Conatus Counsel

10/28/2025

At the beginning of October I was fortunate to attend the Colorado Outdoor Industry Leadership Summit put on by the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office and the many supporters and sponsors at the YMCA in Estes Park. The theme, Around the Campfire, was not only perfect for the onsite venue, but also focused on increased conversations and networking amongst a wide range of Colorado OREC businesses and organizations, including many at the intersection of environmental protection and conversation and outdoor recreation. Having outstanding guest speakers Ken Salazar, Joe Neguse, and Jared Polis (just to name a few) remind us of the importance of sticking with our believes and efforts in tough times and good ones, was just the start. We continued to have valuable information, learning, and dialogue about outdoor industry challenges, ideas, and successes across the platform of services, products, and infrastructure. Preparing for the future and progress.

While I do wish that more of the "top of the food chain" businesses in the OREC Industry would be involved at these events, my advocacy and related OREC energies were revitalized by the event and my conversations with colleagues, including apropos campfire time with Conor Hall. It was a good reminder that much of the important OREC work is done cumulatively by so many vested parties, but can't be done without support and leadership like that from National and CO government and respective elected leaders, trade associations, and entrepreneurs. Onward and upward, literally and figuratively, recreational and policy wise, and as community.

05/30/2025

Great event - Elevate Conservation Outdoors for All event, put on by Conservation Communications and many supporting NGOs to kick off the Outside Summit yesterday evening. Included speeches from Senator Bennet and Rep. Neguse along with appearances and content from Protect Our Winters , The Wilderness Society, The Conservation Alliance, Trust for Public Land, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Colorado and more. All highlighting the many values and returns of our public lands and environmental landscapes, and the valuable support of them by outdoor recreation.

03/27/2025

Conatus Counsel has a new website out: https://www.conatuscounsel.com/ to show the expanded services for helping with implementation of legal and related advice and work product on the business side, as well as government affairs and advocacy in certain industries to help better it for clients, consumers, and users, as well as society. While Outdoor Recreation is a big part of the business, Conatus Counsel is still available for any and all businesses that can use fractional general counsel and legal services in addition to some of those others.

12/20/2024

On the 9th day of Christmas series in Client appreciation shout outs and cool gift ideas we get to Celebrate the passing of the EXPLORE ACT through the Senate yesterday (already passed in the House and now moves on to be signed into law). I'll be posting a summary about tall the benefits and momentum we can hopefully take for the Outdoor Recreation Industry, particularly on the infrastructure side later, but since the Explore Act opens up funding and opportunities for more recreation infrastructure (more trails, more kinds of trails and infrastructure for a wide variety of users, more features, more hunting and fishing infrastructure, and more climbing route opportunities), let's recognize the products and companies that help that infrastructure happen:

• If you or your organizations that do trail work need tools, look no further than Backslope Tools: https://www.backslopetools.com/;
• Retailed through, along with other trail builder equipment, Tools for Trails: https://toolsfortrails.com/;
• Since climbing bolts are now okay as part of "wilderness", opening up the climbing access to a much wider audience, you can start your practice with Eldorado Climbing Walls' products: https://eldowalls.com/, I particularly like their Hex and Explorer Climbing Panels; and
• Let's appreciate those that work hard (for usually less pay) to design and install Recreation Infrastructure - like Singletrack Trails, Outdoor Recreation Designs: https://sites.google.com/.../outdoorrecreationdesigns/home, and Contour Logic: http://www.contourlogic.com/, to name a few.

To recap, on the first day of Christmas was the opportunity to buy cool shirts from which the purchase price is donated to Hurricane Helene Relief in WNC: https://www.facebook.com/share/19cVKjm9Q7/

The second day was Tentsile suspension hammocks and tree tents: https://www.facebook.com/share/17XAgVKcnZ/

The third day was Slackline Industries different lines and apparatuses: https://www.facebook.com/share/15R9aUh46R/

The fourth day was Blue Ridge Chair Works for collapsible and modular chairs and tables for outdoor use: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AjPhD8pm2/

The fifth day was donating to Non-Profits that help OREC Infrastructure and Advocacy to improve individual and community life: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18NX4Yud5e/

The sixth day was was written and other content for traveling, tourism, adventuring, and activities: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/12HQxfoLspB/

The seventh day was for guiding and other training and experience learning for travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation activities and skills: https://www.facebook.com/share/14u72mNs9P/

The eighth day was for water activities - paddling and fishing products: https://www.facebook.com/share/18gtzsfJfz/

Backslope Tools is a manufacturer of professional trail building tools based in Grand Junction, Colorado. Backslope Tools are specific to trail builder's unique construction needs, allowing them to complete transformational builds.

12/19/2024

On the 8th day of Christmas series in Client appreciation shout outs and cool gift ideas are Brands and their products to get out on the water (it's been a warmer season than usual for most of the country) and enjoy those activities:
• Glide for your paddle board needs, and even some water balance training stuffs: https://www.glidesup.com/;

• BIG Adventures for your kayaks and other paddle boating, including some fishing specific rigs and equipment: https://bigadventures.com/;

• Hurricane Kayaks for a wide range of kayaks, including sit-on-top ones for easier entry price point, use, and access (and fishing): https://hurricaneaquasports.com/;

• Pure Fishing for rods, reels, tackle and more: https://www.purefishing.com/; and

• Ballyhood Saltwater Lures Lures for your unique performance "cow bell" lure for deep sea fishing and high-speed trolling: https://ballyhood.com/.

To recap, on the first day of Christmas was the opportunity to buy cool shirts from which the purchase price is donated to Hurricane Helene Relief in WNC: https://www.facebook.com/share/19cVKjm9Q7/

The second day was Tentsile suspension hammocks and tree tents: https://www.facebook.com/share/17XAgVKcnZ/

The third day was Slackline Industries different lines and apparatuses: https://www.facebook.com/share/15R9aUh46R/

The fourth day was Blue Ridge Chair Works for collapsible and modular chairs and tables for outdoor use: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AjPhD8pm2/

The fifth day was donating to Non-Profits that help OREC Infrastructure and Advocacy to improve individual and community life: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18NX4Yud5e/

The sixth day was was written and other content for traveling, tourism, adventuring, and activities: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/12HQxfoLspB/

The seventh day was for guiding and other training and experience learning for travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation activities and skills: https://www.facebook.com/share/14u72mNs9P/

Our camp and guide services are in the heart of North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest. We access incredible bike trails. You've come to the right place.

12/19/2024

12 Days of Christmas from today through Dec. 24th - Tis the season to be thankful for what we have and I couldn't be where I am today without awesome clients. The great thing is that most of these client relationships are mutual and collaborative (e.g., we are working towards bigger successes and goals for the OREC Industry, trying to improve environmental protection, sustainability, and combat climate change, improving and increasing public spaces and related public access and diversity, equity, and inclusion for those spaces and the many activities to be done there, and balancing work, success, revenue, family, and play (aka life)). So, it's only fair that I give Clients and their cool products and services a shoutout here and then.

You may not be aware of them and their goods/services, you may not be aware how cool and useful they are, or you may be looking for unique last minute gifts (for yourself even).

Today's (first) shoutout is dear to me personally as it involves fundraising for my hometown and area of Western North Carolina in regards to the impact of Hurricane Helene and the substantial work and investment it will take to improve things. Two WNC OREC brands have provided an opportunity to buy shirts with the revenue fully donated to that cause:

RECOVER was an original Outdoor Business Alliance - WNC (f/k/a Outdoor Gear Builders of WNC) and produces clothing made fully out of recycled materials (cotton and plastic bottles). They have made special edition "WNC Strong" 50/50 shirts (super comfortable) for the cause (with options to support specific local businesses): https://recoverbrands.com/products/western-north-carolina-strong

Then Fuel Goods (a marketplace for OREC foods and nutrition) has collaborated with Pressio to produce a "Together We Rise - WNC Strong" sport shirts made out of sustainable/recycled material (and a cool sunset/sunrise logo): https://fuelgoods.com/products/together-we-rise-t-shirt-supporting-hurricane-helene-relief

Great options for yourselves or others with the purchase price going to an important good cause!

12/19/2024

Heads up as to increasing USPTO Trademark Fees starting January 18, 2025 forward:

• Application fees will be $350 per class across the board (instead of most $250 with $350 free form Goods/Services Descriptions), and now Free Form Goods/Services description will be $550 (incur new $200 additional fee).

• Section 8 Renewal (first 5-6 year renewal) will go up from $225 to $325 per class.

• Section 15 Incontestability filing (from year 5 from Registration forward) will go up from $200 to $250 per class.

• Section 9 Declaration (required for 10 year Renewals with combined with Section 8) will go up from $300 to $325 per class.

Those are the most common USPTO Trademark actions and fees. Most fees will have increases, including Madrid Protocol filings for International Trademark Registration options based upon USPTO Registration. And, there will be some other administrative fees, including ones for incomplete Applications (which further increases the consideration to use knowledgeable counsel for such filings). The increase in fees is to cover increased costs for USPTO to operate.

At this time I do not foresee my legal fees for these Applications and Filings to increase. If you are considering a trademark filing (application or renewal), then you may want to have it completed before January 18th to be able to take advantage of slightly cheaper current filing fees.

09/23/2024

Child pickup deadline (out of respect for your child and caretaker/school/teacher) is solid motivation for speed bike work out.

08/23/2024

In pursuit of my interest working in Recreation Infrastructure, including business, advocacy, government affairs, and promotion of bigger picture ideas and problem solving, in addition to building my applicable network, Conatus Counsel has just become a member of the National Ski Areas Association (noting that includes full year around activities engagement and business, not just the winter) for the 24/25 year. I will be attending the NSAA Fall Education Conference (multiple ones held throughout the country every year) at Breckenridge, CO on October 1, 2024. Looking forward with connecting further with this industry and the people involved, to move forward recreation infrastructure opportunities and business for all.

In my initial meetings with the NSAA folks I've been extremely impressed with the amount of work their smallish team does for, knowledge and information they provide to, and advocacy taken on for the ski and resort industry across the many regulatory and business fronts involved.

I believe there is a lot of opportunity not only on the business side and for all involved on this front, but for and to be a bigger part of society as a whole.

https://www.nsaa.org/

Picture of the crew and I getting our Ikon Pass park day in at Steamboat Resort last weekend.

06/19/2024

It is with great sadness that we have to report that Singletrack Trails, a company based out of Colorado that has been in existence for 20 years building natural surface trails, bike parks, and other recreation infrastructure around the country (and international connections as well) will be closing it's doors at the end of this month. We just completed our last project and will be doing all the administrative stuff to wind down. I can say that is has been an immense pleasure to work with Singletrack Trails, not just the company and its goals, but all the people as well. Owner and CEO Greg Mazu put so much skin in the game to push this rock uphill, not just starting and growing the Company (it went from handwork to became one of the largest natural surface design and construction companies in the country in efforts to grow and build a true business in this industry), but most folks in the industry know how present he always was, whether attending and speaking at events or engaging in conversations and discussions, mostly focused on how to make the industry better, provide living wages and benefits for staff in an industry that doesn't always do so, and promoting the benefits of trails and recreation infrastructure.

I could not have written a better adieu that Greg did in Trail Builder Magazine. It's not long and absolutely worth your time to think about where we are on this front and what we can/should do going forward. I thank Greg Mazu for the opportunity to be involved and helping me realize and find my true passion for recreation infrastructure as well. Here's to us taking these experiences and doing more going forward!

Today is a day that I have been looking at for months and maybe years. Today is a day I knew would happen, but deep down, I wished it never would happen. After 20 years of having a business that builds outdoor recreation infrastructure, today is the last day we will have field staff employed to bui

05/29/2024

Excited for where outdoor recreation and the industry, when realized, properly invested in, and utilized can take us as a nation - better societal health (physical, mental, and emotional), combat climate change, improve DEI, passionate and purposed workforce development and employment, sustainable economics and economy, increased cognitive abilities, improved communities and opportunities, the potential to maintain livable housing costs, and much more.

We are fortunate to have Outdoor Recreation Roundtable leading much of this charge (but it is the work of so many, from government to business and vital non-profits and individuals). The last 10 years have been a data boom showing the many benefits and allowing us to start realizing the many parallel and tangential ones tied to recreation, public lands, infrastructure, etc. This data allows wise and bi-partisanship decision making for the mutual benefit of all. Where the OREC Industry, but particularly the vital underlying recreation infrastructure, can take us is limitless, but only if we continue to "move the needle" and push forward.

05/29/2024

I am so fortunate to have the Clients and those working relationships I do. Never enough "thank you's" for those that trust and work with me on their ideas and projects. I received a wonderful surprise birthday package from Devil's Foot Beverage Company of mixed (their original NA and the new RTD alcoholic) yesterday.

A little backstory - Benjamin Colvin and I used to haunt the aisles of Outdoor Retailer together focused on environmental and related business causes, respectively, but like any good entrepreneur, he had something "brewing" on the side. With Jacob Baumann, they then started Devil's Foot with a high quality product supported by creative smart branding and graphics.

We recently secured "Farm to Can" trademark registration for their full line of products and it's been a pleasure to be involved from the beginning and the steep curve of growth. Distribution is regularly expanding throughout the southeast and, hopefully, the west soon (I need my fix after this temptation pack). If you haven't had them yet, they have been reviewed as some of the best NA beverages in the country, made with organic and local ingredients, and you can buy them online to be shipped to you anywhere in the country: https://lnkd.in/gjQeJsGb.

Thank you for my birthday treat of cold crisp beverages to kickoff summer!