Switchback Spring, June 16-18, 2026 in New Orleans, LA
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Switchback at TRE, December 1-3, 2026 in San Antonio, TX
Join us for a conversation with four Switchback partners! This discussion is your chance to get to know these impactful organizations while exploring their mission-led work and how it drives thoughtful change across the outdoor industry.
Moderated by Switchback Event Director Sean Smith, panelists will spotlight their current initiatives – and ongoing collaborations with Switchback Spring while sharing ways the outdoor industry can cultivate welcoming experiences for all, including:
Whether you’re looking to deepen existing partnerships or discover new ones, this webinar is your window into the people and organizations strengthening – and creating more access to – the outdoor industry.
Elizabeth WilliamsElizabeth Williams is the Executive Director of Big City Mountaineers (BCM), where she leads efforts to connect youth from disinvested communities with transformative outdoor experiences. She brings nearly two decades of experience in youth development, outdoor programming, and nonprofit leadership, including senior roles at SOS Outreach and Colorado Outward Bound School. Elizabeth is passionate about building strong teams, fostering belonging, and using the outdoors as a vehicle for social-emotional growth and long-term impact. She began her career as an intern at BCM, making her return as Executive Director a full-circle moment. Based in Denver, she is an avid skier, dog walker, and outdoor enthusiast.
Luis CruzLuis Cruz earned his B.S. in biological sciences and M.S. in conservation biology from the University of Rhode Island. As a bilingual science communicator, he is deeply committed to advancing conservation through education, outreach, and community engagement. During graduate school, Luis served as a teaching assistant for human and animal anatomy courses and interned with conservation organizations where he supported programming that connected communities with nature.
Before joining Hispanic Access Foundation, Luis worked as an environmental scientist at a wastewater treatment plant in Rhode Island, gaining valuable experience in water management and applied conservation. Now based in California, he volunteers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where he shares his passion for ocean conservation with visitors from around the world.
As part of the Nature & Environment team at Hispanic Access Foundation, Luis helps lead Latino Conservation Week programming and other initiatives that expand access to the outdoors. His work centers on fostering connections between Latino communities and nature, with the goal of ensuring equitable access to public lands, healthy waterways, and conservation opportunities for all.
Matt SchneiderMatt helps destinations and brands go beyond slogans to make stewardship part of visitors’ outdoor experience. He holds a PhD in ethics from the University of Georgia and brings more than twenty years of experience in education and the outdoor industry, connecting values, strategy, and on-the-ground practice. He lives and rides in western North Carolina.
Bryan D. Castleberry presently works as a Powertrain Manufacturing Engineer at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. Over his twenty-one year tenure at Ford, Bryan has worked in various capacities in Product Development / Engineering, Manufacturing, Strategic Project Management, Materials Management, and Supply Chain and Logistics.
Outside of work, Bryan has volunteered in a multitude of servant leadership roles over the years in organizations including the Morehouse College Alumni Association – Detroit Chapter, Southfield Public Schools STEM Advisory Board, National Society of Black Engineers, Empowered Young Men (EYM), United Way Detroit Leadership Next, and Empowerment Church. In addition to volunteering in his local community, Bryan enjoys physical activities such as running, cycling, and yoga as well as cooking, reading, mentoring, and listening to music. Bryan served as the Founding Captain of the Black Men Run – Detroit chapter, but now serves as Chief Operating Officer and Director of Strategic Partnerships for Black Men Run, the largest African American male, long-distance running group in the country. Along with serving in his capacity with Black Men Run, Bryan is an advocate for improving health outcomes for people of color and looks forward to sharing his experiences with Hypertension and Bell’s Palsy with the larger community.
Bryan holds two Bachelor of Science degrees in Industrial Engineering and General Science from Georgia Institute of Technology and Morehouse College, respectively. He currently resides in the metro-Detroit area of Michigan with his wife, Princess, and two children, Edward and Christopher.
With more than two decades of trade show and event management experience, Sean Smith has a proven track record of community-building leadership and a passion for the outdoor industry. As a lifelong surfer and cyclist, his love for the outdoors is matched by his commitment to the people, brands, retailers and organizations that make up the outdoor community. His priority as the Switchback director is to create an industry gathering that connects, inspires, and leaves a lasting impression; a gathering that supports the future of the outdoor industry well after the event comes to a close.
Sean spent 20 years with the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA), where he served as Executive Director beginning in 2001. Prior to SIMA, Smith was the marketing director for Surfer, Powder, Snowboarder, and Bike Magazines.
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