The state of New Hampshire has taken an important step in prioritizing its growing outdoor economy by appointing the first director of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development (ORID).
The New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) named Scott Crowder to this key post, where he will lead the nation’s 16th office of outdoor recreation (OREC). ORID was established in October 2019 to support New Hampshire’s diverse and growing outdoor economy. As the director, Crowder is charged with building the state’s outdoor workforce and attracting new outdoor industry businesses.
“New Hampshire’s outdoor economy plays a critical role in the state’s development strategies,” said BEA Commissioner Taylor Caswell. “Scott’s entrepreneurial experience in the outdoor industry is exactly what we need to launch the new state office of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development and accelerate the potential of the state’s outdoor recreation assets.”
In addition to founding the North American Pond Hockey Classic, Crowder’s professional background includes serving as principal of Ekal Consulting and as a founding partner of Ekal Activity Center in Meredith, New Hampshire. He also has served on various tourism, economic development, and nonprofit boards around the state.
