Two UNE business students join inaugural advisory board to support Maine Outdoor Brands organization
Two business students from the University of New England are among eight Maine college students majoring in outdoor business programs who were named to the inaugural Maine Outdoor Brands Student Advisory Board.
Maine Outdoor Brands, a 200-plus-member trade group, was founded in 2017 to strengthen Maine's $3.4 billion outdoor recreation economy. On Sept. 23, the statewide coalition launched its Student Advisory Board to bring together college students who can help connect Maine’s future leaders with the state’s growing outdoor economy.
UNE outdoor business and innovation students Brendan Curley ’27 and Ava Richardson ’28 joined six other students from Maine colleges and universities at the board’s first meeting on Oct. 2 to learn more about their roles in shaping the future of Maine’s largest economic sector.
Curley said the experience has already proven invaluable, not only to develop skills in public outreach and networking but to make critical connections in an industry he wants to join — possibly one day as the owner of a charter fishing company.
“I’ve fished since I could hold a rod. It’s always been a passion to turn that into a business that would also involve conservation to help raise awareness,” Curley said. “The great thing about Maine Outdoor Brands is that they’re working directly with the brands … while also collaborating and sharing between companies to allow for the total growth of the industry in Maine. They’re growing that brand: the Maine brand, and this will definitely help me out in the future.”
The board's creation is intended to help address staffing challenges in Maine's outdoor recreation industry, according to Maine Outdoor Brands. The 2025 Workforce Needs and Assessment Survey found 43% of employers report being understaffed, with 57% expecting to increase hiring over the next four years, according to the organization.
UNE launched its groundbreaking major in outdoor business and innovation, the first-of-its-kind in New England, in late 2023 to address these challenges and prepare students for careers in Maine’s largest industry through a strong focus on sustainable community development, environmental policy, entrepreneurship, and small business management.
One of the UNE College of Business’s signature academic programs, the outdoor business and innovation major provides majors with paid internships and other experiential learning opportunities, both on- and off-campus, that prepare them for leadership roles in Maine’s outdoor economy — as early as in their first year at UNE.
The collaborative academic offering sees Maine Outdoor Brands directly facilitate internship placements with leading names in Maine’s outdoor recreation sector, while the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation has partnered with UNE to serve an advisory role in curriculum development.
UNE’s growing program aligns with the MOB advisory board’s support of Maine's 10-Year Outdoor Recreation Economy Roadmap, a strategic plan identifying trends, challenges, and opportunities for sustainable growth in the state's outdoor economy. According to Maine Outdoor Brands, members will serve as ambassadors for their schools and communities while advising the organization on education, workforce development, and youth engagement initiatives.
“Serving on the Maine Outdoor Brands advisory board gives students a direct voice in shaping the future of the outdoor industry while building invaluable leadership, networking, and decision-making skills that prepare them for meaningful careers,” said Aimee Vlachos, Ed.D., teaching professor in the College of Business and program director for the outdoor business and innovation program.
The inaugural board includes students enrolled in outdoor-specific degree programs such as outdoor business and innovation, outdoor leadership, and outdoor recreation business administration. Other schools represented include Husson University, Washington County Community College, and the University of Maine at Farmington.
Brian Threlkeld, membership director of Maine Outdoor Brands, said the advisory board’s launch represents the “first line of offense” into integrating student voices into MOB’s advocacy and workforce development initiatives.
“The MOB Student Advisory Board represents the next wave of talent that will keep Maine at the forefront of outdoor innovation and stewardship,” Threlkeld said. “Our goal is to not only provide students with a voice in shaping the future of Maine’s outdoor industry, but also to give them valuable opportunities to learn, connect, and grow within this thriving sector.”