Waterproof-breathable fabric provider Event fabrics hired Dave Wilson as its new sales account manager. Wilson rejoins Event fabrics after a nine-year hiatus, and returns to the company with broad expertise in product creation, sourcing and customer relations.

“It’s excellent to welcome Dave back to Event fabrics,” said Chad Kelly, director of sales and product line for the company. “His breadth of concept-to-market experience is highly valuable in helping our customers navigate the complexities of the supply chain, timelines, design and more. Plus, his technical understanding and ability to communicate the benefits of Event technology is well honed.”

Most recently Wilson was a senior product designer and developer for Garmin International, where he managed softgoods and accessory lines for multiple product categories. He also contributed his design and development talents to the outdoor, fitness and automotive sectors during his nine years with the company.

Prior to joining Garmin, Wilson was Event’s account manager for Scandinavia and the United Kingdom when the brand first came to market in 1999. For eight years, Wilson procured new business opportunities, managed marketing and brand campaigns, coordinated customer supply chain needs and provided technical training on Event’s innovative waterproof and air permeable technology.

Wilson’s earlier work experience includes managing his own industrial design firm, where he created products for clients including Clear Creek Fly Fishing Gear and Porter Products. In addition, he spent five years with Kelty where he designed backpacks, tents and the Pangaea travel gear line, and assisted in the development of the K.I.D.S carrier system. In 2011, Wilson’s entrepreneurial spirit led to the creation of Outvi, which melds his passion for cycling with product development and design. The Outvi Possm he created is an easily accessed tool roll that improves upon more cumbersome under-saddle seat bags.

Wilson, who lives in Kansas City, MO, is an active cyclist, completing the Leadville 100 three times and the Dirty Kanza 200 gravel race twice. He’s also a rock climber, runner, backpacker and canoeist. He holds degrees in industrial and graphic design and is an emergency medical technician.

Wilson is the third key hire this year for Event fabrics. Earlier this year, the company added:

  • Paul Arnhold, Marketing Manager. Arnhold has more than 13 years of diversified experience in public relations, marketing, brand building and communications, including three years with Bushnell Outdoor Products as Public Relations Manager. At Event fabrics, he is responsible for managing Event’s marketing strategy, brand story, customer activation and supporting sales enablement. He is a graduate of Kansas Sate University’s A.Q Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The native Kansan is an avid cyclist and involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters.
  • Drew Privitt, Product Development Engineer. Privitt recently earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Missouri Science and Technology Institute and interned with the company in 2015. He works at the Lee’s Summit Missouri facility, where Event membranes are fully manufactured.

Owned by Clarcor Inc., Event fabrics develops and manufacturers air permeable and waterproof membranes in textiles for outdoor, wintersports, cycling and professional apparel and footwear.