Clark Scheffy is a partner and managing director at IDEO San Francisco. He focuses on the intersections of business strategy, brand, and designed experiences. In his current role he leads a studio focused on cultivating new portfolios of business and evolving IDEO’s offer. He has worked on projects for clients including Team Rubicon, JetBlue, Brooks Sports, Quiksilver, Grainger, Converse, Steelcase, and Snap-on.

Prior to joining IDEO, Clark worked in the field of civil engineering for the University of California, Berkeley. He was also an editor for the …For Dummies series of best-selling how-to books, and has written several books for the brand. In the midst of all that, he toured as a professional musician and spent a couple of years as a chef.

Clark holds a BFA with high distinction in Industrial Design from the California College of the Arts, and a BA with honors in English Literature with a minor in Music Composition from the UC Berkeley.

Creative Leadership: Tackling Thorny Problems With the Designer’s Toolkit

In this interactive session, Clark Scheffy, from the award-winning global design firm IDEO, shares techniques for creative leadership, guiding the audience through the designer’s approach to creative problem solving.

Gain perspectives and tools for thinking about business problems differently, allowing teams to generate unexpected, creative, and winning solutions. In this presentation and workshop you’ll access tools that bring great ideas to action for lasting impact in your business. You’ll work in groups to practice aspects of the process and come away with new strategies to apply in business right away.

Darvin is a strategy, leadership and management consultant focused on helping people, leaders and organizations define their mission and purpose, while coaching them to identify the right resources and strategies to meet their goals. Over the last 25 years, he has worked with an array of tech companies, health & education foundations, outdoor industry NGO’s and small businesses including the American Hospital Association, Kaiser Permanente Health Plan, Kansas Health Foundation, Health Research Education Trust, StorageTek, Sun Microsystems, The American Alpine Club, Outward Bound USA, Outdoor Industry Women’s Coalition (CAMBER Outdoors), The Donnell- Kay Foundation, The Climate Reality Project and many others. Early in his career, Darvin was a senior associate with the National Civic League, helping U.S. communities identify their future aspirations and build cross- sector collaborations to build community health and well- being. He went on to work with the Soros Foundation and the Open Society Institutes (central & eastern Europe) in their post- Soviet era initiatives to build more democratic institutions and collaborative leadership skills. In recent years, he has been involved with an array of affordable housing and social equity initiatives in the U.S., Nepal and India.

The Elements of Adventure: Charting Our Future Together

Few industries surpass travel when it comes to potential impact on our environment, on communities, on individuals as their worldview shifts in response to new and provocative experiences. The adventure industry is frequently on the leading edge of mainstream travel trends, and as the touchpoints with mainstream travel businesses and travelers become more numerous, the opportunity for us to drive and influence future trends and preferences increases. As leaders in adventure travel, what do we want our future legacy to be? What do you as a business owner or manager want your lasting impact to be? In this dynamic opening session, experienced outdoorsman, lifetime traveler and consultant Darvin Ayre will share case examples illustrating the power of cohesive industries. We’ll join in a facilitated “futuring” session; sharing and reacting to ranging perspectives on the trends, opportunities and challenges we face. We’ll leave this session ready to access the power of this passionate community to boldly begin co-creating and navigating our future together.

Quanah Matheson is the Cultural Affairs Director at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort and previously worked for his Tribal government the Schi’tsu’umsh Coeur d’Alene Nation as the Cultural Director.  He tirelessly worked towards the preservation of the Tribe’s language and heritage. He now looks to blend tourism with preservation. He believes in sharing his culture and landscape with people in a respectful and enjoyable way that both fosters awareness and joy in the hearts of the visitors to the Coeur d’Alene’s aboriginal territory.

Dené Sinclair is Anishinaabe and originally from Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada as a part of the St. Peter’s Band and member of Peguis First Nation. She lives and works in Winnipeg on Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Metis Nation. Dené serves as the Director of Marketing for the Aboriginal Tourism Association of Canada. ATAC is a non-profit association which represents more than 1,500 Aboriginally-owned tourism businesses and works to improve the socio-economic situation of Aboriginal people in Canada through economic development support, conferences, professional development and research. She has worked in tourism marketing and communications for more than 15 years representing Canadian destinations in international markets, starting her career in major games and sporting events. She is an active member of her community and has been recognized as one of Manitoba’s Top 40 Under 40. She is currently studying towards her Masters Degree in Intercultural Communications, Tourism and Indigenous Studies.

Adventure’s Future with Indigenous Communities

What role do indigenous communities play in the ongoing growth and evolution of the adventure industry? We’ll learn how an experience of culture and nature available through connections with indigenous people can foster authenticity and connection to place for adventure travel products. In addition, the connection with adventure travel companies may provide growth and opportunity for communities who welcome it. In this session two indigenous speakers share their inspiring stories along with ideas and insights for working productively with indigenous people.