Small Business Leaders Gather to Strengthen Outdoor Business Agility in Changing Times

On May 14, the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance (VOBA) hosted 50 small business leaders and service providers from across the State at Bolton Valley Resort for a workshop on immediate actions businesses can take to navigate tariffs, working capital, and visitor marketing to remain viable among the myriad of market challenges facing them today.

Vermont’s Treasurer, Mike Pieciak, kicked off a panel discussion, followed by Heather Pelham, Vermont’s Commissioner of the Department of Tourism and Marketing, Tammy Flanders Hetrick, Senior Consulting Coordinator at A.N. Deringer, Chris D'Elia, President and Treasurer of the Vermont Bankers Association, Nicole Killoran, Director of the Vermont Small Business Law Center at Vermont Law and Graduate School, and Pete Sampson, Chief Lending Officer at the Vermont Economic Development Authority.

"Vermont's outdoor economy supports tourism and tens of thousands of jobs in our rural communities. It's one of Vermont's greatest advantages—attracting workers and young families to our state," said Treasurer Pieciak. "As tariffs and federal funding cuts create new challenges for the outdoor industry, our office will continue to look for ways to support businesses and invest in Vermont's future."

Attendees came for networking, education, and technical assistance to support the outdoor sector on trade and tourism decision making, contingency planning, financing strategy, customs, human resources, and legal advice, and marketing analysis.

Clare Zhu, CEO and Co-Founder of Hootie Hoo, a children’s technical apparel company, currently imports 100% of her products from China. “The new tariffs are impacting our brand drastically,” said Zhu. “As a small brand, I would love to have insight on what the bigger brands in the outdoor industry are planning for the Fall/Winter of 2026.”

David Rye, Outdoor Center Director from von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort, asked, “How can the Vermont Tourism industry do more timely, unique marketing to meet this moment and differentiate ourselves?”

Outdoor business strategy consultants including Method Outdoor Collective and 45 North, HR specialists from the Richards Group, the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center and the Vermont Community Loan Fund also brought their expertise to provide practical solutions and ideas.

Panelists Tammy Flanders Hetrick and Pete Samson both remarked on the value of the conversation, with Hetrick calling Vermonters “a great community of problem solvers.”

“It was terrific listening to the great collaborative discussions on how Vermont’s Outdoor businesses can prepare and react to the changing environment and deepening challenges,” said Samson. “The way we all work together in Vermont is something that does not happen in larger and competing states.”