The topic for this State of the Rockies Lecture Series event is “Outdoor Recreation Industry: Innovation and Inspiration in Colorado.”

It will be presented by Luis Benitez, director of Colorado’s Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry. As the director of Colorado’s Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry, Benitez leads a flourishing industry that is responsible for over $28 billion in consumer spending and $2 billion in taxes annually. The outdoor recreation industry has grown to such great heights that it recently earned its place in the calculus of our national gross domestic product. Transforming the industry is no small task. In today’s rapidly changing landscape, where the outdoor recreation industry is driving everything from regional economies to national policies, how do you continue to build and foster a spirit of innovation?