Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), the nation’s leading coalition of outdoor recreation associations, convened top business executives, policymakers, and technology leaders for the first-ever Outdoor Recreation Technology & Innovation Summit at Booz Allen Hamilton’s Helix Center for Innovation in Washington, D.C.
The packed-to-capacity event highlighted how technological innovations and public-private partnerships can strengthen land and water management, expand recreation access, and ensure America’s $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy continues to thrive while protecting public lands and waters for future generations.
The agenda brought together distinguished voices for discussions including:
- Opening Remarks – ORR President Jessica Turner, Booz Allen Hamilton COO Kristine Martin Anderson, and SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler set the stage for the informative day.
- Remarks where Frank Hugelmeyer, Board Chair, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and Chief Executive Officer, National Marine Manufacturers Association introduced Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum who outlined next steps for EXPLORE Act implementation and harnessing technology in federal recreation management.
- Fireside Chat with Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) moderated by Jessica Turner discussing bipartisan policy priorities for outdoor recreation and innovation.
- Data-Driven Stewardship and How Technology Can Help Protect Public Lands & Waters – including Erik Mogensen, Director, Indy Pass; Founder, Entabeni Systems; Kai Twanmoh, Head of Brand Engagement, AllTrails; Josh Spitzer, Chief Operating Officer, OnX Maps; and Alex Puskar, Senior Manager of Strategy and Experience, Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A, Connected Division/Siren Marine demoing new products supporting the outdoors.
- How Technology Can Expand Access to the Outdoors – including Kent Ebersole, President, Outdoor Industry Association; Toby O’Rourke, President & Chief Executive Officer, KOA; Cassandra Prenn-Vasilakis, Team Lead, Government and Community Relations, Hipcamp; and Brian Bell, Vice President of Communications and Social Impact, Strava demoing new products helping to get more Americans outdoor access.
- How New Technologies Will Help the EXPLORE Act Propel the Recreation Economy – Featuring Lise Aangeenbrug, Chief Program Officer, National Park Foundation; Bill Groffy, Acting Director, Bureau of Land Management; Jessica Bowron, Comptroller, exercising the delegated authority of the Director, National Park Service; Sascha Ohler, Senior Vice President, Tyler Technologies; and Camilo Barcenas, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, GOES Health.
- Building Dynamic Partnerships to Build Collaborative Technology Ecosystems – Featuring Terry Howerton, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, TechNexus Venture Collaborative; William Healy, Senior Vice President, Booz Allen Hamilton; I Ling Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, Foundation for America’s Public Lands; Aneil Kumar, President & Chief Executive Officer, AScIS & iSportsman; and Andy Lewandowski, Chief Digital Experience Officer, Department of the Interior.
- Harnessing Private Industry to Support National Wildfire Monitoring – Featuring Sean Byrne, Partner, American Continental Group (ACG); Dr. Cathy Olkin, Vice President, Infrared Missions and Data, Muon Space; Kristin Sleeper, Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, U.S. Department of Agriculture; Alex Diaz, Head of AI for Social Good, Google.org; Mike Morgan, Director of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, Colorado Department of Public Safety; and Brian Collins, Executive Director, Earth Fire Alliance (EFA).
