Hey! I'm Mitch
Event Marketing and Partnership professional with 10 years working in the Outdoor Events and Action Sports Industry. Drawing on knowledge from the field and leveraging an amazing network across many disciplines.
Midwest work ethic. West coast creativity. Recovering road warrior.
Any UCSB Alum will tell you that beyond being one of the top-rated public universities, it is also a school that forces you to become as efficient as possible very quickly. When you can see waves from the library, you find yourself streamlining your processes to get back in the water. Plus, there are not many places where you can surf to warm up before pulling on a jersey to represent your school's ice hockey team. What a special place!
I was fortunate to have started my career in the outdoor industry shortly after graduating from the University of California at Santa Barbara. I contracted with the events team at Deckers Outdoor Corporation just as they moved into their new global headquarters. I loved every minute.
I was looking for an opportunity that allowed me to surf when the waves were pumping and head for the hills when the snow was falling. My love for the outdoors, my ability to create and foster partnerships, and consolidate big ideas into action plans allowed me to succeed at project management in the partnership and field marketing realm.
After an extended stay in Indonesia, camping across the western US, and moonlighting as a beer tender for a now-defunct brewery in the east bay, I joined an up and coming experiential marketing agency in Denver, Outlier Productions.
"Wait, I can travel around the country year-round and build tours for some of my favorite brands? I'm in!" During this time I drove through every state in the US, interacted with all walks of life, found different ways to approach marketing products, and succeeded in learning more than I sold. I learned to level with a variety of consumers and that genuine conversation will get you much more in life than a sales pitch. I also like to think I was ahead of the curve for van life and remote work. Need to know where to find consistent and free wifi? I got you.
My experience supporting the growth of Outlier Productions agency fast-tracked my future success in the Events and Partnerships field. I wore many hats at this dynamic agency. I quickly found my stride and created relationships that soon led to some of the company's biggest contracts. It was also a pivotal period where I met some of my best friends, both personally and professionally, many of which have landed with companies that I still get to collaborate with today.
I leveraged this experience to join the team at Hydro Flask and helped build out one the best Field Marketing and Partnership programs in the country (in my opinion). On this team of two, I was able to work across all departments and succeeded in building our program while leading and managing projects with the Social Media, Ambassador, Ecommerce, Product, CSR, and Sales teams to grow brand recognition globally. We succeeded in growing the program from the ground up into a player in the large scale international events and partnerships world. My program partnered with respected organizations including the World Surf League, ESPN, AVP Beach Volleyball, and the USA Olympic Surf, Ski, and Snowboard teams. I spent nearly five years dedicated to this program and I will always be proud of what we accomplished.
I am excited once again to leverage the experience gained at Hydro Flask and support the growth of another team.
About Me
.png)
Micah Thompson, Partnerships and Experiential Marketing Manager, Hydro Flask
In multiple years working with Mitch, he has shown exceptional leadership, commitment, follow through, adaptability, and strategic insight with partners, internal teams, and consumers at national, regional, and local levels. Mitch identified and cultivated numerous key relationships that remain crucial for the brand to this day. Mitch worked with global partners like World Surf League to lead Hydro Flask's experiential activations at key tour stops in Australia, Hawaii, California, and New York City. Mitch has consistently shown skilled team collaboration skills with internal stakeholders on the marketing, creative services, Ecomm, and sales teams. I have also been impressed with Mitch's ability to lead and project manage digital activations with partners and ambassadors, including via social media channels, podcasts, and virtual events. Overall, I highly recommend Mitch for his ability to lead, collaborate, and drive forward momentum for the teams, brands, partners, and consumers with whom he has worked.
Melissa Colgate, Vice President of Business Development, The World Surf League
I highly recommend Mitch. I have worked with Mitch the last few years and he is dedicated, professional and has great attention to detail. Any organization would be lucky to have someone as talented as Mitch!
Kelli Delperdang, Social Media Specialist, Hydro Flask
Mitch is one of the most genuine, dedicated and hard-working marketing professionals that I’ve had the privilege to work with. He continually thinks outside the box, brings incredible strategic partners together for the same cause and always has the brand’s interest top of mind. In my career, there have been few people I've trusted more to manage complex projects with precision, confidence and a collaborative spirit. Beyond that, Mitch’s ability to stay focused and positive when things get hectic make him an extremely valuable asset to any marketing department. His energy and positivity fuel those around him every day and I feel so lucky to have him as a teammate!
Koren Hairston, Regional Field Marketing Manager, Vital Proteins
Mitch is an amazing communicator, quick thinker, and has a high level of ingenuity that I was able to witness when I began managing the day-to-day strategy for the Michelob Ultra-mobile tour. Being new to the logistics of the program & tour, Mitch was always a key resource that I could go to in order to find out how things were done. He was always prepared at each event and for each recap call. Even in the worst event conditions, he stayed positive, communicated in calm manner, and provided feedback from event learnings quickly after. Mitch is one of those people you work with and feel at ease knowing that they are leading the team & project. I truly enjoyed working with him and still enjoy our relationship even after both of us have moved on to other companies
Dana Mesenbrink, Action Sports and Olympics at Wasserman
Mitch has been such a pleasure to work with. He is always responsive and responsible and takes initiative to get projects to the finish line. Mitch has personally introduced me to a brand where we put a social strategy together for one of my clients, and executed it. He has been a champion of my clients and helped pitch and push through an initiative which has been one of the top engaged series for Hydro Flask, to date. Mitch helped support the Positive Vibe Warrior program and Stoke O Rama events with product, event assets and on site management. He has maintained a personal relationship between athletes and the brand and goes above and beyond for my clients.
Mike Swisher, Director Media Planning and Performance at Method Products
I recently had the pleasure of working with Mitch on influencer and ambassador programs through Hydro Flask. His knowledge and infectious enthusiasm for outdoor and actions sports marketing have been huge assets as I've begun to leverage this highly impactful marketing channel for my own brands. He is hard working and dedicated to his craft, and takes a lot of care in nurturing his relationships as is evidenced by his strong connections to the various communities in which he works. Everyone loves working with Mitch and I personally look forward to our paths crossing again.
.png)
Eric Molletta, Senior Creative Services Manager, Hydro Flask
I absolutely enjoy working with Mitch. He's a no-BS, results-oriented team member. Mitch can perform independently to execute large-scale projects, and he's an excellent team player as well. Mitch has the presence to be a consumer-facing brand lead, and the detail ability to be a tactical player behind-the-scenes. He's an asset to any team
Mark Sawyer - Chu, President of Partnerships, The Inertia
Mitch is an extremely hard worker! I loved running into Mitch at various industry events and trade shows. If you're lucky enough to have him on your team, he'll represent the brand well!
Eric Mehlberg, Marketing Manager at Vissla
I had the opportunity to collaborate with Mitch on some cross branded promotions between Hydro Flask and Vissla. Mitch was incredibly detailed and provided great communication to his internal team and outwardly to mine. These collaborations produced profitable ROI’s as well as wonderful consumer experiences. I am already looking forward to the next opportunity to collaborate with Mitch.
Kami York - Feirn, Social Media Manager at Osprey Packs
Mitch is professional and easy to work with! He is very knowledgeable about marketing and knows how to set up giveaways to make them very plug and play for all brands involved. I worked with him on a project where he managed the creative and social media assets (as well as execution) for a giveaway with 7-8 different outdoor brands, which is no small feat. I would work with Mitch again in a heartbeat and you'd be lucky to have him on your team.
Amy Renalds, Executive Assistant, Hydro Flask
I have had the opportunity to work closely with Mitch on various events at Hydro Flask and within the Bend community. Mitch's skills and strengths are many, but what has impressed me most is his ability to represent Hydro Flask at the highest level at many of our consumer facing events. Internal events, like Hydro Flask's 10 year party, Mitch was instrumental in the execution - an event for about 2500 guests and it was successful due in part to Mitch's organizational skills and know how of WHAT needed to be done to pull off a top notch community celebration. Furthermore and not to minimize the importance of, Mitch's contribution to the culture and office life at Hydro Flask is exceptional. Great guy - always positive attitude, willing to jump in - TRULY the team player any successful company wants that VALUES this in their people.
Matt Myers, Team and Event Manager at Rip Curl
I have had the privilege of working with Mitch over the past 3 years in conjunction with our brand's surf partnership between Hydro Flask, and Rip Curl. Mitch has shown such a true commitment to his role with a deep focus on obtaining all objectives. He has been an incredible communicator, consistently responding to requests in a timely manner, and always there for a follow up or to ask if there's more he can do to help. Mitch lead the on-beach activations for Hydro Flask at our surf events and was a hit with all competitors, families, and spectators who attended our events. Mitch showed his connection to Hydro Flask and was such a great ambassador for the brand on spreading the positive awareness and messages the brand represents. It was incredible to see Mitch drive from West Coast to East Coast and show up with stoke on his face as he set up for a long day in the heated Florida weather. Not many have the determination to make such a positive impact on an event. Thanks for all that you do Mitch!
