role, I focus on responsible growth that supports both marketplace health and the broader outdoor ecosystem. My work includes aligning brand positioning, navigating channel dynamics, and making decisions that prioritize long-term value over short-term gains. 

I am especially motivated by sustainability in its broadest sense: protecting access to the outdoors, strengthening the specialty retail channel, and advancing responsible industry practices that reduce impact while driving relevance and growth. I believe the future of the industry depends on collective action across brands, retailers, and industry organizations to build durable, responsible systems. 

I also bring experience aligning diverse stakeholders around shared goals, along with a personal commitment to my own outdoor participation. I am deeply invested in helping shape an outdoor industry that is resilient, inclusive, and sustainable for generations to come. 

Background: 

Ken Taylor is vice president, wholesale (Americas) at The North Face, where he leads the brand’s U.S. wholesale business and strategic accounts across all categories. He oversees commercial strategy, go-to-market execution, and financial performance, driving seasonal revenue growth, marketplace discipline, and brand elevation. 

With more than 20 years of experience in the outdoor and footwear industries, Ken has built a strong track record of translating brand strategy into marketplace results. He has held senior leadership roles at The North Face, Saucony, and Red Wing, leading sales, marketing, and commercial operations across North America and international markets. 

At The North Face, Ken has played a key role in strengthening wholesale partnerships, modernizing go-to-market processes, and improving operational performance. His leadership has helped increase marketplace readiness, enhance forecast accuracy, and improve margins. He is known for building high-performing teams, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and delivering results with pace and accountability.  

Ken holds an MBA in design & innovation from Kendall College of Art & Design and a BBA in marketing from Davenport University. An avid endurance trail runner and snowboarder, he brings a deep personal connection to the outdoor industry and its community.