2026 Schedule

Day 1 – October 14

Pre-Conference Mountain Bike Ride – Cedar Creek Trail (must register)

Tour of Fort Stanton Historic Site (ADA Accessible)

Star Gazing Welcome Reception at MCM Elegante Lodge and Resort (Next to the Convention Center)

107 Sierra Blanca Dr, Ruidoso

* Live Music by Sange Gitana Trio, bringing a blend of Hispanic/ Mexican/ Gipsy cultures with a unique twist of Flamenco

Day 2 – October 15

Welcome Remarks

Lynn Crawford, Mayor of Ruidoso
Duane Duffy, President of the Mescalaro Apache Tribe
Jeff Steinborn, Executive Director of Outdoor New Mexico

Report from the Mountain, Insights from Top Leaders in the Outdoor Economy

Karina Armijo, Director, New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division
Dustin Long, Ranch Manager, Ladder Ranch
* Additional Speakers Announced Soon

All Abilities Access Panel

Dustin Berg, Founder and CEO of Global Opportunities Unlimited (GO Unlimited)
Amy Bell, Co-Owner, Landscape Architecture and Planning Firm Anthropopulus
Emily Stout, Capital Projects Program Manager, New Mexico State Parks
Loren Bell, Executive Director, Enchanted Circle Trail Association

Deep Dive Session / Big News from State Parks: LWCF Funding, Veterans Passes, and More

Angie Richman, Deputy Director for Field Operations, New Mexico State Parks
Colleen Baker, Deputy Director of Administration, New Mexico State Parks

Deep Dive Session / Funding Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure in New Mexico

Carl Colonius, Trails + Grant Program, New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division
David Chené, Executive Director, Youth Conservation Corps

Community Vitalization Through Youth Groups (Breakout)

Stephanie Vargas, Executive Director, Doña Ana Village Association
Marley Puanani Smith, Program Director, Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps
“Wild Friends” Bio Blitz, Ruidoso High School
Evan Pilling, Grants Coordinator, Outdoor Equity Grant Program

Lunch

Special Announcement About the 2027 Outdoor Economics Conference

Outdoor Play Time

Woodworking Workshop
Plein Air Paint Your Own Souvenir
Mountain Hike in the Cedar Creek Recreation Area (Shuttle Service Provided)
Walk on the Links Fitness Trail (Next to the Convention Center)

Jobs in the Outdoors, Youth Leadership Training Academy (Breakout)

Deep Dive / Hands on Training on New Mexico True Programs

Lancing Adams, Secretary, New Mexico Department of Tourism

Astro Tourism & Dark Skies (Breakout)

Peter Lipcsomb, Astro Tour Guide, Park Manager of Cerillos Hills State Park, Vice Chair of DarkSky International New Mexico Chapter
Gina Pearson, Former National Park Service Environmental Planner & Dark Sky Program Coordinator
* Additional Speakers Announced Soon

Deep Dive Session / Tourism Marketing Intelligence

Victoria Gregg, Research Director, New Mexico Department of Tourism

Search & Rescue, New State Rules to Help Communities Save Lives (Breakout)

Bob Rodgers, New Mexico Search & Rescue State Resource Officer, State Police
Robert Garcia, President, New Mexico Search and Rescue Council

From Data to Decisions: Using Analytics to Shape the Outdoor Economy

Katrina Arndt, Planner and Client Focus Leader, Dekker Architecture
Kate Hanenberg, Senior Manager, Research and Market Intelligence, Visit Albuquerque
Felix Diaz, Director of Advanced Technology, Dekker Architecture

Dinner Party

Day 3 – October 16

Welcome Remarks

Small Biz Programs to Help Your Community

Isaac Romero, Deputy Secretary, New Mexico Economic Development Department
Sam Collins, Senior Finance Manager, New Mexico Finance Authority
* Additional Speakers Announced Soon

Wildlife Tourism, Ecosystems, And Corridor Development

Amy Moorison, Eco Tour Guide, Ladder Ranch
Matt Haverland, Environmental Coordinator and Wildlife Coordinator, New Mexico Department of Transportation
Michael Dax, Western Programs Director, Wildlands Network

Deep Dive Session / Outdoor Innovation – Mescalero Apache Nation (Breakout)

* Speakers Announced Soon

Hear it from the Pros, What Makes a Great Outdoor Destination

Steve Andrus, Americas Tour Manager, XTERRA Sports Unlimited
Wiley Meade, Owner “The Bike Shop,” Pro Xterra Athlete
Amanda Foster, Co-Owner, Happy Hiker

Box Lunches

Winners of Exhibitor Passport Announced!

Outdoor Tours Begin

Ziplining at the Apache Eagle Ziprider
Screaming Eagle Mountain Coaster Rides
Horseback Rides at Inn of the Mountain Gods
Paddleboard Rides, 2 seat and 4 seat boats
Grindstone Lake Xterra Course Mountain Bike Ride
Hike at Grindstone Lake
Lincoln Historic Site (ADA Accesible)
Live Search and Rescue (SAR) Training Mission – Becoming a SAR Responder for a Day!