About

About the OIC.

Born from fresh water between toes, skinned knees, and t-shirts saturated in last night’s fireside conversation, The Outdoor Inclusion Coalition grew its roots from a young minority on treks outside in a world of opportunity.

We are no stranger to the hardships of underrepresented populations, nor are we foreign to the resilience it takes to summit the high bald, to slalom northern slopes, or to reach for the next hold as the grip begs to give. These challenges, while different from urban and cultural trials, mirror an inward formation made ready for reward.

We believe in the communal journey it takes to achieve our highest potential. We believe the peaks, valleys, summits, unexpected rainfall, and flushed faces prepare the way for our greatest adventure - the one of thriving in this human experience together.  So let’s explore together. Let’s discover something new. Let’s find a way out of the shadows and travel towards the summit. 

OIC you.

Our backstory.

Our values.

In 2019 the Outdoor Inclusion Coalition was founded to progress the pressing questions of diversity in the outdoor industry. Through collaborative approaches, the Coalition is at the forefront of making quality recreation experiences more accessible while reshaping urban recreation to be a pathway for greater exploration both professionally and recreationally. From our backstory stems our mission: to support Pennsylvanians through programs dedicated to attracting, engaging, and retaining underrepresented populations in the outdoor industry.

Collaboration: Facilitating and encouraging multi-sector engagement to elevate the industry. Connection: Elevating connections to people, place, and empowerment. Accessible Experiences: Mitigating barriers to quality outdoor experiences while nurturing care for the outdoors. Activation:Engaging community love for the outdoors while supporting in sustainable outdoor developments. Equity & Inclusivity: Progressing continually towards a more just industry and outdoor community.

Meet the Team

  • Marcus Shoffner

    President & CEO

    Marcus entered the outdoor sector upon graduation, working in the for-profit sector managing an industry trade show before transitioning to focus on city and state outdoor initiatives. Marcus relocated to Pittsburgh in 2018 and activated his skillset on a local level. Soon after, he created the Outdoor Inclusion Coalition to create a collaborative space to grow the outdoor industry and communal greenspaces.

  • Faith Burke

    Program Manager

    Faith’s career background is in youth and adult outdoor programming with a focus on environmental equity. Faith has worked as an Outdoor Instructor and Guide in environmental science, climbing, kayaking, water sports, and backpacking across the country. This work has included co-creating multicultural outdoor outreach programs and conducting academic research in outdoor and environmental justice. Returning to the Pittsburgh region reinforced Faith’s love for the city and strong sense of community. As Program Manager, Faith continues to develop welcoming and engaging spaces for a diverse community.

  • Elisa Varlotta

    Climbing Coordinator

    Born in Pittsburgh, PA to an immigrant mother from Costa Rica and a father from the US, Elisa was raised at the interface of two cultures. Her childhood included rock climbing trips across the country in her parents’ Westfalia, five people living for weeks out of their van. After being accepted into the SCARPA Athlete Mentorship Program in 2022, Elisa’s work has been focused on diversifying the climbing community and she was the Executive Producer for the film, Guerreras. As the Rock Climbing Coordinator for the OIC, she continues building a diverse community of climbers.

  • Jeremy Olbum

    Program Coordinator

    Born in Pittsburgh, Jeremy has been involved in the outdoor industry since graduating in 2019. He has worked as a ski instructor, tackled land conservation projects, and led backpacking trips in various parts of the country. Jeremy joined the Outdoor Inclusion Coalition with a desire to help community members develop and strengthen connections with green spaces and outdoor recreation.

  • Dusty Morrison

    Marketing Coordinator

    Born and raised in Western Pennsylvania, Dusty has spent most of her life outdoors. She was raised traveling and camping up and down the East Coast. She spends much of her summer camping and hiking with family and friends. Dusty has experience working with several nonprofit organizations, especially in the outdoor space. She graduated from Clarion University of Pennsylvania in 2023 and started working at the Outdoor Inclusion Coalition in 2024 to continue supporting organizations that provide access to safe community spaces outdoors.

  • Vincent Zeng

    Gear Coordinator

    Born in Athens, GA to Chinese immigrants, Vincent has lived and traveled all over the US before landing in Pittsburgh in 2005. With support from friends, mentors, and shared gear libraries, he's learned to hike, camp, and climb his way into joy and self-expression. After a career of working as an art educator and technician, he joined the OIC in 2024 as the Gear Coordinator to combine his love for the outdoors with his skills in equipment management and community building.

Program Guides

  • Zoe Neal

    Zoe was born and raised in New Jersey, and found her way to Pittsburgh in 2017. She didn’t really get into adventure sports until she moved to Pittsburgh. In 2018, she joined the University of Pittsburgh Outdoors Club, where she was exposed to a variety of outdoor activities. Since then, Zoe was hooked on getting outside! She enjoy skiing, climbing, cycling, and rock climbing.

Meet the Board of Directors

  • James Millsap

    Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Practitioner & Storyteller

    Path 9 Projects, LLC.

  • Paloma Denardis

    (She/Her)

    Head of DE&I

    Dicks Sporting Goods

  • Deanna Srock

    (She/Her)

    Director of Operations

    BikePGH

  • Camila Rivera Tinsley

    Executive Director

    Women & Girls Foundation of Pennsylvania