I’m Jon Raymer, a Park City kid turned
outdoor industry lifer.
I’m Jon Raymer, a Park City kid turned outdoor industry lifer.
I joke that I didn't discover the outdoor industry… I was born into it. I grew up in Park City, Utah, one of North America’s the great ski towns, with family working with outdoor and ski brands. Growing up there meant the mountains, the community and the outdoor lifestyle weren't just things we did on weekends, they were a part of everyday life. I was thrust into this world before I had any idea it would become my career... thankfully!
I joke that I didn't discover the outdoor industry… I was born into it. I grew up in Park City, Utah, one of North America’s the great ski towns, with family working with outdoor and ski brands. Growing up there meant the mountains, the community and the outdoor lifestyle weren't just things we did on weekends, they were a part of everyday life. I was thrust into this world before I had any idea it would become my career... thankfully!
I studied Business Communications at Utah State in Logan. It gave me enough of a foundation to hit the ground running, and I've been learning on the job ever since. After graduating, I headed to Seattle with a group of close friends, all chasing careers that mirrored our passions for the outdoors.
Seattle led to Helly Hansen, where I started at the bottom and learned fast. I was working with the sales and marketing teams in North America supporting everything from tradeshows and retail programs, to consumer events. It wasn't always glamorous but it was foundational, and I loved it. I learned how brands actually show up in market, and how much went on behind the scenes. I also met my wife there, which tells you everything you need to know about how good that chapter was.
From Helly Hansen I spent a couple of years as an independent sales rep with Integrity Sales, covering the Pacific Northwest for brands like Spyder and Klint skis. Working directly with retailers gave me a perspective on how product actually moves from brand, to shop floor, to customer, that's stuck with me ever since.
As much as I enjoyed being on the road meeting with shops, with my first son on the way, I wanted to be home more. I moved to Cascade Designs, the company behind MSR, Therm-a-Rest, Platypus and more. As Program Marketing Manager I drove corporate marketing initiatives across multiple outdoor product divisions. My first real taste of managing cross-functional teams, projects and budgets at scale, and it set me up perfectly for what came next.
Then came the move that changed everything for me. With our second son just arriving, we packed up our young family and headed to Ketchum, Idaho, to join Smith Optics. Partly because Smith was an incredible opportunity. Partly because Sun Valley is one of those magical places where the industry and the life you want to live are completely inseparable. A tight community, world class skiing on your doorstep, and a pace of life that puts everything in perspective.
When Smith moved its headquarters to Portland, Oregon I went with them. In nine years at Smith my roles transitioned from Goggle Category Manager to Bike Category & Marketing Manager to Senior Marketing Manager overseeing the global team, and Brand Manager for Suncloud. Those nine years represent the heart of my professional life. I'm proud of what we accomplished, and even more proud of the relationships I built along the way.
In my last two years in Portland I began working with Bleach PDX, a premium multimedia design and production studio serving snow and outdoor brands. That relationship has continued remotely from Anacortes, which tells you something about how much I enjoy the work we do together.
A couple years ago we made the move to Anacortes, Washington, to be closer to family and closer to the kind of life we wanted to be living. Trayl Works came out of that move, and I couldn't be more grateful for where it's taken me.
My Story
I studied Business Communications at Utah State in Logan. It gave me enough of a foundation to hit the ground running, and I've been learning on the job ever since. After graduating, I headed to Seattle with a group of close friends, all chasing careers that mirrored our passions for the outdoors.
Seattle led to Helly Hansen, where I started at the bottom and learned fast. I was working with the sales and marketing teams in North America supporting everything from tradeshows and retail programs, to consumer events. It wasn't always glamorous but it was foundational, and I loved it. I learned how brands actually show up in market, and how much went on behind the scenes. I also met my wife there, which tells you everything you need to know about how good that chapter was.
From Helly Hansen I spent a couple of years as an independent sales rep with Integrity Sales, covering the Pacific Northwest for brands like Spyder and Klint skis. Working directly with retailers gave me a perspective on how product actually moves from brand, to shop floor, to customer, that's stuck with me ever since.
As much as I enjoyed being on the road meeting with shops, with my first son on the way, I wanted to be home more. I moved to Cascade Designs, the company behind MSR, Therm-a-Rest, Platypus and more. As Program Marketing Manager I drove corporate marketing initiatives across multiple outdoor product divisions. My first real taste of managing cross-functional teams, projects and budgets at scale, and it set me up perfectly for what came next.
Then came the move that changed everything for me. With our second son just arriving, we packed up our young family and headed to Ketchum, Idaho, to join Smith Optics. Partly because Smith was an incredible opportunity. Partly because Sun Valley is one of those magical places where the industry and the life you want to live are completely inseparable. A tight community, world class skiing on your doorstep, and a pace of life that puts everything in perspective.
When Smith moved its headquarters to Portland, Oregon I went with them. In nine years at Smith my roles transitioned from Goggle Category Manager to Bike Category & Marketing Manager to Senior Marketing Manager overseeing the global team, and Brand Manager for Suncloud. Those nine years represent the heart of my professional life. I'm proud of what we accomplished, and even more proud of the relationships I built along the way.
In my last two years in Portland I began working with Bleach PDX, a premium multimedia design and production studio serving snow and outdoor brands. That relationship has continued remotely from Anacortes, which tells you something about how much I enjoy the work we do together.
A couple years ago we made the move to Anacortes, Washington, to be closer to family and closer to the kind of life we wanted to be living. Trayl Works came out of that move, and I couldn't be more grateful for where it's taken me.
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Where it all started.
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Utah State, BS Business Communications
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Helly Hansen, Integrity Sales, Cascade Designs
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Smith Optics, where it all clicked
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Smith through the transition, then Bleach PDX
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Home. Trayl Works. Still supporting Bleach remotely.
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Where it all started.
-
Utah State, BS Business Communications
-
Helly Hansen, Integrity Sales, Cascade Designs
-
Smith Optics, where it all clicked
-
Smith through the transition, then Bleach PDX
-
Home. Trayl Works. Still supporting Bleach remotely.
Located on Fidalgo Island, Anacortes is the front door to the San Juan Islands, with a great community and more trails, lakes, and coastline than you could ever explore.
My wife and I are raising two boys here who are growing up with the same love for the outdoors and adventure that shaped both of us. Weekends are filled with baseball and basketball, and as much exploring as we can fit in.
Being continually immersed in this environment keeps me connected to the industry and the outdoor lifestyle that has always been at the center of everything I do. Life has a way of clarifying your priorities, and raising a family in Anacortes is the result of knowing mine.
Life on the Island
Located on Fidalgo Island, Anacortes is the front door to the San Juan Islands, with a great community and more trails, lakes, and coastline than you could ever explore.
My wife and I are raising two boys here who are growing up with the same love for the outdoors and adventure that shaped both of us. Weekends are filled with baseball and basketball, and as much exploring as we can fit in.
Being continually immersed in this environment keeps me connected to the industry and the outdoor lifestyle that has always been at the center of everything I do. Life has a way of clarifying your priorities, and raising a family in Anacortes is the result of knowing mine.
While I love Anacortes, most of the outdoor industry jobs are down in Seattle and up the road in Bellingham, not necessarily here on the island. After making the move up here, starting my own consulting business was a practical response to where we'd chosen to live.
Thankfully, working remotely means I can work with brands anywhere, and the distance from the traditional industry hubs has turned out to be more of an advantage than a limitation. What I've discovered since is that it's kept me close to the community and the outdoors in a way that's grounded and genuine.
Why Trayl Works?
Why Trayl Works?
Honestly? It started out of necessity.
Honestly? It started out of necessity.
While I love Anacortes, most of the outdoor industry jobs are down in Seattle and up the road in Bellingham, not necessarily here on the island. After making the move up here, starting my own consulting business was a practical response to where we'd chosen to live.
Thankfully, working remotely means I can work with brands anywhere, and the distance from the traditional industry hubs has turned out to be more of an advantage than a limitation. What I've discovered since is that it's kept me close to the community and the outdoors in a way that's grounded and genuine.