Title: Chairman and CEO

Company: Jarden Group

Bio: In 2007, under the leader ship of Martin Franklin, a British investor and avid triatlete, the Jarden Corporation announced an agreement to acquire K2, Inc. Today Jarden oversees a myriad of snow sport brands including: K2 skis, snowboards, Volkl, Marker, Morrow, 5150, Liquid, Dana Designs, LINE skis, Earth shoes, Hawk shoes, Adio, Atlas snowshoes, Full Tilt ski boots, Marmot, and Planet Earth. So while the separate companies retain control of their respective product lines, it's fair to say Franklin's investment in K2 sports has quite the influence in our snowy world.  If you ask him, his investment makes him somewhat of a snow farmer.  He is steadfast in his stance that mother nature has a far greater impact on the (snow) business than any economic storm. "The weather is the driver of that business, not the economy. And I know people think that this is very discretionary, but let me tell you, if there is a lot of snow, it will trump whatever the economy is, and that's just how it has always been in the ski business," says Franklin. 

Title: Vice President and Group President, Outdoor & Acti

Company: VF

Bio: An avid skier and outdoorsman, Steve has been with The North Face for over a decade helping to migrate the company to the "it" brand. On the heels of many other big moves from The North Face, Rendle was promoted to VP of VF and Group President of Outdoor & Action Sports Americas.  Since 2009 Rendle served as President of VF Outdoors Americas. In his expanded role, he will still shepherd The North Face as well as brands such as JanSport and Eagle Creek. The North Face is in a particularly prime position right now with A-list athletes, a spectacular product line, (including an edgy move into snowboard/freeski clothing lines) and a tremendous talent pool in management from top to bottom.