The Oregon Outdoor Alliance Podcast

StoryBooth
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In a sector built on exploration and grit, the strongest resource we have is each other. The OOA Podcast captures the authentic voices of the individuals, industry leaders, and advocates shaping Oregon’s outdoor economy.What began as a grassroots movement has evolved into a powerful statewide network. Here, we move beyond the gear and the stats to focus on human connection and innovation. Through guided conversations recorded everywhere from State Park trailheads to industry conferences, we preserve the stories of how Oregon brands and professionals work together to lead and grow. Join us as we build a living archive of the individuals, industry leaders, and partners across the state that are fostering connection, innovation, and growth within Oregon’s outdoor sector.

Episodes

  1. Mar 2

    A Conversation with Founders Van Schoessler & Gary Bracelin

    What if the fastest way to build an outdoor economy isn’t recruiting big brands, but lighting a spark at home? We sit down with Oregon Outdoor Alliance founders Van Schoessler and Gary Bracelin to tell the origin story of OOA—how a few picnic-table meetups and a shop-floor gathering at Pine Mountain turned into a statewide network that connects founders, talent, and support organizations across Oregon. We dig into why early efforts to poach headquarters from other states fell flat and how flipping the strategy—serve the locals first—created real momentum. From the first 75-person meetup to chapters in Portland, Hood River, Southern Oregon, and the Willamette Valley, OOA became the connective tissue for an eight-billion-dollar outdoor sector. Along the way, we explore the launch of BOW (Bend Outdoor Worx), the accelerator built to go deep with a select group of startups on sales strategy, channel building, supply chain, finance, and operations. You’ll hear practical, human stories of connection and shared passion for the outdoor industry—and we share founder-focused advice on rounding out the business beyond product, contracting for weaknesses, and using the region’s resources like EDCO, SBDC, Business Oregon, OOA, and BOW. If you crave the old trade-show serendipity, this is how to rebuild it locally. Show up, ask for help, and offer it. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves the outdoor industry, and leave a review telling us the one connection that changed your path.

  • 1 Episode

About

In a sector built on exploration and grit, the strongest resource we have is each other. The OOA Podcast captures the authentic voices of the individuals, industry leaders, and advocates shaping Oregon’s outdoor economy.What began as a grassroots movement has evolved into a powerful statewide network. Here, we move beyond the gear and the stats to focus on human connection and innovation. Through guided conversations recorded everywhere from State Park trailheads to industry conferences, we preserve the stories of how Oregon brands and professionals work together to lead and grow. Join us as we build a living archive of the individuals, industry leaders, and partners across the state that are fostering connection, innovation, and growth within Oregon’s outdoor sector.

Information

  • Creator
    StoryBooth
  • Episodes
    1
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 StoryBooth