Wild Rye Grows Its Team with Four New Strategic Hires

by Brian Mullin on May 16, 2024

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The new additions include a fractional marketing director, product development associate, eCommerce and digital merchandising manager, and customer experience and events coordinator.

Wild Rye, the premiere outdoor and active lifestyle apparel brand for and by women, is excited to announce four new additions to its quickly growing team: a fractional marketing director, product development associate, eCommerce and digital merchandising manager, and customer experience and events coordinator. In addition, Wild Rye is building out a network of outside sales reps and contacts across the country to further support and grow its specialty retail partnerships.

Cassie_Abel_Wild_Rye

Cassie Abel

“As we continue to build Wild Rye’s sales representative network across the United States, hone in on our direct-to-consumer experience, and capitalize on other opportunities that have arisen, we need a more robust team to support our brand growth,” said Cassie Abel, Wild Rye CEO and founder. Bringing on these four passionate and talented women adds an incredible breadth of knowledge and resources to our team, with each personality being the perfect cultural fit to match. We could not be more excited for the brand’s next era of growth.”

Wild Rye welcomes Maro LaBlance to the team as the fractional marketing director. With 20 years of experience in international marketing, brand communications strategy, and public relations, LaBlance is ingrained in the outdoor industry and has a track record for growing brands ranging from scrappy start-ups to global heritage companies. LaBlance will bring her expertise in marketing direction and content strategy to Wild Rye, ensuring a comprehensive, streamlined, and holistic approach.

“I’ve been a huge fan of Wild Rye since its inception,” said LaBlance. “From fits to fabrics to colors and prints, the product is outstanding. But what has impressed me even more is the passionate community and strong brand they’ve built in a relatively short time. I’m honored to get to work with this talented team to serve more outdoor women in all the ways they play wild.”

In early February, Grace O’Brien joined the Wild Rye team as the eCommerce and Digital Merchandising Manager. O’Brien brings four years of experience working in e-commerce at Stio, most recently as the brand’s Associate Website Manager. O’Brien works to provide the highest possible quality customer service, ensuring the shopping experience is commensurate with the product itself. She is passionate about sustainability and strongly believes in the power of bringing women together in the outdoors, so is eager to contribute to a brand with shared personal values.

Dorothy Wang joins the team as Wild Rye’s new product development associate. After working as a software engineer, UX designer, and sports photographer, Wang’s interests led her to design technical soft goods for outdoor sports and lifestyle brands. Wang looks forward to using 3D design to help create more sustainable, circular products, aligning perfectly with Wild Rye’s focus on reducing impact when it comes to environmental practices, which has earned the brand both B-Corp and Climate Neutral certifications.

Sun Valley local Riley Revallier will serve Wild Rye as the customer experience and events coordinator. Previously working as a Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation freeride coach and Server at Ketchum’s Enoteca, Revallier is deeply connected to Wild Rye’s local community. Revallier looks forward to working with women in the outdoors, helping to make the industry more inclusive and sustainable.

Wild Rye can currently be found at select retail locations and nationwide retailers like REI, Title Nine, evo, and wild-rye.com.

 

Our illustrious writer Kay Levesque recently tested their Gem Distance Jersey. She loved the Purple Haze color, the softness of the fabric, and its comfort. She thought it was functional, stylish, and an ideal jersey for pavement and gravel.

 

About Wild Rye

Founded in August 2016, Wild Rye brings beautiful and technical mountain apparel to all who identify as women and aims to inspire confidence and get more women outside. Wild Rye apparel never compromises on fit, performance, and contemporary style and is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive access point to the outdoors, cycling, and snowsports by building confidence and community and protecting the places we play. Wild Rye is proudly B-Corporation certified, Climate Neutral Certified, a member of 1% for the Planet and Wood River Trails Coalition Business, and a SheJumps partner. Wild Rye is a shape-inclusive brand that celebrates all women and is continually working to improve both the brand and product experience for consumers. Wild Rye products are designed and tested in its Sun Valley, Idaho, mountain home and are available in specialty retailers across the country and REI, Title Nine, and more. Learn more at wild-rye.com. @wild_rye

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