On Wednesday, August 18, from 2:00 p.m. through 3:00 p.m. (MDT) Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) will present The Evolving Role of the Independent Rep, a live webinar, lead by Brad Werntz, owner of Pemba Serves, where he will review the model reps in the outdoor industry have been using and look ahead at new technologies and media habits that can broaden a rep’s reach and effectiveness while conserving their most valuable resource: time and attention.


Werntz, founder of Pemba Serves, Inc, a sales agency that has been servicing the upper Midwest for almost twenty years, has over thirty years of experience in the outdoor industry. Pemba Serves was a finalist for the OIA Industry Innovator award in 2007; Brad was recognized in 2009 as one of the ten inaugural SNEWS® Power Players.


The Evolving Role of the Independent Rep is the eighth of thirteen retail workshops in the 2010 OIA Outdoor University® program. Outdoor University webinars are offered free to OIA members  and SNEWS® subscribers and for $99 per webinar for non-members. Pre-registration is required. For complete information on the Outdoor University program, speakers or to register, visit outdoorindustry.org/webinars.


Outdoor University 2010 Schedule



  • Wednesday, August 18, The Evolving Role of the Independent Rep
  • Wednesday, September 8, The Art of Feng Shui in Specialty Retail
  • Wednesday, October 13, Marketing Your Locally Owned Business
  • Wednesday, November 10, How to Form a Key Vendor Marketing Alliance
  • Wednesday, December 8, Working With, Not Against Big Boxes
  • Wednesday, January 12, 2011, Sustainability as a Business Initiative

Outdoor University is made possible through the generous support of its sponsors: Adventure 16, Alpine Shop, Backwoods, Inc., Darby Communications, Midwest Mountaineering, Mountain Gear, outdoor DIVAS, Outdoor Retailer, Pemba Serves, Rock Creek Outfitters, Rutabaga, SNEWS®, What's Up Public Relations and Woolrich. OIA Outdoor University® is an affiliate of SNEWS® Retail College.