Industry News
Protect Our Winters (POW) is a climate advocacy organization that was created in 2007 by professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones. Since POW was founded, the organization has blossomed into a worldwide network of more than 130,000 supporters. On January 16, POW announced that Erin Sprague, currently serving as POW’s Board Chair, will now succeed Torrey Udall and take over as Chief Executive Officer.
Sprague brings 20 years of professional experience at mission-driven brands, proven leadership, and commitment to climate advocacy. In a recent press release, POW’s founder Jemery Jones said this about the decision to make Sprague CEO:
“As we enter 2024, the stakes on climate action could not be higher. Society is in an ‘all hands on deck’ scenario, and we are so excited to welcome Erin Sprague as our new leader. Erin’s joining POW as the CEO represents a new era as we will draw off her background in business, climate tech, and marketing to lead POW in 2024 and beyond. As the POW Board Chair, I’ve seen her tenacity, intelligence, and commitment to reaching our climate goals firsthand, and I’m confident she’ll bring fresh energy, perspective, and opportunity to drive impact at POW and in the climate movement,”
Sprague becomes just the third CEO in POW’s history and its first female CEO. Before joining POW, Sprague attended Harvard and started her career at Blackstone where she focused on policy work. She later attended Stanford’s Graduate School of Business before transitioning to the outdoor industry. She led the women’s division at Specialized Bicycles, was VP of Marketing at fitness event company Virgin Sport, and was SVP and Chief Brand Officer at Aspen Skiing Company where she led marketing, sales, and retail. Most recently, she has helped launch climate tech start-ups in food waste management and heat pump adoption.
Sprague commented on what it means to be CEO in a press release from POW:
“After years as a POW Brand Alliance Partner and Board member, I have experienced the passion and power of this organization first-hand,” says Erin. “Climate is the opportunity of our lifetime, and POW’s unique combination of athletes, creators, scientists, and brand partners creates the most compelling platform for change. I can’t wait to dig in with our talented team, welcome more outdoor enthusiasts into our community, and accelerate POW’s leadership in the climate movement.”
POW is currently in the final year of its four-year strategic plan. Although leadership changes, POW will continue to move forward in the same direction it has been charging since 2007, striving to bring the world together to create a healthier environment for generations to come. Stay up to date with POW’s mission and the work the organization has been doing.
