Tom Barney
Former CEO, Osprey
Current Managing Director, ElevenPine

Tom is a committed cyclist, hiker, paddler and golfer who loves living in Durango and enjoying life in Colorado. Between them Tom and wife Wendy have six children – Emily, Sarah, Molly, Will, Tom and Sam. Tom served two terms on the Board of the Outdoor Industry Association and currently sits on Boards or Councils of The Colorado 14’er Initiative, American Rivers, Lawrence University President’s Circle, Durango Parks and Recreation, Durango Creative District and Biblical Israel Ministry and Tours.

Kelly Watters
Co-Founder & CEO, Western Rise

Kelly is a fourth-generation entrepreneur building the next phase of consumer product companies for the modern consumer. Kelly is one of Outside Magazine’s 10 Women to Know in the Outdoor Industry, a Wright Awards Finalist, and advisor to some of the top new Kickstarter brands. An operator at heart, she has over 10 years of experience in operations, logistics, finance, team building, and general management at both non-profit and for-profit businesses. She thrives in high-intensity workplaces wearing multiple hats and solving problems.

Tim Fry
President & CEO, Mountain Racing Products

Tim is the president and CEO of Mountain Racing Products, a Grand Junction-based manufacturing company that designs and manufactures components for the high-end bicycle industry. Prior to moving to Grand Junction, Tim practiced law, specializing in corporate and complex litigation. Tim also sits on several other local and state boards including the Colorado Mesa University Board of Trustees, the Colorado Workforce Development Council, the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative Board, and the Grand Junction Economic Partnership Board. He is married with two children.

Tom Barney
Former CEO, Osprey
Current Managing Director, ElevenPine

Tom is a committed cyclist, hiker, paddler and golfer who loves living in Durango and enjoying life in Colorado. Between them Tom and wife Wendy have six children – Emily, Sarah, Molly, Will, Tom and Sam. Tom served two terms on the Board of the Outdoor Industry Association and currently sits on Boards or Councils of The Colorado 14’er Initiative, American Rivers, Lawrence University President’s Circle, Durango Parks and Recreation, Durango Creative District and Biblical Israel Ministry and Tours.

Bart Taylor
Founder, CompanyWeek

Bart Taylor is founder and publisher of CompanyWeek, digital media and events focusing on U.S. manufacturing. Launched in 2013, CompanyWeek reports on manufacturing through the lens of companies and the people who lead them. Over 50,000 readers in 22,000 companies across the West currently subscribe to CompanyWeek Manufacturing Reports. Taylor recently joined forces with Sustainment to bring advanced networking and supply-procurement technology to the CompanyWeek community. Taylor speaks extensively with community and industry leaders about manufacturing, supply chain, and economic development issues. His career spans 30-plus years of media and business publishing. He’s a graduate of Colorado State University.

David Dragoo
Founder, Mayfly Outdoors

David Dragoo is a Colorado born entrepreneur, and founder of several businesses with a background specializing in manufacturing and real estate. David is the President of Mayfly, an outdoor products company and Certified B® Corporation proudly based in Montrose, Colorado. The company’s brands include fly fishing tackle businesses Abel®, Ross Reels® and Airflo®. The company employs over 100 people with operations in California, Colorado, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, David leads the Colorado Outdoors project in Montrose, Colorado, a 164-acre public-private partnership aimed to revitalize the community and restore the local riverway. In this capacity, he works closely with venture capital partners, local public entities, and conservation organizations.

Greg Williams
Partner & Media Director, Backbone Media

Greg joined Backbone Media in 2005 and was named a partner in 2011. Under his leadership, media has expanded its client base to include names like New Belgium Brewing, Eddie Bauer, Aspen Snowmass, SmartWool, Polartec, Outdoor Research, La Sportiva, Far Bank, Boa, and Black Diamond. Backbone’s media work spans all channels and includes award-winning digital campaigns and national TV brand campaigns. Prior to Backbone, Greg managed the advertising team at Climbing magazine and co-founded the Philadelphia Rock Gym. Greg is an all-around outdoor enthusiast and lives in Carbondale with his family — Carolyn, Sage and Luke.

Nathan Perry, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Economics at Colorado Mesa University

Nathan Perry, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Economics at Colorado Mesa University. He will be presenting on a BRAND NEW study on the economic impact of the outdoor industry on the western slope region. His research interests include regional economics, macroeconomics, and money and banking. He has conducted several regional economic studies including economic impact studies, public land studies, and has published work on Deficits and Debt, inflation, and the Great Depression. Perry writes quarterly economic newsletters for Mesa, Montrose, and Delta Counties, and semi-annual newsletters for Garfield, Rio Blanco, Moffat, and Routt Counties. Perry regularly presents on the economic conditions of the Western Slope, Colorado, and the national economy, where he is known for bringing humor and data to a broad audience.

Conor Hall
Director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry, Colorado

Conor grew up in Crestone, CO and spent his summers on a cattle ranch. He joined OREC from The Trust for Public Land, where he was the director of conservation strategies, policy, advocacy and government relations for the Intermountain West, leading the creation of over $2 billion dollars in public funding for land and water conservation and climate. Conor also served as a Senior Advisor on Climate and Conservation on Michael Bloomberg’s 2020 presidential campaign, and as a senior advisor to Governor Hickenlooper. Other priorities include working with industry partners on the future of the Outdoor Retailer show and its success in Colorado, the implementation of the revised “Grow Your Outdoor Recreation Industry” program through the Rural Technical Assistance Program (RTAP), and ensuring the sustainable and thoughtful growth in the use of Colorado’s outdoor recreation assets. Conor is an avid outdoorsman who loves to snowboard, hike, mountain bike, rock climb, SUP, and kayak. He is a cancer survivor who proudly serves on the non-profit First Descents Alumni Advisory Board and mentors other young people coping with cancer. He also serves as a national board member for the anti-bullying non-profit Stand for Courage and is a 2019 McKinsey Academy Leadership Fellow.

Travis Campbell
Owner & CEO, Eagle Creek

Travis has served as president of Smartwool, GM Americas of The North Face, and president of the fly-fishing company Far Bank Enterprises. He is the former President of Emerging Brands at VF Corporation, managing a group of companies which Campbell defined as each worth under $1 billion, like JanSport, Smartwool, Altra, and Eagle Creek. In September 2021, Travis acquired Eagle Creek from VF and now serves as owner and CEO. He lives in Steamboat Springs with his wife and two children, where he enjoys to fly fish, ski, and build his company culture.

Tom Barney
Former CEO, Osprey
Current Managing Director, ElevenPine

Tom is a committed cyclist, hiker, paddler and golfer who loves living in Durango and enjoying life in Colorado. Between them Tom and wife Wendy have six children – Emily, Sarah, Molly, Will, Tom and Sam. Tom served two terms on the Board of the Outdoor Industry Association and currently sits on Boards or Councils of The Colorado 14’er Initiative, American Rivers, Lawrence University President’s Circle, Durango Parks and Recreation, Durango Creative District and Biblical Israel Ministry and Tours.

Kelly Watters
Co-Founder & CEO, Western Rise

Kelly is a fourth-generation entrepreneur building the next phase of consumer product companies for the modern consumer. Kelly is one of Outside Magazine’s 10 Women to Know in the Outdoor Industry, a Wright Awards Finalist, and advisor to some of the top new Kickstarter brands. An operator at heart, she has over 10 years of experience in operations, logistics, finance, team building, and general management at both non-profit and for-profit businesses. She thrives in high-intensity workplaces wearing multiple hats and solving problems.

Bart Taylor (Moderator)
Founder, CompanyWeek

Bart Taylor is founder and publisher of CompanyWeek, digital media and events focusing on U.S. manufacturing. Launched in 2013, CompanyWeek reports on manufacturing through the lens of companies and the people who lead them. Over 50,000 readers in 22,000 companies across the West currently subscribe to CompanyWeek Manufacturing Reports. Taylor recently joined forces with Sustainment to bring advanced networking and supply-procurement technology to the CompanyWeek community. Taylor speaks extensively with community and industry leaders about manufacturing, supply chain, and economic development issues. His career spans 30-plus years of media and business publishing. He’s a graduate of Colorado State University.

Barbara Bynum
City of Montrose

Since moving to Montrose over a decade ago, Barbara has had the opportunity to serve on both nonprofit boards and in elected positions on special government boards. Through her work with the Montrose Recreation District she has experience with large capital projects, the related infrastructure, and the accompanying public finance tools. Her State Land Board experience has provided an extensive background in public lands management. Barbara enjoys participating in community events, festivals, and budget meetings. She and husband Kelly and have been married 24 years and have two teenagers; Maggie is in college and Danny attends Montrose High School. They love playing in Montrose’s backyard, including skiing, biking, rafting, 4-wheeling, fishing, canyoneering, and hiking.

David Dragoo
Founder, Mayfly Outdoors

David Dragoo is a Colorado born entrepreneur, and founder of several businesses with a background specializing in manufacturing and real estate. David is the President of Mayfly, an outdoor products company and Certified B® Corporation proudly based in Montrose, Colorado. The company’s brands include fly fishing tackle businesses Abel®, Ross Reels® and Airflo®. The company employs over 100 people with operations in California, Colorado, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, David leads the Colorado Outdoors project in Montrose, Colorado, a 164-acre public-private partnership aimed to revitalize the community and restore the local riverway. In this capacity, he works closely with venture capital partners, local public entities, and conservation organizations.

Dan Scinto
Business Loan Fund Director, Region 10

Region 10 welcomed Dan Scinto as their new Business Loan Fund Director in 2016. With a knack for commercial lending, Dan brings over 25 years of banking experience to this newly redesigned post. A Minnesota native, Scinto relocated to the Western Slope for its outdoor recreational opportunities. Scinto adds that as an avid hunter, fisher, and outdoors enthusiast, he couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Aside from his eagerness to recreate, Scinto also brings an eagerness to help the business community. “I get goosebumps talking about credit,” he adds. “I absolutely love it.”