LAURA SCHAFFER
Vice President of Conservation and Sustainability
Outdoor industry veteran Laura Schaffer leads conservation and sustainability for Orvis, the family-owned and operated outdoor retailer specializing in fly-fishing gear, dog products and active lifestyle apparel. As Orvis’s first Vice President of Conservation & Sustainability, Schaffer leads the long-term conservation and sustainability vision and strategy for a company deeply rooted in habitat restoration and protection.
In addition to overseeing Orvis’s long-stranding philanthropic 5% for Nature Program, Schaffer works with cross-functional teams to identify corporate and product sustainability goals and develop the strategies to meet them – from carbon footprint benchmarks to supply chain processes to accessibility of adventure.
Schaffer holds an MBA in Sustainable Global Enterprise from Cornell University and a BA in Economics from Wesleyan University. Prior to joining Orvis, she led POWDR Adventure Lifestyle Company’s Play Forever corporate responsibility commitment. During her time at POWDR she played an integral role in the development of the ski industry’s Climate Collaborative Charter that launched in 2021, and was named NSAA’s 2021 Hero of Sustainability. She has also served as sustainability director and brand manager at equipment and apparel brand Mountain Hardwear, and as public relations director for Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort in Utah. While at Snowbird, she was named one of the ski industry’s “Top 15 Under 30” by Ski Area Management Magazine. Schaffer started her career at with the Salt Lake Olympic Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
She is a member of the board of directors of Protect Our Winters, the leading climate advocacy group for the winter sports community, and she also serves on the grant advisory committee for the Park City Climate Fund.