Outdoor Execs Commit to Collaborate at OIA Rendezvous After 10-Year Hiatus

March 24, 2026

More than 80 executives and industry leaders gathered last week at the headquarters of VF Corp. in Denver, Colorado, for the Outdoor Industry Association’s (OIA) Rendezvous, marking the first time the event has been held in roughly a decade.

The meeting brought together brands, retailers, and other stakeholders to discuss pressing issues in the outdoor industry, including participation, public lands, sustainability, and how companies can work together more closely going forward.

“We reinstated the OIA Rendezvous as part of a coordinated effort to unify the outdoor industry,” said Kent Ebersole, OIA president. “That unity begins at the top, so we knew we needed industry leaders together to help shape the future.”

Attendees such as Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert, REI Chief New Ventures and Impact Officer Susan Viscon, Youngone Corp. Senior Vice President Diana Seung, and Black Diamond President Neil Fiske shared their takeaways from the discussions, which focused on collaboration, industry growth, and translating sustainability commitments into concrete actions rather than lofty goals. SESO