Agenda Highlights

From educational seminars, panel discussions, working groups, the product showcase, and whitewater and flat water demos, the inaugural PTC Colab is packed with events and opportunities to improve your business.


Set-Up Day

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

9 am – 4pm 

PTC Colab Product Showcase Exhibitor Setup

1 pm – 4pm 

Vendor Registration - Whitewater Center Main Floor


Day 1

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Retail Outlook

7:00 am - Whitewater Center (WWC) Main Floor

Registration Opens, Coffee and Pastries

8:30 am – 9 am - WWC Second Floor 

General Session – Welcome and PTC Annual Meeting Call To Order

PTC Board of Directors Welcome and Introduction

Stig Larrson, Chair
Jeff Turner, Executive Director; Master of Ceremonies

Annual Meeting Agenda Review

PTC Colab Product Showcase Review

  • Welcome - Mike Knopp, Riversport OKC Executive Director

9 am – 9:45 am 

PTC Paddlesports Industry Icons

Learn from Veteran Business Leaders as they share perspective and insight on the paddlesports industry, the current business environment, and the relevance of PTC.

Moderator:

    • Jeff Moag, Paddling Business Magazine 

Panelists:

    • Steve Jordan, BigAdventures
    • Nikki Rekman, Nikki Rekman Sales
    • Stig Larsson, Level Six
    • Al Hurxthal, Dolphin Paddlesports
    • John Kahn, Confluence Paddle & Ski

9:45 am – 10 am 

Break - General Session continues after break

10 am – 10:45 am 

Associations Build a Common Place – How collaborative industry-wide organizations reveal common, and shared outcomes for growth.

This panel discussion, featuring leadership from the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance (GOA), the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), and the Snowsports Industries America (SIA), will explore the successes and challenges faced as these organizations formed, and grew into the collaborative voice of their members and constituents.

Discussion topics will include...

  • Industry gatherings building community and education
  • Common goals building collaborative execution and outcomes
  • Retailers and Brands
  • Economies of scale
  • Industry leadership
  • Shared growth and common, revealed challenges
  • Data acquisition and informed decision making
  • Myopia and Horizon
  • Consumer participation and inclusion
  • Relevance and authentic participation in common goals/solutions/industry actions
  • Joiners and Watchers

Moderator:

    • Jeff Turner – Executive Director (PTC)

Panelists:

  • Dana Howe, GOA Vice President
    • GOA is an organization dedicated to the health and growth of the specialty outdoor retail industry.
  • Kent Ebersole, OIA President
    • OIA - The outdoor industry’s catalyst for meaningful change.
  • Nick Sargent, SIA President
    • SIA's mission is to help the winter outdoor community thrive.

10:45 am – 11 am 

Working Together! Retailers, Outfitters, Brands, Manufacturers, Sales Reps

What is needed to advance industry relationships and efficiencies? How can PTC help? This session is a general introduction to the following breakout sessions where the real conversations will take place! Note: Outcomes and summaries from the breakout sessions will be presented on Day 2.

Moderator:

    • Jason Eccles, Bending Branches

11 am – 11:15 am 

Break - Move to Breakout Sessions

11:15 am – 12 pm 

Working Together! Retailers, Outfitters, Brands, Manufacturers, Sales Reps

Breakout Sessions: Select any ONE of the following.

Breakout sessions - Each group will complete an exercise to respond and rank answers to key questions

      • Retailers - Facilitator - Brian Vincent (Appomattox River Company) (Room B - Main Meeting Room)
      • Brands - Facilitator - Phil Walczynski (Down River Equipment) (Room C - Tables at Back of Main Room)
      • Sales Reps - Facilitator - Rob Bossen (Blue Water Trading) (Room A - Conference Room)
      • Associates - Facilitator - Risa Shimoda (River Management Society) (Room D - Peak Room)

12 pm – 1 pm 

Lunch: On your own - Visit the Riversport Grill on site

1 pm – 3:30 pm 

PTC Colab Product Showcase & Demo - Flat water demo time!

3:30 pm – 4 pm 

Water pumps ramp up! - Enjoy the moving water as it transitions from flat to white!

4 pm – 6:30 pm 

PTC Colab Product Showcase & Demo - Whitewater demo time!

6:30 pm – 10 pm 

PTC Colab Party on the Park

Purchase Party Tickets here.


Day 2

Thursday, September 5, 2024

7:00 am - WWC Main Floor

Registration Opens, Coffee & Pastries

8:30 am – 8:40 am - WWC Room B - Main Meeting Room

PTC Annual Meeting (Day 2) - Call To Order

Overview of Day 2 Agenda

8:40 am – 9 am

Outcomes/Summaries from Day 1 Breakouts

Brief report-outs, summaries, and proposed action items from Day 1 discussions

    • Day 1 Session Facilitators - Jason Eccles, Brian Vincent, Phil Walczynski, Rob Bossen, Risa Shimoda

9 am – 9:45 am

10-Year Outlook For the U.S. Outdoor Industry

The U.S. has entered a significant, unprecedented and complex period that will bring about profound and seismic changes across society, culture, economics/financial markets,politics/geopolitics and the environment/sustainability...no one is insulated. But recent groundbreaking research has emerged from pioneering futurists and other subject-matter experts that has given us unmatched insight into the unfolding tapestry of the future, thereby allowing us to position ourselves and our businesses to survive and thrive. In context of this research, the current state of affairs for the world and the U.S. and the direction in which we are progressing, I will provide a sobering if not unsettling 10-year outlook for the U.S. outdoor industry and its public lands. I will provide strategies, tactics, emerging technologies and new business models to help brands transition away from the “Old Normal” we have now that is no longer working and dying, through the difficult Reckoning period, and into the New Normal for the 2030’s and beyond.

Keynote Speaker:

    • Eddie Soehnel, Futurist
      • Soehnel is a LEADING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIST, BUSINESS MODEL INNOVATOR and EXPONENTIAL GROWTH STRATEGIST working predominantly in the DTC/B2C/B2B2C/consumer product industry. He researches, curates and publishes forward guidance on upcoming business cycles, exponential technologies, emerging business models and consumer shifts for DTC/B2C/B2B2C/consumer brands.

9:45 am – 10 am

Break - General Session continues after break

10 am – 11 am

Short Strokes: Breakout Topic Briefings and Overviews

Bridging the Confidence Gap – What the Data tell us about Safety and Growth in Paddlesports

    • Jim Emmons - Water Sports Foundation (WSF)
    • Jeff Moag - Water Sports Foundation (WSF)

Future Steps to Success: Should we Consider a PTC Professional Credential?

    • Peg Phillips - National Safe Boating Council (NSBC)
    • Pam Dillon (PTC)

Speaking for all in Paddlesports - Building Community through Inclusive Initiatives for Businesses and Participants

    • Risa Shimoda - River Management Society (RMS)
    • Kelsey Bracewell - American Canoe Association (ACA)

PADL-X -Digital Transformations for the Next Evolution of the Paddlesports

    • Marty Bhatia, Digital Ninja

11 am – 11:15 am

Break - Move to Breakout Sessions

11:15 am – 12 pm

Breakout Sessions - Continue the Discussion!

Select any ONE of the following:

  • Bridging the Confidence Gap/ Future Steps toward Success: Consideration of a PTC Professional Credential
    • Facilitators: Peg Phillips (NSBC) and Jeff Moag (WSF)
      • (Room D-Peak Room)

  • Speaking for all in Paddlesports - Building Community through Inclusive Initiatives for businesses and participants
    • Facilitators: Risa Shimoda (RMS), and Kelsey Bracewell (ACA)
      • (Room C-Tables at Back of Main Meeting Room)

  • PADL-X - Digital Transformations for the Next Evolution of the Paddlesports Industry
    • Facilitator: Marty Bhatia (Digital Ninja)
      • (Room A-Conference Room)

  • 10-Year Outlook for the Paddlesports Industry
    • Facilitator: Eddie Soehana
      • (Room B - Main Meeting Room)

12 pm – 1 pm 

Lunch: On your own - Visit the Riversport Grill on site

1 pm – 3:30 pm 

PTC Colab Product Showcase & Demo - Flat water demo time!

3:30 pm – 4 pm 

Water pumps ramp up! - Enjoy the moving water as it transitions from flat to white!

4 pm – 5:30 pm 

PTC Colab Product Showcase & Demo - Whitewater demo time!

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm 

Casual Music and Refreshments

Enjoy a drink from the Riversport Grill and wind down from the day! Cash bar

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm 

PTC Board of Directors  - Town Hall Membership Meeting


Day 3

Friday, September 6, 2024

7:30 am - WWC Main Floor

Registration Opens, Coffee and Pastries

8:30 – 9:15 am - WWC Main Meeting Room

General Session

PTC Annual Meeting (day 3)– Call To Order

Overview of Day 3 Agenda

Outcomes/Summaries from Day 2 Breakouts

Briefs and proposed action items

  • Day 2 Session Facilitators: Jim Emmons, Peg Phillips, Risa Shimoda, Kelsey Bracewell, Marty Bhatia

9:15 am – 10:00 am

Beyond the Buy – Engaging participants regardless of where they purchased their paddling gear

This session is intended to explore new and enthusiast consumer engagement in paddlesports activities within North America. The discussion will include perspectives from leaders in all segments of our industry, including retailers/outfitters, brands/manufacturers, sales reps, boating safety/instruction/guides, and media providers.

The paddlesports industry saw a surge of new paddlers during the pandemic. This discussion will explore how we can engage and include new customers, regardless of where they purchased their paddling gear. It is the industry’s responsibility to inform new paddlers about safe boating practices and where to access great paddling experiences.

The past years following the pandemic have presented real challenges in all aspects of the paddling industry. By sharing, discussing, and brainstorming best practices and marketing strategies, we will build a resilient and stable industry for the future.

    • Moderator
      • Brian Vincent (Appomattox River Company)
         
      •  Panelists
        • Mark Deming (NRS)
        • Emily Jackson (Jackson Kayak/Werner)
        • Kelsey Bracewell (ACA)
        • Simon Coward (Aquabatics Calgary)
        • Jeff Moag (Paddling Business Magazine)

10:00 - 10:15  Break - General Session continues after Break

10:15 am – 11:30 am

PTC Annual Business Meeting (Open to All)

  • Chair Report/ Board Officer Updates
    • Review of 2025 Board Election Process
    • Q&A with the PTC Board of Directors

11:30 am – 12 pm

PTC Colab and Annual Meeting Feedback, Input, and Comments. Determine Future Steps

Gavel Annual Meeting closed

12 pm - 2 pm

PTC Colab Product Showcase & Demo -Flatwater Demo Time! 

2 pm – 5 pm

Exhibitor Teardown and Farewell. Safe Travels!