With a year left as a college undergraduate and well into my second internship in the outdoor industry, I have come across plenty of technical phrases. The GORE-TEX brand, for example, is a part of a widespread and influential conflux of the outdoor industry that uses technical language accumulated over the last 50+ years. This was a tough learning curve as there were so many references that were unfamiliar to me as a newbie. 

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This inspired me to initiate a discussion with the oakpool team centered around how acronyms and industry language are significant barriers for individuals beginning their careers. We thought this would be a great opportunity to compile a list of acronyms covering the three sectors we are involved in: the outdoors & sustainability, health & wellness, and financial inclusion. 

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We are off to a great start with 88 definitions below and if you have any acronyms that you’d like to see added to the list, please shoot me a note at Sage@FordHamilton.com. Who knows, perhaps James Hamilton & Alex Ford may even publish this "Little Red Dictionary of Buzz Words." In the meantime, I will be updating this page with 10 new terms every week.

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We are off to a great start and if you have any acronyms that you’d like to see added to the list, please shoot me a note at Sage@FordHamilton.com.

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In all, my experience as an entry level intern in the outdoor industry has already exposed me to a great deal of technical language and acronyms. Recognizing that this is not only applicable to me, I hope this collaboration with Oakpool brings practical information to those in need. Compiling a comprehensive list of acronyms within these divisions will not only take the efforts of the Oakpool team and I, but our wonderful audience as well. There are so many bright minds in the outdoor & sustainability, health & wellness, and financial inclusion industries that the insight from these individuals(You 😉) will not only be beneficial for the strength of this listicle, but the relevancy for the people that use it. This is why I am inviting others to contribute by sending suggestions to Sage@FordHamilton.com. Another reminder is that we will continue to update this page with ten new terms every week, so don’t forget to check back in. The ultimate goal is to create something that will serve as a valuable resource for individuals starting their careers and I hope that whoever is reading this joins us on our journey, whether it be through contribution or application.

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