ANKENY, IA – The National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW), the association representing shooting sports wholesalers, manufacturers and their trade partners, is excited to announce that Alison Levine will be the featured speaker for the 2019 NASGW Appreciation Dinner held at the NASGW Expo on October 22nd in Orlando, FL. Alison Levine has made a career out of breaking boundaries and inspiring others to achieve more than they ever thought possible. A history-making polar explorer and mountaineer, she served as team captain of the first American Women’s Everest Expedition, climbed the highest peak on each continent and skied to both the North and South Poles—a feat known as the Adventure Grand Slam which fewer than forty people in the world have achieved. In January 2008, she made history as the first American to complete a 600-mile traverse across west Antarctica to the South Pole following the route of legendary explorer Reinhold Messner. Levine completed this arduous journey on skis while hauling 150 pounds of her gear and supplies in a sled harnessed to her waist. She made history again in 2016 when she completed two first ascents: Hall Peak in Antarctica and Khang Karpo in Nepal. Her success in extreme environments is noteworthy given she has had three heart surgeries and suffers from Raynaud’s disease, which causes the arteries that feed her fingers and toes to collapse in cold weather—leaving her at extreme risk for frostbite.

"Alison Levine is a very impressive woman and we are excited to hear her inspiring story. There will definitely be a lot of takeaways that we can all apply to our businesses," said NASGW President, Kenyon Gleason. "Her participation would not be possible without the tremendous support of partners like Winchester Ammunition and their sponsorship of this year's featured speaker."

In addition to climbing mountains, Levine has also spent time climbing the corporate ladder. She has worked for several Fortune 500 companies in both sales and marketing roles and spent three years at Goldman Sachs. She left Wall Street in 2003 to serve as Deputy Finance Director for Arnold Schwarzenegger in his successful bid to become governor of California.

"We are extremely proud to be a founding member of NASGW and supporter of over 50 years,” said Matt Campbell, vice president of sales and marketing. “The 2019 Expo and Annual Meeting, along with our sponsorship of the Annual Appreciation Dinner Speaker are great opportunities for us to be in front of our customers.”

The NASGW Expo will be held on October 22nd through 25th at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Conference Center in Orlando, Florida. The Expo is the premier event for shooting sports wholesalers and manufacturers to review current market conditions, forecast future sales, and plan for the upcoming year. This is the first opportunity for manufacturers to introduce new products to their wholesale partners and lays the groundwork for the upcoming sales cycle. It is a closed event for NASGW Members only which creates a very productive business environment for Expo attendees. If you would like to learn more about NASGW or the NASGW Expo, please visit www.nasgwexpo.org.

About NASGW
The National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers is comprised of wholesalers, manufacturers, independent sales reps, media and service providers - both national and international - all of whom are primarily focused on shooting sports equipment and accessories. As a trade association representing the business interests of its members, NASGW’s mission is to bring shooting sports buyers and sellers together. For more information about the NASGW, visit the association’s website at www.nasgw.org.

About Winchester Ammunition
A world leader in delivering innovative products, Winchester is The American Legend, a brand built on integrity, hard work and a deep focus on its loyal customers. Learn more about the history of Winchester by visiting Winchester.com or connect with us on Facebook at Facebook.com/WinchesterOfficial.

For More Information Please Contact Us At:
Gregg Alexander
National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers
galexander@nasgw.org