Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert, who has not been particularly sympathetic to the interests of the outdoor recreation industry, attended the ribbon cutting ceremony Friday for Gregory Mountain Products new headquarters on the Black Diamond campus in Holladay, UT.
Gov. Hunt, Holladay Mayor Dennis Webb, Jeff Edwards of EDCUtah, and Spencer Eccles from GOED were on hand to show their support for Black Diamond’s recent merger with Gregory Mountain Products in 2010, and to celebrate the expansion of the outdoor industry’s presence throughout the state.
“It is difficult to think of outdoor recreation in Utah without thinking of Black Diamond and Peter Metcalf,” said Governor Gary R. Herbert. “Utah’s preeminence in the outdoor products and recreation industry is in no small part a result of Peter’s early and earnest promotion and leadership of the industry in the state. It is fitting that on the same day Black Diamond is holding this celebration of their impressive growth, Peter is being honored as “Entrepreneur of the Year”.
“We are so pleased as a city and community to have Black Diamond and Gregory Packs reside within our boundaries,” said Mayor Dennis Webb. “The entrepreneurial spirit of Peter Metcalf and all of the employees associated with this wonderful company exemplify the American dream. Any great company or great cause has as its origin and roots great visionary leadership. No one exemplifies that more than Peter Metcalf. Our congratulations to Peter for the well deserved “Entrepreneur of the Year” award he will receive later today.”
“Black Diamond and Gregory share a deep passion for the outdoors and for designing and manufacturing some of the best technical and authentic outdoor equipment on the market,” said Peter Metcalf, co-founder, president and CEO for Black Diamond. “In the combined organization, we now have much deeper resources to strategically grow our presence in all of the markets we serve.”
Both Gregory and Black Diamond are major global players in the outdoor and ski industries, with a combined $125 million in annual revenues, and will collectively create 55 new full-time positions at the facilities in Salt Lake County over the next ten years as a result.
“Gregory Mountain Products relocation to Utah under the umbrella of Black Diamond Equipment, Inc. is a great example of expanding existing companies’ presence through our workforce, business environment and public/private partnerships,” says Jeff Edwards, president and CEO of Economic Development Corporation of Utah. “Gregory will make an excellent addition to our robust Outdoor Products Industry in the State.”
“We are excited by the complementary nature of our brands and for the bright future that lies ahead,” added Wayne Gregory, founder at Gregory Mountain Products. “The new business platform will strengthen our global foundation with the same authenticity, pride and commitment that has defined Gregory over the past 34-years.”
Attendees are invited to tour the new Gregory facility and meet key players from both brands, including founder Wayne Gregory and his product development team making the move from Sacramento, Calif. to the Salt Lake area. Peter Metcalf will officially introduce and welcome the new team, while recognizing Gregory as a longtime industry leader in expedition, backpacking and daypack innovation.
