The start of spring has special meaning in western North Carolina this year, as colorful blooms brighten up a landscape forever changed by Hurricane Helene. As we welcome warmer weather and new life blossoming around us, we also celebrate new additions to our client roster and Darby team.
New Clients:
Named after an Oregon restaurant on the slopes of the Cascades that once welcomed outdoorspeople with warm meals after full days of adventure, Mountain House is the freeze-dried meal category leader. With its great taste, ease of use, and reliability, the brand has been helping backpackers, hikers, anglers, and hunters stay out longer and go further since 1969.
“We’re stoked to team up with Mountain House as they shake up the adventure food game once again—this time with the Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Bowl. Because who doesn’t want a hot, cheesy, pepperoni-packed bite after a big day on the trail? Easy, delicious, and totally crave-worthy!”
Contact: Katie Richter, katie@darbycommunications.com
The Landmark Project is an outdoor lifestyle brand that creates outdoor-inspired apparel, accessories, and goods designed to celebrate and protect natural spaces. Committed to conservation, The Landmark Project donates a portion of proceeds to environmental partners who safeguard public lands and promote stewardship.
“The Landmark Project just dropped some seriously fun new gear, and we’re here for it! Their Women’s Boxy Tees and Rhodo Hike Hat bring the perfect mix of outdoor vibes and everyday style—so you can rep your love for wild places from the trail to the coffee shop.”
Contact: Katie Richter, katie@darbycommunications.com
HydraPak is the leading original equipment manufacturer of soft flasks, reservoirs, and water storage solutions globally. Founded in Northern California, the company is dedicated to producing flexible and durable hydration products tailored for recreational, athletic, and military use.
“HydraPak’s reservoirs have been my tried-and-true in my hydration vest for years, so partnering with them is a perfect fit. Their products are built for everyone—whether you’re an elite athlete or just starting your journey in the outdoors—all while leading the charge in making races more sustainable. From cutting down waste to replacing single-use cups at events, they’re proving that staying hydrated and protecting the planet can go hand in hand.”
Contact: Abby Harris, abby@darbycommunications.com
Team Updates:
A big Darby welcome to Jared Miller, our newest Account Coordinator! Jared will bring his PR chops and extensive outdoor and travel experience to clients including Jetboil, The Landmark Project, and Ombraz. Connect with him here to say hello!
We’re also celebrating quite a few promotions, with Stacy Kline becoming a Senior Account Executive and Tim Nooney, Abby Harris, and Gordon Brown all movin’ on up to Account Executive roles. Congrats all around!
Media Events & Travel:
The first quarter of 2025 saw the Darby team kayaking in a Southern snowstorm, hitting the streets and slots of Las Vegas, and heading west for both client meetings and media events. We kicked off the year with client FeatherSnap at the Everything Tech Media Event at CES in Las Vegas, connecting with tech writers and content creators to showcase their smart bird feeders. Up next, we showed off new additions to Old Town’s Sportsman line of fishing kayaks in White Springs, Florida–where even a rare winter storm couldn’t put a damper on the fun. The KUIU team enjoyed a quick trip to California to connect in person on 2025 PR goals and check out new products coming down the pipeline. Last but not least, our crew represented at the bi-annual Outdoor Market Alliance media show in Colorado to show the latest options from clients Farm to Feet, The Landmark Project, and Mountain House.
Looking ahead, we’ve got exciting travel on the horizon in Q2, with team members traveling to industry events like Overland Expo West and Switchback, and the Shimano team will head up a media testing trip in Mille Lacs Lake in Minnesota to reel in some walleye and bass.
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