Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) will present an online webinar on Friday, February 17, focusing on the opportunities and challenges of working with the federal government. The event is part of OIA’s popular Outdoor University, which presents educational training and professional development sessions on topics relevant to retailers, manufacturers and suppliers in the outdoor industry.



Working with the federal government can be a great opportunity and a potential game changer for outdoor companies. Yet budget pressure, increased regulation and a highly competitive environment pose unique challenges. Outdoor University has recruited experts from A.D.S. Ventures, a consulting firm that specializes in government market expansion, to outline possible possibilities and pitfalls, drawing on the company’s extensive consulting experience in the public arena.

“Big or small, deficit or surplus, the government will always need a broad range of products and services, and gear is no exception,” said Matthew Sparkes, director of government relations and general counsel for A.D.S. Ventures, Inc. Sparkes cautions against looking at government contracts as just an easy new revenue stream. “Fulfilling government contracts and complying with the necessary requirements can be challenging, so you want to know the landscape before you pursue it.”

This Outdoor University session will help outdoor companies understand what it takes to work with government contracts, learn how to find opportunities, determine which agencies have needs you can fill, review the benefits and challenges associated with federal government market opportunities, and discuss how to determine if it makes sense to pursue government business.

Gear for the Government: Identifying and Evaluating Federal Market Opportunities in a Changing Environment
Online webinar
Friday, February 17 – 10:00 am MST

This event is free for Outdoor Industry Association members and $149 for non-members. To register for this event and to learn about additional upcoming Outdoor University offerings, visit outdoorindustry.org/ou.

Outdoor Industry Association
Based in Boulder, Colorado, Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is the leading trade association for the outdoor industry and the title sponsor of Outdoor Retailer. OIA supports the growth and success of more than 4,000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales representatives, and retailers of outdoor recreation apparel, footwear, equipment, and services. For more information go to outdoorindustry.org or call 303.444.3353.