Business, Entrepreneurship, Events, Upcoming Events - Wednesday, February 29, 2012 12:08 pm

Former Legacy Paddlesports owner speaks March 15

Andy Zimmerman, former owner of Legacy Paddlesports in Greensboro, will share his story at the next Entrepreneurial Journeys program at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 15, in Bryan Building, Room 416.

Registration and networking will take place 5-5:30 p.m., and the program itself will last about 45 minutes with a Q&A and a networking reception to follow. The speaker series is organized by the North Carolina Entrepreneurship Center.

From an early age, Zimmerman trusted his instincts, ambition and work ethic. After joining the family’s furniture business on the factory floor, he got a taste of every employee’s role on the way up to V.P. of sales and marketing where he grew the company’s sales to over $13 million. Then the itch to turn his kayaking hobby into a business was just too strong.

At age 28, he and a friend started Wilderness Systems Kayaks, building one boat at a time. The new company booked sales of $86,000 its first year. Within 12 years, sales were $12 million and Wilderness Systems was widely considered the premier brand of kayaks in a fast-growing industry. Wilderness Systems was bought out in 1998 and with Zimmerman as CEO, the new corporation, Confluence Watersports, acquired Mad River Canoe, Voyager Accessories and Wave Sport Kayaks bringing sales past $20 million by 2001.

Welcoming the opportunity to restore his spirit with adventure travel and fitness, charity and non-profit work, Zimmerman stepped away from the role of CEO and soon after accepted a buy-out offer. By 2005, his business itch had returned. He was soon launching a new brand, Native Watercraft, focused on the fast-growing fishing segment of the kayak industry. The acquisition of another small kayak company created the umbrella company Legacy Paddlesports. In three years, sales reached $12 million.

In 2011, he turned the company’s operations over to the employees and partners. As a consultant, he now shares his practical and proven best practices in general management sales, marketing, branding, distribution, R&D and manufacturing with mature companies and start-ups, large and small.

Parking for the March 15 program will be available in the Walker Avenue Parking Deck, adjacent to the Bryan Building. The Bryan Building is located at 516 Stirling St. The series is free and open to the public, but seating is limited, so attendees are asked to RSVP to ncec@uncg.edu.

The Entrepreneurial Journeys monthly program provides opportunities for community members and students to hear first-hand how businesses are created in an informal, interactive setting. Previous speakers in the 2011-2012 series have included Kayne Fisher and Chris Lester, the founders of Natty Greene’s Brewing Company; Angie Besecker, owner of Eco Dwelling; David Caudle, partner with Frogman Interactive; Dennis Quaintance with Quantaince-Weaver Hotels and Restaurants; and Chris Laney, president of Zenergy Technologies.

The North Carolina Entrepreneurship Center (NCEC) at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro provides co-curricular and outreach programs to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, and to serve as a catalyst for the creation of sustainable and globally competitive enterprises in the Piedmont Triad, North Carolina and beyond. For more information, visit the center’s website or call 336-256-8649.