In It for the Long Haul
If you have worked in the outdoor industry for some time, you have probably crossed paths with Dave Egan. Recently, I was checking in with an employee of one of my accounts and she said something along the lines of, “He probably isn’t around anymore but do you work with Mr. Egan?”. That explains one piece of who Dave is. He IS around still! More than that, he is around, and he IS still pushing himself, learning new things, broadening his horizon, teaching, and sharing his love for the community he has been a part of for so long. In short, he is in it for the long haul.
When Dave started out as a rep, he was working with kayaks. This was back in the day when he had a clipboard with a list of accounts to see, a calling card, and a pay phone to contact his dealers. He was often gone for weeks at a time on the road rather than jetting around his territory. This was slow travel at its finest. This was back in the day when spending quality time with each account was paramount, you couldn’t just fire off a quick email or like an Instagram post as a way of showing support to a dealer.
Rather than living in the glory days, Dave has evolved. Yes, I have heard many stories about days past, but he hasn’t stopped evolving with the industry, rather than fighting against it. He has embraced technology beyond the norm. He’s utilized analytical tools that have set him apart and has earned his agency the title of the “data agency” to the brands he works for.
Perhaps more impressive is the way Dave has stayed active in the outdoors into what technically is his senior years. You may have seen him ice climbing in Hyalite Canyon in Montana with people more than half his age. Or backcountry skiing at Snoqualmie Pass on powder days. You might have bumped into Dave at a Craggin’ Classic in Smith Rocks, climbing alongside the rest of us. Or ripping down mountain bike trails in the Methow Valley. The list goes on.
When asked how he has had such longevity, his answer is “This is my community and there are a LOT of great people in this industry”. And that’s just it. What motivates Dave is what motivates many of us to work in the outdoor industry. It’s about the amazing people we work with. There’s a lot more money to be had in other industries, but the community, the comradery, in both work and play, is unsurpassable. So next time you run into Dave either out on the trail or in the shop, remember two things; he has probably been doing this longer than you have been alive, and he isn’t slowing down.