"The High Road" (February Newsletter)

Like lots of San Diegans, we were raised up in a military family. In retrospect, looking through the aperture of a parent and now grandparent, I can more readily see the continual challenges military families face. We were constantly moving…7 schools in 12 years. Adaptation to new surroundings presented all sorts of challenges, new friends, teachers and new and different social pressures… imagine me as a 15 year old surfer moving to Rhode Island in a wintery February. Our dad was very concerned about the ethical or compromising character building challenges we might meet. He had some advice for us.

Even is sunny San Diego, its not easy to choose the hard path of leadership in our communities. Leadership and action in addressing our homelessness is not simple. Solutions seem elusive.The social challenges our local YMCA has recently encountered require the definition of leadership. People who address these issues head-on deserve our support, especially in this environment of “letting no good deed go unpunished.” When faced with our child like reaction to dealing with unpleasant choices my dad’s advice stuck with me. Maybe its still relevant after all the years: “come on up to the high road…there’s plenty of room!”

-b

"Here We Go" More Bill and More Basketball 
Bill's January 30th show of "Throw it Down with Bill Walton" for the Toronto Raptors vs Phoenix Suns game, had on two very awesome guests Charles Barkley and John Mayer. During the broadcast the acclaimed singer/songwriter Mayer, accredited Bill with motivating him to "shoot the ball" early on his performing career and to just go for it on stage. Saying, he doesn't think he would have had so much confidence so early on his career if it wasn't for Bill. These are the awesome conversions that make this broadcast so great to watch! To check out the highlights of that game click here and be sure to catch Bill's next alternative broadcast for the Boston Celtics @ New York Knicks game on February 27th on the NBA app. 

SDSI Views from The Bus – Steven Morris
In the latest episode of Views From The Bus, Bob has a really amazing opportunity to interview Steven Morris. He is the author of an amazing book called "The Beautiful Business", which really is a must-read for all CEOs. Steven is a true thought provocateur, a superb brand strategist, and business advisor. Click here to listen in for a deep dive into the beauty of business!

SDSI Welcomes New Member Gold State Gear Inc
Gold State Gear is the world's premier skydiving brand, known for its top-quality equipment and exceptional customer service. Their products are designed, procured and manufactured with safety and performance in mind, making them the ideal choice for skydivers of all levels, with wide range of gear: including parachutes, rigs, helmets, and accessories. In addition, Gold State Gear offers expert advice and support to customers, helping them make informed choices about their equipment. With a team of experienced professionals who are passionate about skydiving, Gold State Gear is dedicated to providing its customers with the best possible experience, from the moment they make their first jump to the day they reach their skydiving goals.

TO READ THE REST OF THE NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE.

"Stop everything, Go to The Farmers Open at Torrey Pines!" (January Newsletter)

The PGA Tour “real” Southern California swing began yesterday and runs through Saturday right here. Grab your SunBum SPF 50, binocs and walking shoes and get to Torrey! There are several personal reasons to attend...killer views, amazing (really amazing) amenities, world class golfers…but there is also a much bigger reason: Supporting The Century Club of San Diego. Their presentation of San Diego to the global media market is invaluable..20 plus hours of prime time network TV and thousands more hours in global media support. The economic Impact of the event tops $34Million dollars and utilizes over 1200 volunteers. Most importantly, the profits are all donated to several charities throughout the County. Go to their website to see just how amazing the Century Club’s philanthropy is. Oh, and by the way, congratulations to the Century Club CEO, Marty Gorsich. Our Farmers Event is superbly organized. We know it takes a team, but teams need leaders. Props to Marty, job very well done.. See you there!

Throw It Down with Bill Walton Premiered this Monday
An alternative broadcast for the NBA starring SDSI’s Mr. Bill Walton, aired this Monday for the San Antonio vs Portland game. The broadcast was filmed at Bill’s house and followed a similar structure as the Manning cast, the alternative broadcast for the NFL’s Monday night football this year. In the alternative broadcast, Bill talked about the game from a very different perspective and had two very special guests and friends of his own on with him, NBA legend Julius Erving and Nike co-founder and chairman emeritus Phil Knight. To read the full article and schedule of the broadcast click here, and for the highlights of the first Throw It Down with Walton, click here.

SDSI Views from The Bus – Selk’bag
In today's episode, Bob talks with Cristobal Murillo, Co-founder, and CEO of Selk'bag, who has implemented a very successful influencer marketing campaign to help get eyeballs on his unique wearable sleeping bags. Listen in to hear about his strategy for riding the viral wave of social media. To listen into the episode. click here. 

Attention SDSI Members
If you are looking for a space to hold a meeting the SDSI conference room is always available to be used by members. To book a date and time please email Sam@sdsportinnovators.com to check for availability.

TO READ THE REST OF THE NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE.

Isaac Howe, Orucase - Views From The Bus

This is a start of a new series of Views From The Bus, where Bob is shifting away from the historic founders to a much more current and scrappy set of founders. Many who have founded or birthed their businesses in these amazingly fast moving times, their insights are not historic, they're immediate, they're relevant, and they're actionable today

In today's episode, we'll meet Isaac Howe, who co-founded Orucase with his brother and are a recent SDSI Accelerator graduate. They graduated from the program in 2019 right before Covid-19 changed the world, and stopped all travel. And if you don't know Orucase they make the best bike cases to take your bike on any airline at a reasonable baggage price. Listen in to hear how Isaac and his team worked to keep their heads above water. 

"Change" (SDSI Newsletter)

2022..the end is (blessedly) in sight! This was the year of the Roller Coaster Ride. Our businesses were booming coming into 2022, the pandemic eased, people were able to congregate and come back to work. Among those coming back to work were people who make things. Factories came on line, containers were lined up (at historic high prices) and all the late factory orders showed up…6 months late, sometimes even later. In spite of all that, the Sport and Active Lifestyle industry has weathered most of the storm and we are free to look ahead at a more robust Spring and Summer. The tsunami of change that hit our markets was not all destructive. New “Work from Home” hybrid models have liberated consumers and made more room for self awareness and fitness. The adaptation of technology has permeated every level of society, pre K to Grandparents, and Direct to Consumer sales have blossomed. Some aspects of costs have gone down, the best example being container pricing. Demand has leveled off and retailers are selling down all the late arriving inventory. Most importantly, employment remains high. So, based on trends and some positive thinking, I am optimistic that 2023 will be a more stable business year, with supply more closely aligned with demand…and best of all, our consumer will continue a life of awareness where life balance and out of office activities benefit our focus as the San Diego Lifestyle industry. Happy New Year!

SDSI Welcomes New Member Marqi Health 
Marqi Health is a portfolio company of the Human Longevity and Performance Impact Venture Fund LP. World renowned Human Longevity, clinical providers of premier longevity programs, with 6000+ members, have been around the longevity block for over a decade. They have partnered with them to deliver this incredible health impact to the workplace. Marqi offers two products for the workplace in partnership with Human Longevity:
1. Longevity 360 App - a longevity app leveraging the latest biomarker technology, designed by world-leading health professionals.
2. Precision Executive Physical - an ERISA-compliant company-sponsored benefit to detect and prevent illness.
To learn more about Marqi Health and their awesome benefits click here. 

SDSI Welcomes New Member Outerspace Designs Inc
Outerspace designs and engineers hardware products. With over 30 years of experience in product development, we work closely with clients to define, develop, prototype and engineer successful products. To check out some of their past projects click here. 

SDSI Views from The Bus – Orucase 
This is a start of a new series of Views From The Bus, where Bob is shifting away from the historic founders to a much more current and scrappy set of founders. Many who have founded or birthed their businesses in these amazingly fast moving times, their insights are not historic, they're immediate, they're relevant, and they're actionable today. In the first episode of the series, Bob talks with Isaac Howe, who co-founded Orucase and is a recent SDSI Accelerator graduate. Orucase makes the best bike cases to take your bike on any airline at a reasonable baggage price. Click here, to listen in to Bob and Isaac talk about the up and down journey of starting Orucase. 

TO READ THE REST OF THE NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE.

"Inspiration" (November Newsletter)

SDSI is a business development organization. Our newsletter, however, reaches far beyond the membership. Last night we had our Q4 Advisory Board Meeting at the Challenged Athlete Foundation Headquarters. Our topics included an excellent presentation by Fidelitas about current market conditions, and we had some forward looks at Q1 and Q2 of 2023. 

That's not the story. The kick-off was an awesome welcome by Rudy Tolson, a double above the knee amputee, athlete, 5 x Paralympian, to name just a few of his attributes. Rudy is an inspiring human with an inspirational story. As the evening developed, we heard from Todd Tibbits, CEO of the San Diego YMCA about their extensive outreach program and amazing efforts in Child Care, and then an equally inspirational invitation from Dan Engel from the Miracle League of San Diego, to attend their annual baseball game featuring 350 children and adults with special needs and their support "buddies” for an awesome ballgame.

Inspiration… and a personal reminder to me that I can do much more. You might be with me in the category of good intentions, but low follow through. The Holiday season is a time of giving. Thanksgiving provides us the opportunity to do both, give thanks and give. Here are a few options. Perhaps you could use your Holiday party to raise funds and support one of the very many charities that help make San Diego special for everyone. - bob
 

- Challenged Athletes Foundation: CAF has a simple mission: Empower lives with Sport. Since its founding in 1994, CAF has helped over 26,000 individuals with challenges get access to sport. You can join the famous charity “ride” from San Francisco to San Diego or donate with the click of a button (here) and do your part to help match athletes with adaptive sports gear, defer travel expense or provide the “extra” it takes to help great athletes get over the finish line. (contact info)

- Lucky Duck Foundation: Join LFD in their mission to house the less fortunate among us, not someday, tonight! SDSI’ers have purchased over 250 “sleeping bag /jackets” in the last two years. Your contribution can help us buy more before winter sets in. (contact info)

- Rob Machado Foundation: Rob is an excellent role model for us all. His giving nature is wrapped in his Foundation’s dedication to empowering young people to make sustainable choices, with a particular focus on water. (contact info)

-Freedom Dogs: Lori Walton’s dream is to match at-risk Service Veterans with companion dogs to fight the severe mental challenges of PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. Go to the website and see these amazing success stories! (contact info)

- Father Joe’s Villages: The historic, monumental Father Joe, has faced the homelessness of so many with kindness and love and a very scrappy knack for fundraising into an organization that houses 2500 “neighbors” nightly…and far, far more. (contact info)

- Miracle League of San Diego: provides children with special needs the opportunity to play baseball in an organized league. Every player is matched with a buddy based on his or her unique needs. (contact info)

-Access Youth Academy: was created in 2006 to transform the lives of underserved youth through academic mentorship and urban squash. In a 12-year commitment that begins in 7th grade, Access students embark on a curriculum of intellectual, physical, and social development where academic enrichment, sports training, and financial support combine to help them realize their full potential. There students have 13 national title wins, a 100% high school graduation rate and 100% college acceptance rate. (contact info)

TO READ THE REST OF THE NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE.

Bill Walton Leadership - Views From The Bus ep. 11

Listen to our Executive Director, Bob Rief interview basketball legend and SDSI Executive Chairman, Bill Walton about his experiences playing for the greatest basketball coach of all time John Wooden. Hear the leadership skills and lessons he learned through playing for him and after as his friend.

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“..It's been a crazy few weeks. Great to see the inspiring, unifying, uplifting impact sports can have on a Community.” (October Newsletter)

Bill certainly hit the ball out of the park! It is so true. I have to admit to a chip on my shoulder over the departure of that NFL team that used to be in San Diego. For me, it was an insult to my loyalty to the team and even worse, a bold faced insult to our City. We were small market chumps, too self-absorbed in our very enviable lifestyle, not a place for sports. Really? Maybe it was all about greed and poor citizenship. Well, I am exorcised, the demon is gone! The Padres, Loyal, Seals, Wave, and Gulls, all deep in the postseason, and more importantly all deep in our community, making us a place where we can reclaim our place as a great sports town, with world class community oriented Leadership. Play on San Diego…take that LA!

Bob Rief and SDSI Member Isaac Howe to be Panelists for Procopio Sports and Active Lifestyle Panel
Procopio invites the SDSI membership to join them for a panel discussion “Weathering the Covid Aftermath: Secrets to Successful Growth Today”. Bob Rief, our Executive Director, will join panelists Tom Campanaro, CEO of Total Gym and SDSI Accelerator graduate and current SDSI member Isaac Howe, Co-founder of Orucase and others. The event will take place on November 8th, 5:00 pm at the Procopio Del Mar offices. Come hear from these industry experts as they share the obstacles they have confronted, lessons learned, and practical strategies and approaches to apply to your business to succeed now and in the future. Click here for details and to register. 

TO READ THE REST OF THE NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE.

The “R” Word (September Newsletter)

“Recession” is a powerful word, all inclusive and definitely capable of poisoning the proverbial well. It can create a tsunami of negative think, often too powerful to overcome. In an effort to see what the SDSI members thought, we conducted a “business attitude survey.” The results were unexpected: 70% of SDSI Members estimated Year End Sales for 2022 to exceed 2021, a banner year in the SAL Industry. Forecasting 2023, 63% estimate it to be a year of opportunity and increased sales. The same 63% plan on an increase in hiring. This does not sound like “recession” thinking! The survey was not all Pollyanna: Inflation and supply chain challenges actually ranked higher than fear of recession. Consumer spending is always uncertain. Cash flow, remains an issue, especially when it comes to accessing capital. Our space, Sport, Active and Healthy Living, represents the power of lifestyles centered on health and sustainability. Get healthy, stay healthy is always the fundamental factor in our businesses. Are “we” recession proof? Are you an optimist, a pessimist or somewhere in the middle? You can access the Survey Here and check your alignment with SDSI Members. Optimistically yours (now!),

-BR

SDSI Accelerator Welcomes New Cohort 
Another cohort of the SDSI Accelerator program is officially underway! We’ve onboard 7 new companies who’ve been paired with a team of experienced mentors to work on growth plans for their business. Congratulations to Bench Clearers, Edge Theory Labs, MX Auto, Rosey’s Eyewear, SISSFiT, SwellCo and TASCO, who officially make up Class 20 of the SDSI Accelerator. We’ve also recently released the schedule for Class 21 here, which will start in the new year – remember you can start your application at any time to get in the running for the next schedule cohort. Learn more and apply here.

SDSI Business Survey in SDBJ
Our 2023 business survey which was talked about in Bob's opening paragraph, was published in the San Diego Business Journal as an optimistic outlook by SAL industry leaders despite some seemingly "dark clouds". All respondents were SDSI companies answering questions about their current state of business through 2022 and a look into their 2023 projections. To read the full article in the SDBJ click here. 

TO READ THE REST OF THE NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE.

BUSINESS SURVEY POINTS TOWARD ANOTHER YEAR OF SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN THE 2023 SPORT, ACTIVE AND HEALTHY LIVING SPACE

Solana Beach, CA - Bill Walton, Chairman of the San Diego Sport Innovators (SDSI), noted that a recent survey of 120 SDSI Members points toward a very bullish 2023 for companies in the Sport, Active and Healthy-Living space.

“The Pandemic has helped individuals and families shift their time and spending toward healthy habits, getting outside and being active. In the midst of the great loss the pandemic caused, we are proud as an industry to have stepped up and supported so many people who are refocused on active and healthy habits. Our SDSI companies have been in a fortunate place to support this increased demand and as a result, business in the sport, active and healthy-living space has been near or above an all-time sales high,” noted Walton.  “We thought it prudent to survey the membership now, at the onset of business planning for 2023, to gain a collective look into the future, to see if this increase in business is sustainable.”

The Survey results were startling in their optimism. Sixty-three percent see it as a year of opportunity and 68% are planning for a significant increase in sales. The same percent saw beginning 2023 inventories as acceptable or better, while 93% of all respondents plan to maintain current employee counts or increase staffing.

 Mike Irwin of Bottle Rocket Advisors noted “Recession is a loaded term with significant economic data and buzz, but it’s also a potentially toxic word when viewed from the consumer point of view. I am suggesting replacing the ‘R’ word with ‘Transition.’ Look back 24 months and the sky was falling. Fast forward to today and we’re seeing historic, unprecedented demand and sales. My advice is to find your place in the transition and view opportunity through the aperture of your company and market channel.”

 John Sarkisian, noted local entrepreneur, had similar comments. “In the macroeconomic world, no doubt there are significant headwinds and change. In my opinion, the economy has been through one of the most significant shocks since World War II, all as a consequence of the pandemic. But consider that 70% of the GDP is driven by consumer spending. Our typical consumer has a healthy balance sheet. Their main asset, their home, is very significantly up in value. Savings remain high. Many are in hybrid work-from-home situations. Small businesses have profited from governmental assistance. Employment is at an all-time high. People with jobs spend. And fortunately for our market, they spend on personal health, outdoor gear and apparel, and sport activities. My point of view is that changing or transitioning times represent a time of great opportunity, and a time when great wealth can be created!”

 Kevin Cox, president of Encinitas’ Electra Bike Company noted “Electra started here in Encinitas nearly 30 years ago by resurrecting the classic cruiser bike and putting the fun back into bike riding. Today, Electra is a global lifestyle bicycle brand focusing on making both e-bikes and pedal bikes for a worldwide customer base. We worked tirelessly through the pandemic to help ensure our retailers received the necessary products to support and grow their businesses. But as the “bike boom” has slowed, many retailers have found themselves in an over-inventoried situation. Helping retailers navigate a controlled landing during these post-pandemic times will be a key to near term success. And, as with most market fluctuations, there is massive opportunity for those that can simplify their business and focus on what they can control...which is why we remain optimistic.”

 “So, there you have it,” noted Bob Rief, Executive Director of SDSI. “The pandemic, for all its truly sad effects, has greatly increased sales in our healthy living space. Our collective customer is now health conscious, working in a hybrid environment and has more personal recreational time, be it golf, surfing, swimming, soccer, nutrition, technology or walking. That's the heart of the business at SDSI. We foresee a year of change, opportunity and profit in the sport, active and healthy lifestyle industry and that means a healthier and more active San Diego. It doesn’t get better than that!”

TO WATCH THE FULL ZOOM MEETING CLICK HERE.

 About SDSI - SDSI is a 501©3 not-for-profit organization chaired by Bill Walton and John Sarkisian. It serves as the business community for the $5.1 billion Sport, Active and Healthy Living Industry (SAL). SDSI represents 1,200 businesses in San Diego County with more than 47,000 employees. SDSI supports healthy living companies in all stages by facilitating cross vertical knowledge sharing, partnership building, business mentorship, and using the power of our community to help companies in our space do well AND do good.  For more information or to get involved, visit www.sdsportinnovators.com.

Contact:
Bob Rief
Executive Director
Bob@sdsportinnovators.com

Renne Catalano Gussman
Director of Business Development
Renne@sdsportinnvators.com

Top Gun: Maverick (August Newsletter)

Well, San Diego is back in the news again with Top Gun 2.0…great reminder about our community ties to the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Marine ecosystem and members and how important they are to San Diego. There is other TOP news as well, starting with the new Callaway Golf brand repositioning around Top Golf. And in a similar vein, Surf Park Summit is coming very soon. What is notable about both is the amazing potential they represent is bringing far more participants to 2 of our core membership constituencies. Golf has long had formidable barriers to entry for “newbies:” 15 minutes at a Top Golf facility is enough to “stoke” out any new golfer, and of course, growing the new golf consumer pool very significantly. Speaking of pools, Surf Park Summit is all about (I mean all about) the artificial wave pool phenom circling the world. Every aspect of the new world of surf parks, technology, marketing, financing, are represented at the Summit. The outcome is already apparent: pools currently in operation are over whelmed with business. There are several pools coming close to us. No doubt they will also dramatically increase participation and sales in surfing. We love that! Wanna go to the Summit? Better RSVP now. - Bob 

From our friends at the Lucky Duck Foundation
The LDF was featured on Good Morning America for an employment program that hires individuals suffering from homelessness to be food rescue route drivers. So far the effort has rescued more than 500,000 lbs. of food and all graduates have secured full-time employment and are still housed. Watch the segment here. The 14th annual Swing & Soiree will be September 26th at the Santaluz Club. More information can be found here. The LDF is doing Good every day. If you can help or donate goods, services or money, contact Drew Moser at the links above.

TO READ THE REST OF THE NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE.

Calling all Sport and Active Lifestyle Entrepreneurs! (July Newsletter)

Did you know that 130 CEOs of early stage companies in the Sport, Active and healthy living space have already graduated from the SDSI Accelerator and are on their way to success? It's an amazing fast start for any qualifying company. The metrics are unique: 85% success rate, nearly $90 Million in start up capital raised, 51% are women founded, 750 new jobs. The Accelerator is free to all SDSI members, and joining is easy and inexpensive. It's a 20-week mentor led curriculum with 4 mentors per company and 80 hours per company of expert mentorship. There is no faster, more qualified opportunity in our space. If your company is a candidate, or if you have one to refer to the program contact (Dana Rowley) or get involved yourself! Learn more and start your application here:

-bob

Congrats to Newest Accelerator Grads
Congratulations to the most recent graduates of the SDSI Accelerator program! BASE Sports Group, TRUWILD, and ebike Cargo Products officially crossed the finish line of Class 19. We’re always impressed by the dedication, ingenuity and perseverance we see from our program participants and look forward to watching their success unfold. Our next cohort is just around the corner. If you’d like to join the ranks of Accelerator grads, learn what it takes to apply here.

SDSI Welcomes New Member Driftline
Driftline is a performance swimwear company and the inventor of Drifties, a patent-pending wetsuit-lined boardshorts that provide warmth, comfort and chafe protection in the areas that matter the most. Founded by Wes Horbatuck and Greg Orfe, two best friends and avid surfers, Driftline recently appeared on this season of SHARK TANK, where they turned down two offers - Wes and Greg didn’t want to bite! After launching in 2019 they have been named best boardshort by publications like GQ, Forbes, The Inertia and Outside Magazine and feel they still have plenty of room to innovate. Local to Leucadia, the Driftline boys are always in the water doing R&D and having true board meetings. Their goal is to continually make products by watermen, for watermen. You can find their game-changing boardies at www.driftline.co/ and on all social media at @driftline.co.

TO READ THE REST OF THE NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE

2021: Bench Mark or Banner Year? (June Newsletter)

As an ardent advocate for economic prosperity, I recently concluded my personal investigation into “what kind of year can we expect for the balance of 2022?” My resources include a major shoe representative, an apparel salesman, car mechanic, plumber, gardener, hairdresser, SDSI members and, most importantly, local coffee shop owner. The results are clear: 2022 will not match 2021, but may exceed 2019. I grant you that no economists were contacted, no governmental experts and certainly no TV hosts clouded the picture. I remain unpersuaded to the contrary: the bottom line remains….steady business through out the balance of 2022…that’s a relief and I hope a good measure to send you off on a hard earned summer vacation!

-bob

As One Class Wraps, Another Begins…
This week marked the final panel of Class 19 of our highly successful Accelerator program, putting four more companies on the path to successful growth and scale. As one class wraps, another begins – Class 20 starts processing applications in August. If you want to be a part of this milestone Accelerator class, learn more and start your application here.

SDSI Welcomes The City of Carlsbad as a New Member 
The City of Carlsbad is home to a number of Sports & Active Lifestyle Companies. In fact, it is one of the city's key industries driving the city's economy. With this concentration, the City of Carlsbad is a great new addition to the SDSI membership, and is committed to supporting the industry in the city of Carlsbad. The City offers several resources for businesses to help in talent attraction. Check out CarlsbadLifeInAction.com to see their employer resource toolkit.

TO READ THE REST OF THE NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE

Change (May Newsletter)

A long forgotten industry pundit once noted: “I am all for change, as long as it does not involve me!” Looking back over the trailing 24 months, its apparent that even those completely opposed to change are forced to capitulate. The roller coaster of denial, gave way to an amazing avalanche of sales, and now, somewhat post pandemic, we are settling in to see what the long term effects of the tumultuous change will bring. Our new work day will be re-defined. Our mode of transportation is being redefined. Our market channels are redefining themselves as we speak with the pendulum swing back towards quality retail. The classic employer/employee balance beam is tilted toward the employee. Will the “Great Resignation” stick? Is inflation here to stay? Will we find better domestic manufacturing or at least “local” manufacturing in near by Mexico? Will our end customer be able to continue to manage his/her day to include personal time for health and well being? The only certainty I see for the future is the simple fact that Genie of Change is out of the bottle, and its not going back. Where and what? No guess, but I can’t wait to see what’s coming!

SDSI Welcomes Bench Clearers as a New Member 
Special welcome to Joe Carson and Andrew Henson, the Founders of Bench Clearers, an all season apparel company focused on Hockey. “It's started with a simple idea and a laptop. Four years later, we have an NHL license and are rolling. Glad to be the newest member., and look forward to connecting with everyone.” To check out more of Bench Clearers click here.

TO READ THE REST OF THE NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE

Community… (April Newsletter)

As we learned in the early Covid crisis, community counts…big time. When the unexpected descends upon you, reaching out to an informed network for knowledge sharing can make all the difference. We take some pride in claiming SDSI is just that community. During those recent dark times, we helped over 80 of the SDSI companies obtain emergency funds or grants. Our Bank members helped cut the bureaucratic clutter and track applications. And one of our members shared that his ecomm business was on fire…a very early positive indicator that the Sport and Athletic lifestyle companies might enjoy a spurt in business. More recently our Freight Forwarding specialist member has been apprising us of the supply line challenges…from shut down in Shanghai to wait times in Port of LA. Community counts. In a business development environment, community can really count. We are entering our annual Membership drive, and welcome all companies in our space to inquire and join. The bigger the Rolodex, the greater the leverage!

- bob

Bill on Al Franken’s Podcast
SDSI Executive Chairman, Bill Walton appeared on the Al Franken podcast earlier this month, and they did the full-court press going over humor, the ups and downs of today’s world, John Wooden and of course the Grateful Dead. I even got a shoutout on the podcast, as Bill’s “travel guy” with beating out flight attendants for #2 on Bill’s worst job big board, “Flight attendants have the third-worst job in the history of the world. The second-worst job is the guy that does my travel. The worst job of all is my wife Lori, but she’s still here all these years. Click here for article on the podcast and here for the podcast.

SDSI welcomes San Diego County YMCA new CEO Todd Tibbits to SDSI Board of Directors
At the April Board of Directors meeting Todd Tibbits hosted the SDSI leadership at the Ecke YMCA and provided an update on the organization, how it was impacted by Covid and its vision for the future. Todd reminded us that the Y is much more than a gym, pool and fitness center that it is so well known for. San Diego YMCA serves 39,000 families with its childcare programs, serves 2,400 homeless youth through its housing program. Also supporting the mental health of our youth, the YMCA is inviting all children aged 13-24 years old to have free access to any Y in San Diego. The hope is to make meaningful connections to the youth in our community who need it the most and eventually be a resource for their entire family. Todd moved to San Diego from Charlotte where he was the President & CEO at the Charlotte YMCA. He has been in his new role for 6 months. As he looks to the future, is working to bring the best part of the Y forward while innovating new programs and services for each specific community. These innovations cannot be done without local partnership, if you like to connect with the Y and explore how your business can partner to better serve our community, please let us know!

2050 Succession Plan announced at SDSI
We believe in long term planning and welcome Taylor Rowley, newly born son of SDSI's Accelerator leader Dana Rowley and 4-month-old Obby Catalano, son of SDSI’s Renne Catalano.. our future is safe!

TO READ THE REST OF THE NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE

Spring! (March Newsletter)

More daylight. The change of time for many businesses means a change of attitude. The rotation of the seasons is a vital part of business plans across the Sport and Active lifestyle industry. The Century Club’s Farmer’s Tournament is the kickoff. The NBA is starting to ramp up…March Madness… the Padres opener is a few weeks away…Seals and Gulls deep into successful seasons, SD Loyal are hitting their stride in pro soccer, the new Women’s San Diego Wave is here with an All-Star coach and roster…mixed summer and spring swell have hit the beaches…spring skiing is here…the deserts are blooming…gotta love and appreciate our amazing San Diego. Tie all the activity to the new “Work from Home” hybrid model, and it looks like a strong spring/summer for the San Diego Lifestyle Industry. Make no mistake, there are far too many challenges on going as well as we struggle with drought, the tragedy in Ukraine, homelessness here and elsewhere…but for today, the Spring solstice brings us the opportunity to let optimism have its day. Celebrate!

-bob

SDSI Welcomes New Member Miracle League of San Diego, Who Celebrates its 15th Anniversary
MLSD, a non-profit organization that provides children and adults with disabilities the opportunity to play baseball is holding its 15th Anniversary Celebration presented by the San Diego Padres on May 22, 2022 at San Dieguito Park. Local celebrities including Mark Loretta will be paired with MLSD players for two innings of play and serve as buddies while providing support and encouragement to players during the game. Immediately following the exhibition game, these same celebrities will compete in a home run hitting contest to raise funds for the MLSD. Sponsorship opportunities are available, email Sam@sdsportinnovators.com to receive the sponsorship information. 

SDSI Participates in Freedom Dogs Golf Tournament
SDSI participated in a great cause this month donating and playing in the Freedom Dogs Golf Tournament at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club. This amazing event was put on by a very dedicated team and leadership, and one that needs specific recognition for their amazing work is Freedom Dogs board member and event chair Lori Walton. Lori did a marvelous job and even got some help from Bill who was happy to make everyone’s day by stopping to talk and to take a picture. In the tournament SDSI was led by Executive Director Bob Rief, and three members Dave Nash (Sun Diego), Craig Dado (Sports Injury Central), and John McClean (Beacons Capital Group). Congratulations to them, as they finished tied for 1st but came in 2nd from the tiebreaker. To learn more about the great work Freedom Dogs does for our veterans and their families please click here. 

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The Genie is out of the Bottle! (February Newsletter)

Which Genie? THAT genie! We have spoken about “transformation” and the “transformative times” often. But now we can add “at scale” to the equation. At our February Advisory Board meeting, we had a round table discussion about each member’s Back to Work policy. The conversation very quickly flipped to employee expectations and the new demands put on Leadership. “Back to work” means more than a hybrid week…it’s about retention policies, work environment, resolution of the “my manager” conflict, compensation, transparency, diversity, openness, social awareness…to name a few. Leaders take note: the market will determine winners and losers. Employees might vote with their feet!. Ken Schmitt from Turning Point said it best: “No matter your product or service, you are now in the people business.” Yes indeed, that Genie is out of the bottle and not going back!

-bob

SDSI News

SDSI Welcomes New Member Objective, Investment Banking & Valuation
Objective, Investment Banking & Valuation is an award-winning investment banking and valuation firm based in San Diego, CA offering M&A Advisory and Valuation Advisory Services for lower middle-market companies. They primarily operate as the sell-side advisor to business owners to lead them through the sale of their business in an effort to maximize the value, find the best-fit buyer and achieve all of their specific objectives. To learn more about Objective’s service and how they can help your company click here. 

Newsletter Announcement – Class 18 Graduation
Congratulations to Class 18 of the SDSI Accelerator program! We officially graduated 7 companies from the Accelerator program this month. We’re always impressed by the dedication, ingenuity, and perseverance we see from our program participants and look forward to seeing what they take their businesses next. Learn more about the Class 18 grads here.

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Omicron, Inflation, Ukraine…lets play Golf! (January Newsletter)

Today’s big challenges are soul sucking. Work from Home or office, or maybe not all. Omicron and Vaccines. Back to school, but virtual or not? Child care. The Big Resignation. I have come to the conclusion that I cannot do any more than my small part to stay steady and realize it's a long game, requiring patience and empathy, and to behave accordingly.

So, I decided to take Wednesday off, really off, and go watch Golf at Torrey Pines. What an awesome display and reminder of why we live in San Diego. Crystal clear air, good surf running, sky blue and 65 degrees, overlooking Black’s Beach…amazing. Even better, it is all broadcast around the world in prime time, showing off San Diego as America’s best city. It was also fun to watch our fellow Golf members’ athletes from Taylor Made and Cobra enjoy massive airtime and play exceedingly well.

A Big Congratulations go out to Marty Gorsich and his team at Century Club for making it all happen, and equally important, making another year of contributions to so many local charities.

And, this morning, I find that the world has turned, even without my worries. So, do yourself a favor, and take a break, look around and be happy we are all part of this amazing place called San Diego.

-bob

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Best Holidays and Happy New Year 2022 (December Newsletter)

Well, ‘tis the Season… to get 2021 closed out, finish up the 2022 budget, uh, celebrate that today is the beginning of longer and sunnier days, and… mask-up! Dang, we all hoped we were through with the intrusions into our lives with suggestions, mandates, confusion, and crossed purposes, but Public Health remains the single biggest challenge, one we must face. So be careful, do what you think is the right thing to protect yourself and others, and have a Happy Holiday. We are so looking forward to in-person meet ups and plan an all SDSI event as soon as we can do so safely.
Wishing you the best walking, running, biking, hiking, swimming, tennis, surfing, golfing, skating, climbing, pickle balling, skiing, snowboarding, or maybe, just chilling with the people you love!!

- Bill, John, Sam, Dana, Renne and Bob

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Six Steps to Happiness (November Newsletter)

Our November blog is often dedicated to things to be thankful for. Maybe there is only one on my list this year, and that's the gift of empathy. With so many issues and challenges to our collective mental health and well being, viewing real world challenges with kindness and concern is just the ticket to gaining insight into solutions that are only visible to the optimists among us. If you are with me, here are 6 Foundations in our city and space that we believe are worthy of our attention and a donation of any size.

- Lucky Duck Foundation: Join LFD in their mission to house the less fortunate among us, not someday, tonight! SDSI’ers have purchased over 250 “sleeping bag /jackets” in the last two years. Your contribution can help us buy more before winter sets in. (contact info)

- Rob Machado Foundation: Rob is an excellent role model for us all. His giving nature is wrapped in his Foundation’s dedication to empowering young people to make sustainable choices, with a particular focus on water. (contact info)

- SurfAid: Doctor Dave’s surf trip to Indo decades ago resulted in a true humanitarian force of nature that today reaches the last mile to remote island townships, delivering self-help strategies to fight malaria and infant mortality and promote the many, many steps toward good civic health and hygiene. (contact info)

-Freedom Dogs: Lori Walton’s dream is to match at-risk Service Veterans with companion dogs to fight the severe mental challenges of PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. Go to the website and see these amazing success stories! (contact info)

- Father Joe’s Villages: The historic, monumental Father Joe, has faced the homelessness of so many with kindness and love and a very scrappy knack for fundraising into an organization that houses 2500 “neighbors” nightly…and far, far more. (contact info)

- Challenged Athletes Foundation: CAF has a simple mission: Empower lives with Sport. Since its founding in 1994, CAF has helped over 26,000 individuals with challenges get access to sport. You can join the famous charity “ride” from San Francisco to San Diego or donate with the click of a button (here) and do your part to help match athletes with adaptive sports gear, defer travel expense or provide the “extra” it takes to help great athletes get over the finish line. (contact info)

There is one more thing: a heartfelt thanks to all the people who have made SDSI into the amazing community that we all enjoy today. Our collective businesses have either recovered nicely or prospered at record levels. To all of you who have started a business and can recall how hard that was….our Accelerator has now helped jump started over 120 companies. Now that's amazing!

- bob

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Views from the Bus: Episode 10, Young CEO Special Mandy Fry (Z Supply) & Jay Barton (ASRV)

In this episode of Views from the Bus podcast, Bob Rief joins two of the most forward-looking CEOs in the sport and active lifestyle industry, who have prioritized their employees and embraced challenge & change to drive exponential growth for their companies. Listen in to Bob’s conversation with Mandy Fry from Z Supply, and Jay Barton from ASRV, we guarantee you will be inspired! Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or search for it wherever you get your podcasts.