The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), a coalition of outdoor recreation trade associations and organizations working to promote the growth of the outdoor recreation economy and outdoor recreation activities, hired Chris Perkins as a senior director, with a particular focus on rural economic development, Great American Outdoors Act implementation and the Together Outdoors program. Perkins will also support local and state government relations work and expand ORR’s programmatic capacity, leading efforts to build on ORR’s Rural Economic Development Toolkit and create new state-level Offices of Outdoor Recreation.
“Chris brings a work ethic and knowledge of business and environmental issues, elevating the work we can achieve on behalf of the industry,” said Jessica Turner, executive director of ORR. “He has proven time and time again that no task is above him, he will get the job done professionally and thoughtfully and you will likely learn something from him along the way. Chris’ education and professional background is only second to his deep desire to preserve our outdoor heritage and make these places more welcoming and accessible to all. We cannot be happier to have Chris on board fulltime moving forward.”
Said Perkins: “The outdoor recreation industry benefits communities, economies and treasured lands and waters around the country, and I feel so fortunate to join the ORR team of outdoorists, entrepreneurs, business and thought leaders to work on opportunities to grow this industry. ORR has built something special in a short amount of time, helping to achieve huge victories for the outdoor recreation industry, and I cannot wait to be part of this collective work.”
