Investing in People: How the Outdoor Recreation Economy Depends on a Dynamic Workforce

In this episode of "Planning the Wild," Rachel Franchina sits down with Kate Porsche, the Director of OSU's Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy. Kate shares her journey from economic development to outdoor recreation workforce development, highlighting how intertwined they are. She also talks about her unique skills like ham radio operation and welding, which she humorously refers to as her "zombie apocalypse skills." Tune in to explore how these personal interests and skills intersect with her professional life, offering insights into workforce development and the outdoor recreation economy.

Resources:

• Oregon State University Center for Outdoor Recreation Economy: https://outdooreconomy.oregonstate.edu/

• Oregon Economic Development Association: https://oeda.biz/

• Oregon Rural Tourism Studios: https://industry.traveloregon.com/programs/oregon-tourism-studios/rural-tourism-studio/

About Our Guest, Kate Porsche

Kate serves as the Director for OSU’s Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy-focusing on creating workforce solutions for the industry. Prior to OSU she worked in local government in Oregon focused on community, economic, and workforce development. She holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from OSU, is Vice President of the Oregon Outdoor Alliance and a SORP board member. Kate is a native Oregonian, and rehabilitates historic homes in her free time.