Portland State University has appointed Jennifer Nolfi as the new director of Portland State University’s Athletic and Outdoor Industry Program. Nolfi, whose business experience has spanned the public and private sectors over the last 20 years, is succeeding Lauren Beitelspacher, who recently took a position in Boston.
The Athletic and Outdoor (A&O) program was founded in 2013 in PSU’s School of Business Administration in response to industry demand for a direct pipeline of talent. The Athletic & Outdoor industry includes footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories. A&O is a significant economic driver for the Portland region and the state.
The Pacific Northwest has more than 900 A&O businesses, and the industry employs more than 14,000 workers in Oregon. The average wages are more than $80,000 annually, which is 70 percent higher than the statewide average for all workers.
Nolfi recently served as the director of business partnership for Looptworks, a Portland-based A&O design firm that rescues premium excess materials and transforms them into limited edition bags and accessories. Before that, she spent 12 years working for the Portland Development Commission, where she spearheaded a public-private research partnership focused on the A&O industry. Her work resulted in an industry-led strategic action plan to position Oregon as an A&O leader, ultimately sparking the development of PSU’s A&O program.
“One of Jennifer’s greatest strengths is her ability to weave together ideas, people and resources to form partnerships and bring programs to life,” said Dan Connolly, dean of PSU’s School of Business Administration. “She is a natural fit for the A&O program, and the A&O industry is a natural fit for Portland State. We’re stepping up to serve this industry in ways no one else can,” he added.
Nolfi, who served on PSU’s A&O advisory board since its inception, will be responsible for building on the School of Business Administration’s A&O identity and cultivating deeper ties between the school and the A&O industry. She also will design A&O credit and non-credit courses for the A&O program and the school’s Center for Executive and Professional Education.
The A&O certificate program examines product management, marketing, retailing, distribution and sales in athletic and outdoor businesses such as Nike, Columbia Sportswear, KEEN, Adidas and Gerber, and covers strategies and tactics necessary to succeed in the industry. Industry participation and engagement is a critical component of the program.
“We want to work with industry and our public partners to broadcast to the world that Portland is the global hub of the A&O industry. If you want to come work in the industry or learn about the industry, Portland is the place to be and PSU is the school,” Nolfi said.
Nolfi, a native Oregonian and graduate of Lewis & Clark College, lives in Portland with her husband, David, and two children. She enjoys skiing, hiking, and adventures with her family.
About Portland State University (PSU)
Oregon's urban research university, recognized for excellence in sustainability and community engagement, is located in the heart of downtown Portland. PSU's motto is "Let Knowledge Serve the City," and it offers more than 200 degrees with opportunities to work with businesses, schools and organizations on real-world projects.
