In the midst of the busy Interbike Show, a group of spirited bicycle industry-related women are taking time out to meet other industry women, greet old friends and schmooze. The “Schmoozapalooza” will take place Thursday, October 7, 2004 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the Venetian meeting room, Casanova 602, at the Sands Expo Hall Lower Lobby down the hall from Interbike Registration. Refreshments will be served.
“The get together will provide the opportunity to take a short break from the Interbike Show and network with other women in the industry,” says organizer Ariadne Delon Scott of Specialized.
The agenda will include special guest speaker, Neide Cooley, President of the Outdoor Industries Womens Coalition (OIWC), who will provide information about the OIWC, its goals, mission, mentoring and initiatives. The OIWC, founded in 1996, is a non-profit corporation focused on the mission of equipping women to achieve their success by providing power, influence and opportunity to women in business.
According to Scott there is a possibility that the women in the bike industry may form a sub group of the OIWC. “We will let the momentum of the networking event guide us to what we might do next, “Scott said.
Sponsors of the event include Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, NBDA, Shimano, Interbike and Specialized. Trek, Terry Bicycles, Dirt Rag Magazine and Specialized have donated schwag for the event. Phat Cycles has donated a bicycle for a drawing.
The OIWC is sponsored at the Gold Plus level by REI. Gold level sponsors are W.L. Gore & Associates, Fox River and Mountain Hardwear. Silver level sponsors are Jansport, Exel, Tubbs Snowshoes, Karhu USA, Burton Snowboards, Stonewear Designs, Marmot, K2, The North Face, Black Diamond, Outdoor Mind, Columbia, Timberland and Polartec.
