About

About the OIC.

Born from fresh water between toes, skinned knees, and t-shirts saturated in last night’s fireside conversation, The Outdoor Inclusion Coalition grew its roots from a young minority on treks outside in a world of opportunity.

We are no stranger to the hardships of underrepresented populations, nor are we foreign to the resilience it takes to summit the high bald, to slalom northern slopes, or to reach for the next hold as the grip begs to give. These challenges, while different from urban and cultural trials, mirror an inward formation made ready for reward.

We believe in the communal journey it takes to achieve our highest potential. We believe the peaks, valleys, summits, unexpected rainfall, and flushed faces prepare the way for our greatest adventure - the one of thriving in this human experience together.  So let’s explore together. Let’s discover something new. Let’s find a way out of the shadows and travel towards the summit. 

OIC you.

Our backstory.

Our values.

In 2019 the Outdoor Inclusion Coalition was founded to progress the pressing questions of diversity in the outdoor industry. Through collaborative approaches, the Coalition is at the forefront of making quality recreation experiences more accessible while reshaping urban recreation to be a pathway for greater exploration both professionally and recreationally. From our backstory stems our mission: to support Pennsylvanians through programs dedicated to attracting, engaging, and retaining underrepresented populations in the outdoor industry.

Collaboration: Facilitating and encouraging multi-sector engagement to elevate the industry.

Connection: Elevating connections to people, place, and empowerment.

Accessible Experiences: Mitigating barriers to quality outdoor experiences while nurturing care for the outdoors.

Activation: Engaging community love for the outdoors while supporting in sustainable outdoor developments.

Equity & Inclusivity: Progressing continually towards a more just industry and outdoor community.

Meet the Team

  • Marcus Shoffner

    President & CEO

    Marcus entered the outdoor sector upon graduation, working in the for-profit sector managing an industry trade show before transitioning to focus on city and state outdoor initiatives. Marcus relocated to Pittsburgh in 2018 and activated his skillset on a local level. Soon after, he created the Outdoor Inclusion Coalition to create a collaborative space to grow the outdoor industry and communal greenspaces.

  • Faith Burke

    Program Manager

    Faith’s career background is in youth and adult outdoor programming with a focus on environmental equity. Faith has worked as an Outdoor Instructor and Guide in environmental science, climbing, water sports, and backpacking across the country. This work has included co-creating multicultural outdoor outreach programs and conducting academic research in outdoor and environmental justice. Returning to the Pittsburgh region reinforced Faith’s love for the city and strong sense of community. As Program Manager, Faith continues to develop welcoming and engaging spaces for a diverse community.

  • Jeremy Olbum

    Program Lead

    Born in Pittsburgh, Jeremy has been involved in the outdoor industry since graduating in 2019. He has worked as a ski instructor, tackled land conservation projects, and led backpacking trips in various parts of the country. Jeremy joined the Outdoor Inclusion Coalition with a desire to help community members develop and strengthen connections with green spaces and outdoor recreation.

  • Emma Whittaker

    Public Ally

    Emma is a Philadelphia native and recent University of Pittsburgh graduate with experience in youth programming, recruitment, and community outreach. She enjoys backpacking, cycling, kayaking, and exploring Pittsburgh's many greenspaces. Emma is excited to build collaborative partnerships and strenghten the community's outdoor ecosystem by coordinating the Thrive Initiative in Pittsburgh.

Program Guides

  • Zoe Neal

    Zoe was born and raised in New Jersey, and found her way to Pittsburgh in 2017. She didn’t really get into adventure sports until she moved to Pittsburgh. In 2018, she joined the University of Pittsburgh Outdoors Club, where she was exposed to a variety of outdoor activities. Since then, Zoe was hooked on getting outside! She enjoy skiing, climbing, cycling, and rock climbing.

  • Blayze Richardson

    In 2018 Blayze started working in the outdoors as a leader for groups of youth and young adults. He would lead them in completing various conservation projects, in Pittsburgh and other locations across the US, while teaching outdoor living skills. He now assist in the creation and management of similar teams. He joined the OIC as a way to keep contributing locally and to foster connections with nature for the youth of Pittsburgh.

  • Rich Lamp

    A native of West Virginia's northern panhandle, Rich grew up frequently visiting Pittsburgh. His passion for action sports ignited when he moved to south-central PA for school, quickly falling in love with backpacking, snowboarding, and climbing. After moving back to the area in 2022, he brought these passions with him and now thrives on sharing them with others.

Job Openings 

Program Guide (Part Time)

Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Status: Seasonal
Hours: up to 15 hours per week
Wage: $15/hour

We are seeking passionate and dedicated Program Guides to lead outdoor excursions and support community engagement initiatives. This role offers a unique opportunity to combine outdoor leadership with youth education, fostering a love for nature while ensuring the safety and well-being of participants.

A comprehensive job description can be found here with applications accepted via email to gear@theoic.org on a rolling basis.

Meet the Board of Directors

  • James Millsap

    Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Practitioner & Storyteller

    Path 9 Projects, LLC.

  • Paloma Denardis

    (She/Her)

    Head of DE&I

    Dicks Sporting Goods

  • Deanna Srock

    (She/Her)

    Director of Operations

    BikePGH

  • Camila Rivera Tinsley

    Executive Director

    Women & Girls Foundation of Pennsylvania