If you had told me when I started Akers Digital that I would one day be called up on stage at the Bicycle Leadership Conference, I’m not sure I would have believed you.
Last week in Dana Point, at the BLC Honors and BPSA Awards dinner, I was completely surprised and deeply honored to receive the 2026 Outstanding Service Award. Standing on that stage alongside so many incredible icons of the cycling industry was a surreal experience.
It was noted during the presentation that I am the first media and digital award winner in the history of the BLC. This represents a huge shift for our industry—recognizing that digital strategy, e-commerce, and email marketing are now just as fundamental to the outdoor space as the physical products we love.
At Akers Digital, we have the unique privilege of working across a variety of outdoor categories—from cycling and snowsports to apparel and camping. One of the greatest joys of this work is seeing how a successful marketing strategy or Shopify solution in one vertical can be cross-pollinated to solve a problem in another. The lessons we learn from our diverse partners make us sharper and more innovative every single day.
I want to extend a massive thank you to the people who make this possible. Thank you to the incredible clients who trust us with their digital presence. And thank you to the peers I have the privilege of working alongside on the Membership Event Education and Marketing (MEEM) committee, the Apparel Working Group, and the BLC Content Committee.
Working in the outdoor industry has always been a calling for me, and I am incredibly grateful to be part of a community that pushes for a better, more accessible future for everyone.
Here’s to a great year ahead.