40 Under 40: Outdoor advocate Jenny Kordick is championing an industry whose time has come

Photo / Tim Greenway Jenny Kordick says Maine’s outdoor brands are among the most recognized nationally.

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Jenny Kordick, 36
Executive director, Maine Outdoor Brands Find profiles of all the 40 Under 40 honorees here.
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Significant professional accomplishment: Being able to do the work that I do while living in Maine. It feels unreal at times that I have landed in this spot. The entrepreneurs and individuals in Maine’s outdoor industry are some of the best and most inspiring people I’ve ever met, and I am so thankful I get to work with them. Maine Outdoor Brands is now recognized nationally as a model for more than 15 other states that have formed similar outdoor business alliances in recent years, and it feels like we’re just getting started.

Passion project: I’ve been fortunate to have a career focused on things I’m passionate about — outdoor access and sustainability being top among them. Recently I helped start Maine GearShare, a gear library and gear repair service based in Brunswick available for groups and individuals. Maine Outdoor Brands is also advocating for passage of the Maine Trails Bond — a $30 million investment in the design, development and maintenance of trails for outdoor recreation statewide. I was able to testify in support of the initiative this spring, and we’re hopeful to see it passed in the next legislative session.

Audacious goal: My biggest goal is to stay happy and keep doing work that I’m proud of and that further connects me to my community and to nature.

Favorite quote: “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” — Annie Dillard

Influential book: “The Uninhabitable Earth,” by David Wallace-Wells, and “Sapiens,” by Yuval Noah Harari

Favorite TV shows or movies: I’m a big sports fan and have loved “Ted Lasso” and “Welcome to Wrexham.” I also enjoy watching women’s basketball and track and field.

How do you recharge: I run almost every day — I’m currently training for a marathon in November. I try to get in my sea kayak as much as I can, and I love spending time with my friends and family anywhere outside.