Kokatat named Megan Kress and Kelly Blades as the company's new sales reps for the Midwest territory. This territory has been split up into 2 sub-territories. Megan will be covering west of Lake Michigan (IA, IL, MN, and WI) and Kelly will cover east of Lake Michigan (IN, MI, OH). Suzanne Hutchinson will take over as sales rep for the New England territory (CT, MA, NH, ME, RI, and VT).
Megan resides in Duluth Minnesota next to Lake Superior where she enjoys kayaking, paddling outriggers and dragon boats. Only a stone's throw away is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness where she has guided many trips. She got her start in paddling by leading canoe and kayak trips as a camp counselor in the 90's. Last year she had the privilege to co-guide a sea kayak trip in Western Greenland. She began working in retail for Duluth Pack in Duluth Minnesota where she sold wood canvas canoes and talked traditional styles of canoe camping, then became a sales rep for Isis, a women's specific clothing line, and Lendal Paddles. “I am doing back flips over the great opportunity to work for Kokatat. The opportunity to work for such a well-respected company with a great reputation for customer service, quality and authentic products is a dream come true. It's the complete package and I am thrilled to be a part of it” says Megan.
Kelly comes from the great state of Michigan. He started paddling in 1995 while working at a gear shop and getting “juiced up” on white water videos. From those meager beginnings to now, Kelly has become the British Canoe Union Midwest Coaching Officer, an ACA Open Water Instructor, and a father of 2 beautiful children. Currently Kelly is the Midwest sales rep for Pyranha, P&H Custom Sea Kayaks, Venture Kayaks, and Snapdragon Spray Skirts as well as part of the Werner Paddle Team. “I am very excited to be a part of the Kokatat team as a sales representative and look forward to working with one of the best paddle sports companies in the universe” says Kelly.
Suzanne lives in Massachusetts and is an avid paddler who loves the rocky New England coastline. While working as a sales representative in the toy business, she was introduced to paddling in 2000. Her passion for kayaking lead her to look for work in the paddle sport industry. Suzanne loves paddling on the ocean and has paddled in Cornwall England along with Skye, Scotland and hopes to dip her paddle in other waters of the world. She is a team paddler for P&H Custom Sea Kayaks and is also working on becoming a coach. Suzanne says, “Working for Kokatat, a company of true paddlers and known for being the best in the business, is a fantastic opportunity and I am really looking forward to working with a great group of retailers in New England.”
