Outfitter Pros Podcast

In this episode, we get to speak with  @ZacharyCollier  of Northwest Rafting Company. He shares his journey of becoming a raft guide and ultimately starting his own rafting business! It's a wealth of wisdom for anyone looking to learn more about running and sustaining a successful Outfitter business. From the outdoor industry marketing strategies he's used to the focus on training his staff to deliver stellar services, this episode covers it all. You can learn more about Zach and his business with the links below: Northwest Rafting Company Website YouTube Channel: @ZacharyCollier (Be sure to subscribe to it

Dive into the heart of Alaskan fishing adventures in this exciting episode of the Outfitter Pros Podcast. Join us as we sit down with Captain Nickolas of River Rise Fishing Guides, exploring the serene yet thrilling world of fishing in Alaska's renowned Kasilof and Kenai Rivers. Discover what makes a fishing trip unforgettable with stories, tips, and insights directly from the captain himself.

Today on our podcast, we're excited to chat with Dalton Romanowski, an expert fly fishing guide from Central Oregon. Dalton has an impressive background, guiding with Deep Canyon Outfitters and exploring the wild rivers of Idaho and Wyoming with World Cast Anglers. He knows the Pacific Northwest's waters like the back of his hand and loves sharing his fly fishing wisdom with both eager newcomers and fellow guides. Dalton will be sharing tips on how to make it as a successful fishing guide, from perfecting your cast to understanding local fish habits. He'll also dive into the smart ways guides can market themselves, especially when part of a team like Deep Canyon Outfitters, to draw in clients and create memorable experiences. Join us as Dalton shares stories from his adventures, offers advice to new guides, and reveals how to succeed in the vibrant world of fly fishing. Whether you're an experienced fisher or dreaming of becoming a guide, Dalton's insights and enthusiasm are sure to inspire. You can connect with him here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/romoflyfishing/ Email: romoflyfishing@gmail.com

This week on the Outfitter Pros Podcast we talk with Vesna Plakanis from A Walk in The Woods. Vesna Plakanis and her husband Erik started their guide service, A Walk in the Woods, in 1998 with a true desire to reconnect people to the natural world. Her true passion is in helping guests discover the incredible beauty of the small worlds found in the Smokies. Vesna really believes in walking her talk by being involved in community organizations. Vesna testified in Washington D.C. in 2016, in front of the EPA, to ensure we would all continue to enjoy the cleanest air quality. In 2017, she was named as one of the Top 9 “Bad Ass Babes!”. Vesna is currently a proud Executive Board Member of Discover Life in America. Her other passions include completing all the trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, visiting all the National Parks in the country, playing with her dogs, cooking French foods, painting, turning her yard into a Native habitat and helping create wildlife corridors in the region by purchasing land and saving it from development. You can connect with her using the links below: https://awalkinthewoods.com/ Facebook Instagram Phone: 865-436-8283 Email: info@awalkinthewoods.com

This weeks episode is with Carrie Soulliere. Carrie is the owner of Covered with Carrie an insurance brokerage who can help nationwide. She helps with health coverage, as most people who work in the industry qualify for zero-dollar coverage. She can also help with river race liability insurance including class V. She focuses on automation and serving her consumers efficiently in her agency. Her business is in the top 15% of agencies nationwide, and it serves the outdoor community specifically. You can find out more about her by using the links below. https://coveredwithcarrie.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarrieGrace Email: carrie@coveredwithcarrie.com

Episode #20 of the Outfitter Pros Podcast is with Brett Bloemendaal. Brett is a former investment analyst who left Corporate America after sixteen years to pursue his passion of fishing. He is now a professional guide on Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota and runs a growing YouTube channel - Bloemendaal Fishing - which compliments his guide service, allowing him to teach and inspire thousands more people online. He is also a published author and released his debut memoir, Fishing for More, in September of 2021. You can find out more about him by using the links below: Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgD0VEB-dC2_-n8VHd1kgAg Website - https://www.bloemendaalfishing.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bloemendaalfishing/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bloemendaalguideservice/ Book - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1736846515/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1736846515&linkCode=as2&tag=bloemendaalfi-20&linkId=8bd4e3a857c1331209019d4c1dd5e8dc

The Guide's Guide to Digital Marketing Audiobook - Chapters 14-17. If you received even an ounce of value from this book, would you go and leave me a review on Amazon? This will help me reach more people and give value to as many people as possible! Thank you so much for taking the journey with me and reading the book! Leave Your Review Here

The Guide's Guide to Digital Marketing Audio Book - Chapters 10-13.

The Guide's Guide to Digital Marketing: Introduction and Chapters 5-9. If you're enjoying this book and it's helping you think through your own marketing strategies and you're getting value from it, would you doing something valuable for me? I would love if you left a review on Amazon for this book (preferably 5 stars :) lol). This helps me to reach others on Amazon and for Amazon to start suggesting by book to others as well. You can do that by using the link below. Leave a review here

This is the audio book for The Guide's Guide to Digital Marketing: A Marketing Playbook for Outfitters and Tour Operators. In this snippet, I go over the intro and read chapters 1-4. Pro-Tip** Stats show that by listening and reading a book at the same time, you're much more likely to retain what you read. So, if you want to soak this knowledge in, read the book and listen at the same time. If you need a copy of the book, you can get one by clicking here. If you would like to join our exclusive online community of Outfitter and Tour Operator business owners who are looking to grow their business with digital marketing, you can do that by clicking here.

On today's show we speak with Cole Lyon of Cole Lyon Fly Fishing. Cole is passionate about changing the way that fly fishermen learn and grow in their journey with this age old past time. He provides a mentorship program where he teaches fly fishermen how "not to suck" at fly fishing. Check out the links below to learn more about Cole and his business! https://colelyonflyfishing.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cole.lyon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colelyon_flyfishing/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnqhiVdKDIxpRFD_6LbzG6Q

This special episode is a recording of the presentation we gave at the New York State Outdoor Guide Associations Winter Rendezvous conference. The focus was on giving a simple, yet effective framework for successful marketing strategies to guide and outfitter business owners. You can access the presentation slides by using the link below. https://resources.outfittermarketingpros.com/nysoga-slide-deck

Today's episode is with a good friend and client of ours, Taylor Klarman! Taylor is the owner of River Run Angling in Bristol, TN. We get to hear his story of how fly fishing played a major role in his recovery and healing after his medical discharge from the Marine Corps. We get to hear how it impacted him so much that he decided to start his on guiding business! You can learn more about Taylor by using the links below! website: https://riverrunangling.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075601617357 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverrunangling/ email: taylor@riverrunangling.com

In today's episode we speak with Matt Millner. Matt is the founder and head guide of Rising River Guides based out of Cotter, Arkansas. We get to hear how fly fishing has been in his blood since he was a kid and how he's turned this passion into a full on profession. He has experience guiding on multiple rivers across 3 states and you're sure to want to go fishing with him after you hear his story. He's as genuine and authentic as he sounds and we're excited to share his story with you. You can find out more about him by using the links below. https://www.risingriverguides.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/risingriverguides Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risingriverguides email: matt@risingriverguides.com

In today's episode we speak with Traci Salisbury of Outdoor Mavens. Traci has had an amazing journey into the Outdoor Industry that has led to her opening her business Outdoor Mavens. Traci has a huge heart for making the wilderness a more accessible and inclusive place that she can help pass on to future generations of outdoor enthusiasts! You can learn more about her and her business using the links below. https://www.outdoormavens.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069854017538 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/outdoormavens/ email - outdoormavens@gmail.com

On this episode we get to speak with Chris Frazee of Zebulon, LLC. He has an amazing story of climbing the through the ranks at Maravia Corporation where he ultimately became the President! He has a wealth of experience in the Outdoor Industry and now is serving Outfitters throughout the United States as a business consultant with Zebulon, LLC. You can learn more about him by using the links below! email: chris@zebulonllc.com Outside-In-Crowd Facebook Group https://zebulonllc.com/

In today's episode we speak with Moose Mutlow and hear about how he is equipping guides, Outfitters and Search & Rescue personnel with the skills necessary to mitigate risk and navigate tough situations when they occur in the outdoors. He is a wealth of wisdom in this topic and his passion for equipping and training outdoor leaders shines through in our conversation. You can find out more about him by using the links below. https://www.moosemutlow.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FLOresources Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/moosemutlow/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/m-mutlow-9537575/ email - moosemutlow@gmail.com

In this episode we talk with Sarah Berkeley & Sam Schild of Symbiosis Gear. We get to hear how they are stepping in to a very underserved market and are creating ultra-light backpacking gear for women! You can learn more about them using the links below. Be sure to complete their survey so you can give valuable feedback to further their R&D process to better serve women in the outdoor industry! https://www.symbiosisgear.com/ Instagram: @symbiosisgear Take The Survey

Today we speak with Scott Locorini of AE Adventures. Scott speaks about his journey into the outdoor industry from a guide to business owner. We hear of some of his challenges along the way and what it took for him to scale to a global level. Learn more about his business and connect with him using the links below. https://www.ae-adventures.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ae4adventures Instagram: @ae4adventures Email: ae4adventures@gmail.com Phone: 315-316-1125

In this episode we speak with Ryan Borup of Blazin Paddles. Ryan talks about his experience growing up in Alaska in a family owned whitewater rafting business and how that led him to where he is today. His business was recently ranked in the top 20 experiences in all of the United States by Viator. You can learn more about his business and connect with him using the links below. https://www.blazinpaddles.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blazinpaddles/ Instagram: @blazin_paddles email: info@blazinpaddles.com

In this episode we got to speak with Zebulon "Zeb" Smith of Zebulon LLC. Zeb is a licensed Certified Public Accountant who works exclusively with adventure business owners. He speaks regularly at industry conferences across the nation and is the industry's leading expert in business management consulting, business finances, and a qualified guide to help Outfitters on their business journey. Other Outfitters and Guides have even coined him as “The Guides' Guide.” You can connect with him and learn more about his business by using the links below. www.zebulonllc.com Instagram: @zblnsmth Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zebulonllc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zebsmith/ email: zeb@zebulonllc.com You can join his Facebook Group the Outside In Crowd by using the link below: https://www.facebook.com/groups/outsideincrowd

Alice is the Owner/Outfitter of Alice's Awesome Adventures in Brunswick, Maine. You can find out more about her and her business by visiting the links below. https://amaineguide.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/amaineguide Instagram - @alicesawesomeadventures

Colter is the Owner/Outfitter of Montana Safaris located in Great Falls, Montana. You can learn more about what Colter offers by using the links below! https://www.montanasafaris.com/ Instagram - @montanasafaris Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/montanasafaris Email - safaris@3rivers.net

This episode features Connor Champagne who is the Owner/Outfitter of Austin Paddle Shack. You can find more details about him below! Website- www.houstonpedalbarge.com www.austinpaddle.com Facebook- @houstonpedalbarge @austinpaddleshack Instagram- @houstonpedalbarge @austinpaddleshack

Chachi Avirett is the Owner, Outfitter and Head Guide at Spotted Dog Outfitters. You can find out more about him by using the links below. https://spotteddogoutfitters.com/guides/ Instagram - @spotteddogoutfitters Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SpottedDogOutfitters/ email - chachi@spotteddogoutfitters.com

Mollie Simpkins is the Executive Director & Co-founder of the Outdoor Guide Association + Guide Relief Program as well as the Director of Conservation & Education at Sweetwater Fly Shop. You can find out more about her and her ventures here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mosimpkins/ Guide Relief Program Instagram- @guidereliefprogram Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/guidereliefprogram Outdoor Guide Association Instagram - @outdoorguideassociation Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/OGAssociation email - mollie@guidereliefprogram.org

Sharon Saternus is the Founder and Owner of Femme Trek, Ltd. You can find out more about her through the links below.  https://www.femmetrekltd.com/  Instagram - @femmetrek  email - Femmetrek@gmail.com

Steve Scow is the Owner/Operator of Steve Scow Flyfishing. You can find out more about him by using the links below. http://stevescowflyfishing.com/ Instagram - stevescowflyfishing Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/stevescowflyfishing steve@stevescowflyfishing.com

Daniel Bowman is Owner/Operator of Bowman Fly Fishing in North Georgia. You can connect with him here: www.bowmanflyfishing.com IG: bowmanflyfishing Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BowmanFlyFishing

Welcome to the Outfitter Pros Podcast! We are here to share the stories of the best outfitter businesses in America. Anyone can be an outdoor enthusiast, but what sets our guests apart is that they've turned their passion into a profession by opening up their own business and doing it well! They do so much more than just sell gear and provide trips - they create jobs for other enthusiasts, provide well-worn advice, and have become a foundational part of the fabric of our unique outdoor culture. We hope you enjoy getting to know them as much as we have!