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Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, July 23-26, 2016 The Park Record A-17 Ski season was never so sweet Nan Chalat Noaker/park record Deer Valley brand manager Coleen Reardon, director of sales Dirk Beal, center, and Kim McClelland, director of lodging operations, celebrate a record-breaking ski season at a Park City Chamber Bureau luncheon July 13. Representatives from Park City Mountain Resort also blew out a cake of their own. Continued From A-8 Pitchfest nears for company participating in the event, but the lessons she’s learned, she said, are worth more than what an investor could provide with a checkbook. She has worked with a mentor for nearly two months, identifying Ski Lab’s primary challenges, seeking out solutions and streamlining ideas for growth. Hearing the perspective of an outsider has given Leang a fresh outlook on her business. The most valuable lesson was that she sometimes gets too caught up working “in the business instead of on the business.” “It’s every day, the tiny de- tails,” she said. “I don’t step away enough to look at the big picture and to work on the business and how to make it bigger and better, how to grow and make it become more. That’s one of the biggest things I’ve taken away from this experience.” Collaborating with the other entrepreneurs has also been rewarding. Since the goal of Pitchfest is to build a community and help the participating businesses rather than win a prize, Leang has forged connections with the other finalists. They come from a wide range of backgrounds, from starting a part-time home business to dreaming of being an entrepreneur from a young age. But as women in the outdoor industry, their experiences are similar. “We’re all in the same position,” Leang said. “We all come from the outdoor industry, we’re all women, we’ve all started our own businesses, and we’re all kind of struggling with the same things. It’s nice to get out of my bubble here and realize and see that there are other people dealing with the same issues and how they move forward from those. That’s very valuable.” Leang is hopeful that the experience of participating in Pitchfest will get her closer to turning Ski Lab into what she envisions. She sees opportunities to increase sales and to eventually hire employees and move the business out of her garage. Armed with what she’s learned in the last two months, she said, she’s closer to making Ski Lab a sort of “Home Depot” for people who build their own skis. “What other kinds of content can we provide on our website to help other people solve their problems?” she said. “How can we assist the small ski and snowboard companies and address their specific needs better? Those are some general goals.” For more information on Pitchfest, which is open to the public, visit oiwc.org. A Celebration of Family-Friendly Entertainment Screening 36 Inspiring Independent Films, VIP Filmmaker Panels, Special Events, Inspiring Guests, and so much more! August 10-13, 2016 E T, P C, U sidewalk sale! BLOWOUT EVENT MAIN STREET NEXT TO ATTICUS 30 TO 80 PERCENT OFF ALL SALE WOMEN’S CLOTHING, SHOES & ACCESSORIES NEW MARKDOWNS! + $ 50 DESIGNER DENIM STARTS 10am THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY DON’T MISS THIS ONE! TICKETS ON SALE NOW! WWW.PARKCITYFILMFEST.ORG PANACHE 738 MAIN STREET • 435.649.7037 • panachesunvalley.com |