Build My Own FeedBlack Diamond Equipment CEO and Founder Peter Metcalf testifies before House Committee on Natural Resources in Washington, D.C.
Our founder and CEO, Peter Metcalf, has been out fighting the good fight recently, both in Washington D.C. before the House Committee on Natural Resources and in an essay for Rock & Ice magazine. He recently sent out an email to everyone here at BD about these recent efforts and what it means to him. Below is that email, as well as some links to his Rock & Ice essay and a copy of his testimony. To watch the entire webcast of the hearing (Metcalf's testimony starts at 02:07:10), click here.
From: Peter Metcalf
Subject: Making A Difference & Walking The Walk
Date: March 9, 2011 5:26:22 AM MST
Dear Black Diamond Employees:
Two of Black Diamond’s founding constructs that we have attempted to live by in our month-to-month and year-to-year activities are “to make a difference for our fellow community of mountain enthusiasts” and “to champion the access of and preservation of mountain, canyon, and crag environments while working to minimize our own environmental footprint.” Now 22 years later, in the Jan./Feb. 2011 issue of the Harvard Business Review, is a thought-provoking piece authored by the guru of competitive strategy, Michael Porter (btw, his book, “Competitive Strategy” was very influential on me 22 years ago in starting BD) In his cover story entitled “How to fix capitalism and unleash a new wave of growth,” he writes: “…that companies must take the lead in bringing business and society back together; they must reconnect company success with social progress and not from a philanthropic way. They must recognize that optimizing short-term financial gain while overlooking the needs of their customers and the depletion of natural resources vital to their business is not sustainable.” We believe this is exactly what we have been doing consistently for 22 years.
As many of you know, last week I was back in Washington DC, on behalf of Black Diamond, meeting with Secretary Salazar, giving testimony (at the request of the Outdoor Industry Association and Department of Interior) in front of a Congressional Hearing on the value that our country’s wild lands play on the active outdoor recreation economy, and meeting with the National Park service to influence proposed policy regarding both the Denali User Fee (stopping their plans to raise it fm $200/climber to $500/climber) and Fixed Anchors in the Wilderness (prevent a defacto ban until Climbing Management Plans are completed) .
My full congressional testimony is attached (as I only was able to give about 50% of this verbally). In addition I am attaching an article I authored on this topic of activism & alpinism for the current issue of Rock & Ice. Without Black Diamond I would have neither the opportunity nor the legitimacy to expose these views on behalf of the community. I thank all of you for creating this opportunity by making Black Diamond the special place it is that includes being a company walking the walk relative to “making a difference.”
With appreciation—
Peter
United States / English 
19 Aug 2011, 11:09AM
Peter,
Thank you for Walking the Walk for all of us! May we too take our stand and be active in protecting and our wildlands.
with all sincerity and gratitude,
Morgan
17 Mar 2011, 2:32PM
Peter,
Thank you for expressing to our legislature what many of us have been feeling and thinking for a long time now. I hope they heed your advice. Please let us know what we can do to help your cause.
Best Regards.