This edition of SNEWS® Live is brought to you by The Outdoor Industry Association

A SNEWS® Live exclusive -- It was a milestone year for Outdoor University -- its first under the direction and ownership of the Outdoor Industry Association. The expansion of the program included three regional venues which drew over 600 participants to the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast events. And, with 426 outdoor retail shop employees and 193 manufacturer representatives participating, the program became the most well attended to date.

OIA has told SNEWS® it is committed to investing in the future success of the Outdoor University program even as OIA has acknowledged to us that running an event such as this successfully on a national scale requires significant coordination, marketing, and operational focus. Contract coordinator Ken Barmore resigned, after running the Outdoor University since its launch, albeit on a more regional scale, so all eyes are on the OIA team now.

The coming year holds even bigger plans for Outdoor University we are told, and OIA will be sharing those plans with us as they unfold over the next few months. OIA has enlisted the help of an integrated marketing firm to spearhead the development of the Outdoor University program. Their experience will help grow Outdoor University into the most effective outdoor retailer training event in the industry.

What makes OU such an attractive training program worthy of national attention and scale? Listen in as our exclusive report visits OU on the ground at its Devil's Lake event in Wisconsin.