Silver City, New Mexico – On October 3 & 4, Silver City will host the 2nd annual New Mexico Outdoor Economics Conference. The Conference will feature leaders from across New Mexico and the nation to highlight successful strategies for creating jobs and tourism connected to outdoor recreation. New Mexico has just created an “Outdoor Recreation Division” in the Economic Development Department to help communities create economic opportunities connected to the state’s growing $9.9 billion outdoor recreation industry.
This year’s Conference speakers include a wide range of leading marketing and outdoor recreation specialists including Dave Stanton, creator of the successful New Mexico True advertising campaign, eco and wildlife tourism companies, trail experts from the Rio Grande, Appalachian, Arizona, and Continental Divide Trails and top government officials including Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Senator Martin Heinrich, Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small, Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard, the New Mexico Secretary of Tourism Jen Schroer, and the new Director of the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Office.
The Outdoor Economics Conference will include panel discussions about successful community and company programs that promote outdoor recreation opportunities, eco and wildlife tourism, state promotional resources, benefits of trails, sustainable tourism, federal partnerships with land management agencies, and equal access to the outdoors.
Citizens and leaders interested in developing businesses and governmental policies connected to the outdoor recreation industry are encouraged to attend. To attend, register online at www.outdooreconomicsnm.com. The registration fee is $40.
The New Mexico Outdoor Economics Conference will be held at the Grant County Conference Center, 3031 Highway 180 East in Silver City.
The Conference includes an evening reception at the San Vicente Creek River Walk Park and a choice of one of eleven complimentary outdoor tours in the region including river rafting, mountain bike riding, hikes along the Gila River and Continental Divide Trail, and plane tours over the Gila Wilderness.
Featured Sessions and Speakers
The conference will include the following featured sessions and speakers. (Visit http://www.outdooreconomicsnm.com to view the conference program and speaker bios.)
New Mexico State Government Outdoor Recreation Resources
Outdoor Marketing Tool Kit
Eco & Wildlife Tourism
Benefits and Opportunities of Promoting Trails
Sustainable Outdoor Tourism
Outdoor Recreation Small Business Successes
Equitable Opportunity and Access to the Outdoors
Federal Land Management Agency Partnerships
Conference speakers include:
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham
Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small
New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard
Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales
Secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department, Jen Schroer
Secretary of Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department, Sarah Cottrell Propst
Director of the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division
Director of New Mexico State Parks , Christy Tafoya
Director of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department, Dave Simon
Cycle Forward, Amy Camp
CEO of Visit Bend, Kevney Dugan
Creator of New Mexico True, Dave Stanton
Outdoor Industry Association, David Weinstein
New Mexico Wild, Jeff Steinborn, Garrett VeneKlasen, and Grecia Nuñez
Director of the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division
New Mexico Representative of Defenders of Wildlife, Michael Dax
Ted Turner Expeditions, David Barfield
Fly Fishing Guide & Member of San Felipe Pueblo, Norman Maktima
Jackson Hole EcoTour Adventures, Taylor Phillips
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Dana Watts
Governor of the Pueblo of Acoma, Brian Vallo
National Park Service, Robert “Bob” Ratcliffe
Forest Service, Toby Bloom & Francisco Valenzuela
Bureau of Land Management, Angela West
Far Flung Adventures, Steve Harris
Gila Hike and Bike, Martyn Pearson
Southwest Expeditions, David Crider
Latino Outdoors, José G. González
Taos Pueblo Division of Natural Resources, Cameron Martinez
River Source & Member of Cochiti Pueblo, Carlos Herrera
Continental Divide Trail Association, Teresa Martinez
Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Julie Judkins
Arizona Trail Association, Matt Nelson
