At the heart of Outdoor Retailer’s evolution is the new Leadership Village, co-led by renowned athlete and Summit Scholarship Founder, Sunny Stroeer and industry veteran Paul Gagner.
Together with Lindsay Hubley, senior vice president of Emerald’s Sports and Outdoor Division (parent company of Outdoor Retailer), they guide an inspired team of brand leaders, designers, sustainability experts, athletes, and emerging voices to shape the next chapter of the show.
Sunny Stroeer brings a unique perspective to the outdoor industry, informed equally by her record-setting athletic achievements and her background as a Harvard MBA-trained strategist. As an entrepreneur, she founded the women’s expedition company AWExpeditions and co-owns Southern Utah’s premier hiking guide service Dreamland Safari Tours. Sunny extends her impact beyond her own companies as a dedicated industry advocate. Through her leadership of The Summit Scholarship Foundation and the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure, she works to build a more inclusive and resilient outdoor community for all.
Paul Gagner is a veteran executive whose nearly four-decade career has touched every facet of the outdoor and equipment industry. From retail floors to the C-suite, Paul has driven measurable growth as a senior leader for brands like Nite Ize and Gregory and as former President for Sierra Designs and Ultimate Direction. His deep understanding of the market is matched only by his personal passion for the outdoors as a highly accomplished big wall climber. Today, he applies this extensive experience as the co-owner of Dreamland Safari Tours and serves the broader industry on the boards of the Yosemite Climbing Association and the International Inboard Travel Association.
Dana Caraway is the founder and principal of Caraway & Co, an independent sales agency representing some of the most respected names in the outdoor and lifestyle industry. With over two decades of experience, she has built a reputation for visionary leadership, strategic growth, and cultivating trusted partnerships across national and regional markets. Dana is deeply committed to mentoring her team and empowering the next generation of leaders while strengthening the communities her brands serve.
Mike Massey is a third-generation retailer and an early pioneer in online sales and marketing. As the founder of Locally.com, he has helped bridge the gap between e-commerce and brick-and-mortar retail by connecting thousands of brand and retail websites with tens of thousands of local stores. Today, millions of shoppers use Locally to discover products online and complete their purchases at nearby stores, driving traffic, sales, and growth for local retailers around the world.
Tyrhee Moore is the Executive Director of Soul Trak Outdoors, a Washington, D.C.–based nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to outdoor recreation and environmental leadership for underrepresented communities. He serves as the co-chair of the Development Committee for the Environmental Film Festival, bringing his strategic insight to support the festival’s mission of impactful environmental storytelling. In 2022, Moore was recognized as an Outdoor Retailer Inspirational Award winner for his groundbreaking work in diversifying the outdoor industry. He was also part of the first all-Black expedition to Denali in 2013. Through these roles, Moore brings a deep commitment to equity and a wealth of experience in community-centered outdoor leadership to his advisory work.
Stephen Regenold is a journalist and entrepreneur, best known as the founder of GearJunkie.com. Regenold also worked as a reporter for the New York Times, where he published 50+ articles on outdoor sports and exploration. An avid climber, runner, skier, and endurance athlete, Regenold has completed expeditions around the world. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Tara, and their five children.
Sasha Digiulian is a Professional Climber and Founder & CEO of Send Bars. Sasha is one of the most accomplished and recognizable female climbers in the world. She has been Female Overall World Champion, as well as the undefeated panAmerican Champion and 3-time US National Champion. Sasha was the first North American Woman, and 3rd Woman in the World to climb the grade 5.14d, (9a), and the first woman to free climb a 5.14b (8c) Big Wall. She has traveled to over 50 countries globally and accomplished 30+ First and First Female Ascents around the world, including Big Walls of 5.14 grades. These accomplishments have garnered her world wide attention, including gracing the cover of 30+ magazines, and features including Oprah, Good Morning America, The Today Show, 60 Minutes Sports, Nightline, CNN, BBC, Vogue, TIME, as well as global endorsement deals. Sasha has over 800,000 followers across her social channels.
Xavier Abdullahi is a Minneapolis-based climbing coach, content creator, and community catalyst. Through events, coaching, and social media, Abdullahi (aka DaddyXClimbs) has a mission to introduce new climbers to the sport and bridge the gap between indoor gyms and the outdoors. Through the American Alpine Club’s Twin Cities chapter, he has led bouldering clinics for first-time BIPOC participants. His content has reached an audience of over 20 million people across his own channels and media including GearJunkie and ESPN. Abdullahi collaborates with outdoor brands on content creation, marketing strategy, product design, and community building to amplify representation and excitement in the sport of climbing and beyond.
Mandela Echefu is the co-founder of Wheelzup Adventures, an outdoor adventure retail and experiences business based in downtown Cumberland, Maryland, and one of the few Black-owned specialty outdoor retailers in the United States. He is a respected voice in conversations around innovation, creativity, community building, and inclusion within the outdoor industry, bringing a practitioner’s perspective rooted in small-business ownership, regional revitalization, and outdoor access.
Before entering the outdoor industry, Mandela spent 15 years working across clinical and administrative roles in healthcare. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medical Technology, an MBA from Frostburg State University, and multiple professional certifications, including Lean Six Sigma and Baldrige Examiner credentials.
A published writer, photographer, and speaker, Mandela’s work has appeared in Outside Business Journal, Adventure Cycling Magazine, Blue Ridge Outdoors, and National Ski Patrol Magazine, among others. He has presented at industry and regional forums including Big Gear Show 2022, the Appalachian Regional Commission Strategic Session (2023), and the Maryland Administrative Commission on the Outdoors (2024).
Mandela is a proud member of the National Ski Patrol, an Adventure Cycling guide, a NICA coach, and a founding member of the Western Maryland Climbing Coalition.
Wheelzup Adventures was awarded the 2022 Entrepreneurial Spirit Award by the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce. In recent years, Mandela’s work has focused on advancing the role of outdoor recreation as a driver of economic vitality, personal well-being, and community connection through access, knowledge, and shared experience.
Chris Ann Goddard is the founder and CEO of CGPR, a consumer-focused public relations firm established in 1993 in Marblehead, Massachusetts, now part of the Off Madison Ave family. With over four decades of communications experience, she began her career at Friends of the Earth in Washington, D.C., later becoming a lobbyist specializing in environmental and urban issues for the Mayor of New York, the National Association of. Counties and served in the Department of Interior Office of Congressional Liaison. She later worked as a special assistant to the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development at New York City Hall. Transitioning into public relations, Goddard worked on large consumer brands including Bermuda Office of Tourism, British Airways and I Love New York. After establishing CGPR, she led campaigns for major brands such as adidas Outdoor, Canada Goose, Head, Helly Hansen, K2, LOWA Boots, Merrell, Moncler, Nite Ize, Sebago, Sperry, and Patagonia, in addition to component brands including CiCLO Technology, LifeLabs and Reju and W. L. Gore & Associates. Beyond her professional endeavors, Goddard is an avid sailor, having raced for over 25 years, loves road cycling, and exploring the North Shore of Massachusetts with her husband and three Labrador retrievers.
Peter Sachs is a veteran outdoor industry leader who served as U.S. general manager for LOWA Boots for nearly 30 years. He launched the German footwear brand’s U.S. operations in 1996 and built it into one of the most trusted names in specialty outdoor retail, known for its craftsmanship, performance, and strong dealer relationships. With over four decades of experience in the outdoor industry, Sachs began his career at age 16 working in a ski shop before leading LOWA to record revenue growth and enduring brand loyalty. Known for his candor, humor, and team-first leadership style, he fostered a culture of collaboration and fun while guiding the company to an all-time high in sales before retiring in 2025.
Bill Kueper is the President and CEO of Wenonah Canoe, Inc., headquartered on the banks of the Mississippi River in Winona, Minnesota. For over 50 years, Wenonah has been a leader in manufacturing and distributing canoes worldwide. He’s represented the paddlesports sector in multiple tradeshow advisory groups and welcomes this challenge again. He’s also worked on several private-public partnerships including the launch and support of Paddle Share and with a multidisciplinary team defining framework for water sustainability under Minnesota’s Legacy Amendment.
Before taking the helm at Wenonah, Bill spent a decade at a Fortune 100 company. He holds a Ph.D. in physical organic chemistry and organic photochemistry from the University of Kansas. A lifelong Midwesterner and active outdoorsman, Bill enjoys canoeing, cross-country and telemark skiing, fishing, cycling and hiking.
Advisory Family
