This year, ICAST has added a first-of-its-kind event hosted by Shimano North American Fishing on Tuesday, July 19th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm in room S310G/S310H at the Orange County Convention Center.
The two-hour networking event will include presentations from Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and Camber Outdoors along with facilitated round-table discussion on topics surrounding women’s participation and leadership roles within fishing. Attendees are encouraged to be active participants in discussions and topics that will help drive the future of diversity in the industry.
Stephanie Vatalaro, RBFF Marketing and Communications Vice President will introduce and discuss research on female participation in the fishing industry. Attendees will learn more about RBFF’s consumer-facing brand, Take Me Fishing and its Women Making Waves initiative, supporting the growth of female participation in fishing and boating.
Tiffany Smith, newly appointed CEO of Camber Outdoors, a non-profit organization that equips partner organizations to implement workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), will share the important work that the organization does to encourage best practices for corporations, nonprofits, and small businesses.
“As participation among women and minority groups rises in fishing and boating, there also should be an increase of women in leadership positions and systemic changes within workplaces to ensure gender equality,” noted Smith. “I am eager to connect with women at ICAST to learn more about their experiences and shed light on how DEI-focused mentorship powers inclusion and how allyship strengthens the advancement of gender equality in workplaces – in particular, the fishing, boating, and marine industry,” she added.
“Shimano is proud to support women’s participation and leadership within the industry. This is a great opportunity to build community, inspire mentorship and encourage change in the fishing industry,” said Sarah Harper Burke, Sr. Marketing Manager, Shimano North American Fishing. “We expect strong attendance, so we ask that those planning to attend please register on our shared link.”
In support of RBFF and Women Making Waves, a fundraising event will take place on Wednesday, July 20th at the G. Loomis Booth (2244). During the happy hour event, attendees can purchase a custom G. Loomis Hydro Flask for $20. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to RBFF. Purchases can be made with cash or via Venmo.
Be sure to mark your calendars to attend both of these events. New relationships, connections and mentorships are sure to be made.
About Shimano:
Leading the fishing industry in innovation and quality for 100 years, Shimano’s manufacturing capabilities allow for anglers worldwide to enjoy their time on the water to the fullest. We designed the entire lineup of Shimano products to elevate angler experiences with features that continuously evolve to push the boundaries of modern fishing tackle while raising the bar for the whole fishing industry.
