Paddlesports businesses NRS, Astral and a handful of dealers have all won places as nominees for the 2024 Grassroots Outdoor Specialty Awards, which celebrate overall excellence among Grassroots retailers and vendors, as well as outstanding achievements in business, advocacy, community action, and philanthropy.
Winners will be revealed at the upcoming Grassroots Connect show in Reno, during a special award luncheon held from noon to 1pm on Monday, June 10.
“The Grassroots awards have always meant a lot to our members, as they’ve helped build deeper connections and strengthen relationships throughout our community. While the 2024 awards will certainly spotlight some noteworthy individual efforts, the gathering and celebration of those efforts is healthy for everybody,” said Dana Howe, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance vice president.
The nominees for the 2024 Grassroots Outdoor Specialty Awards include:
Retailer Awards:
Vendor Awards:
Additional awards will be given during the ceremony including Appreciation for Board Service, Friend of Grassroots, Unmatched Dedication Retailer Award, and Excellence in Sales Representation. Nominees for the Grassroots Awards were determined based on results from the 2023 Grassroots membership and vendor studies, Grassroots sales and financial reporting, and feedback collected through various surveys.
Grassroots developed the categories, nomination process, and judging criteria with the support of a multi-sector awards committee including retailers, brands and sales representatives. That group included retailers Lisa Hollenbeck (The Alpine Shop; St. Louis, Mo.), Josh Haring (The Mountain Air; San Luis Obispo, Calif.), Ed McAlister (River Sports Outfitters; Knoxville, Tenn.); brand managers Ken Taylor (The North Face), Tracy Collins (Exped), Jeff Sermak (CamelBak); and sales representatives Kurt Smith (Top Gun Sales) , BJ Brewer (Vim Sales Group) and Mike Felix (Midcoast Outdoor Sales).