Klamath Falls News LIVE - News and stories of Klamath Falls and the Klamath Basin. News, Weather and Sports. Local, Regional and Oregon News. Community, education, farm & ranch, government, outdoors, photo stories, public safety.

Klamath Falls News - Locally owned news brand, reporting stories affecting citizens of the Klamath Basin.

The following is a press release from Klamath IDEA.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Klamath IDEA announced Monday the season-opener for this year’s IDEA Talks, highlighting the journey of taking a business concept from Main Street to mainstream. Entrepreneur, business leader, and national outdoor industry advocate Mike Wallenfels will share his story and experiences at the Oregon Main Street Conference on Thursday, Oct. 6. 

The IDEA Talk will coincide with the Oregon Main Street Conference, which is being hosted locally by the Klamath Falls Downtown Association, one of Klamath IDEA’s partners! IDEA Talk attendees will be both local entrepreneurs but also conference goers who are active in revitalizing their own Main Streets. 

Allenfels first worked in outdoor retail while attending San Diego State University. That retail experience grew into a 30+ year career in the Outdoor Industry. Wallenfels co-founded Mountain Hardwear, which was eventually purchased by Columbia Sportswear. He served for 10 years on the Board of Directors of the Outdoor Industry Association, advocating for business and recreation related issues. 

Wallenfels left Mountain Hardwear to work with private equity firm VMG as CEO of Timbuk2 Designs in San Francisco, Calif., until a planned successful exit from the investment partner. From there he created Outdoor Pursuits Consulting, where he advised private equity, venture funds, and companies on strategy, sales, and branding in the Outdoor, Pet, and Consumer Electronics markets. He moved to Bend in 2015 as VP of Global Sales for Hydro Flask and has served as President of the Oregon Outdoor Alliance (OOA) board of directors. 

Currently Wallenfels is SVP of Global Sales for Helen of Troy’s Home & Outdoor division overseeing sales teams across Hydro Flask, OXO, and Osprey brands with teams in US, Canada, Europe, and Asia. 

“Mike’s familiarity with taking ideas from small test markets, like our Farmer’s Market, clear to a global scope is unique and I hope that folks will enjoy hearing about that process,” said Kat Rutledge, Klamath IDEA director. 

The event will be held at the Ross Ragland Theater on Thursday, Oct. 6, from 5:15-7:15 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres will be served and a no-host bar will be available. Food and one non-alcoholic drink ticket is included in the $25 per person admission cost. OMS Conference attendees are covered by their registration fee. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. for networking and the Talk will start at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Facebook.com/KlamathIDEA or at KlamathIDEA.org on the calendar page. 

The 2022 IDEA Talks season has been generously supported by the Klamath Community College Small Business Development Center, the City of Klamath Falls, Klamath County, the Oregon Community Foundation’s Thriving Entrepreneur’s Program, the Ford Family Foundation’s Growing Rural Oregon program, and through Oregon State Lottery Funds administered by OBDD. 

Information was provided to Klamath Falls News in the form of a press release

Subscribe to the Klamath Falls News Morning Update for a once-daily email containing the previous day's published news.  

You have successfully joined the Morning Update. 

Klamath Falls News - Providing quality news and telling stories of Klamath Falls and the Klamath Basin.

What is happening in and out of the Basin? Take a live look at the KFN Weather Camera Network.

If you have a suggestion for a story, send us a note through our contact page. 

Klamath Falls News does not support or endorse any side of an issue, candidate, viewpoint, or opinion from any person, organization, or political group/party. Publishing of such content, or advertisement does not consent to support.

KFN Family of Brands Klamath Falls News | Cascade Firewatch | Basin Beat | Klamath Sports Network

Klamath Falls News Mailing Address: 1775 Washburn Way #3, Klamath Falls OR 97603