Mark Paigen | Founder and Creator of Chaco | History of Gear

Alumni from the OPDD program, Natalie Cullum, Connor Young, and Jacob Johnson, return to the program to share their experiences and answer questions from current students who are preparing to enter the workforce. Natalie Cullum: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-cullum-b07509126/ Connor Young: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-faux-young/ Jacob Johnson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-johnson-927545206/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor industries. Learn more at opdd.usu.edu or follow the program on LinkedIn or Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/usuoutdoorproduct/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/opdd Discover the Outdoor Recreation Archive on Instagram or on USU’s website. https://instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive https://library.usu.edu/archives/ora Outdoor Recreation Archive Instagram https://www.instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive/?hl=en Episodes hosted, edited, and produced by Chase Anderson in beautiful Cache Valley, Utah. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasewoodruffanderson/

Carmela Montenegro, a DEI consultant with experience working with brands like REI, spoke with students about company culture, values, and how to determine whether a brand aligns with your goals as a potential employee. Carmela Montenegro: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmela-montenegro/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor industries. Learn more at opdd.usu.edu or follow the program on LinkedIn or Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/usuoutdoorproduct/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/opdd Discover the Outdoor Recreation Archive on Instagram or on USU’s website. https://instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive https://library.usu.edu/archives/ora Outdoor Recreation Archive Instagram https://www.instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive/?hl=en Episodes hosted, edited, and produced by Chase Anderson in beautiful Cache Valley, Utah. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasewoodruffanderson/

Damon Morris, VP Outdoor at Elevate Outdoor Collective, talks about his journey into the sports / outdoor industry, the dynamics of working on a product team, and shaking up the ski industry. Damon Morris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonmorris/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor industries. Learn more at opdd.usu.edu or follow the program on LinkedIn or Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/usuoutdoorproduct/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/opdd Discover the Outdoor Recreation Archive on Instagram or on USU’s website. https://instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive https://library.usu.edu/archives/ora Outdoor Recreation Archive Instagram https://www.instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive/?hl=en Episodes hosted, edited, and produced by Chase Anderson in beautiful Cache Valley, Utah. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasewoodruffanderson/

Paige Koch, designer at Primo Golf Apparel and freelance designer, talks about her journey as a freelancer and shares tips and tricks for those looking designers looking to do the same. Paige Koch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigekoch/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor industries. Learn more at opdd.usu.edu or follow the program on LinkedIn or Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/usuoutdoorproduct/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/opdd Discover the Outdoor Recreation Archive on Instagram or on USU’s website. https://instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive https://library.usu.edu/archives/ora Outdoor Recreation Archive Instagram https://www.instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive/?hl=en Episodes hosted, edited, and produced by Chase Anderson in beautiful Cache Valley, Utah. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasewoodruffanderson/

Steve Brings, founder of WAVE Products, talks about the outdoor industry in Utah in the 70s / 80s, and the origins of his company, which started by making local ski patrol bags for hauling explosives when triggering avalanches. Wave Products: https://waveproducts.com/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor industries. Learn more at opdd.usu.edu or follow the program on LinkedIn or Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/usuoutdoorproduct/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/opdd Discover the Outdoor Recreation Archive on Instagram or on USU’s website. https://instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive https://libguides.usu.edu/outdoorrecreationarchive Outdoor Recreation Archive Instagram https://www.instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive/?hl=en Episodes hosted, edited, and produced by Chase Anderson in beautiful Cache Valley, Utah. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasewoodruffanderson/

Dr. Rachel Gross, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Colorado Denver and one of our 2022 Outdoor Recreation Archive Fellows, returns to the podcast to talk about her new book, Shopping All the Way to the Woods: How the Outdoor Industry Sold Nature to America. https://rachel-gross.com/my-book/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor industries. Learn more at opdd.usu.edu or follow the program on LinkedIn or Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/usuoutdoorproduct/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/opdd Discover the Outdoor Recreation Archive on Instagram or on USU’s website. https://instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive https://libguides.usu.edu/outdoorrecreationarchive Outdoor Recreation Archive Instagram https://www.instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive/?hl=en Episodes hosted, edited, and produced by Chase Anderson in beautiful Cache Valley, Utah. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasewoodruffanderson/

Greg Thomsen, founder of Wilderness Experience and the force behind the creation of Nike ACG and Adidas Outdoor (US), shares his experience as an executive in the outdoor industry and talks to students about the qualities of great product teams. https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregthomsen/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor industries. Learn more at opdd.usu.edu or follow the program on LinkedIn or Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/usuoutdoorproduct/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/opdd Discover the Outdoor Recreation Archive on Instagram or on USU’s website. https://instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive https://libguides.usu.edu/outdoorrecreationarchive Outdoor Recreation Archive Instagram https://www.instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive/?hl=en Episodes hosted, edited, and produced by Chase Anderson in beautiful Cache Valley, Utah. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasewoodruffanderson/

Diane Bristol, VP of Culture & Community at Revelyst, talks to students about how to connect their personal values to those of a brand, and how to identify positive or negative company culture during the job search. https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-bristol-95a15910/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor industries. Learn more at opdd.usu.edu or follow the program on LinkedIn or Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/usuoutdoorproduct/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/opdd Discover the Outdoor Recreation Archive on Instagram or on USU’s website. https://instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive https://libguides.usu.edu/outdoorrecreationarchive Outdoor Recreation Archive Instagram https://www.instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive/?hl=en Episodes hosted, edited, and produced by Chase Anderson in beautiful Cache Valley, Utah. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasewoodruffanderson/

Andrea Kelly, founder and CEO of Make Plus Equal, talks with students about her experience as a product manager and merchandiser, working for companies like Columbia Sportswear and Nike. https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-c-kelly/ https://makeplusequal.com/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor industries. Learn more at opdd.usu.edu or follow the program on LinkedIn or Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/usuoutdoorproduct/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/opdd Discover the Outdoor Recreation Archive on Instagram or on USU’s website. https://instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive https://libguides.usu.edu/outdoorrecreationarchive Outdoor Recreation Archive Instagram https://www.instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive/?hl=en Episodes hosted, edited, and produced by Chase Anderson in beautiful Cache Valley, Utah. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasewoodruffanderson/

Mark Paigen, founder and inventor of Chaco, talks about the whitewater boom of the 90s and its influence on sport sandals, the creation of Gecko, which would become Chaco, and his newest venture, Tread Labs. https://treadlabs.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpaigen/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor industries. Learn more at opdd.usu.edu or follow the program on LinkedIn or Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/usuoutdoorproduct/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/opdd Discover the Outdoor Recreation Archive on Instagram or on USU’s website. https://instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive https://libguides.usu.edu/outdoorrecreationarchive Outdoor Recreation Archive Instagram https://www.instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive/?hl=en Episodes hosted, edited, and produced by Chase Anderson in beautiful Cache Valley, Utah. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasewoodruffanderson/