ORD Director Karina Armijo Elected to Serve as Confluence of States Co-Chair - New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division
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ORD Director Karina Armijo Elected to Serve as Confluence of States Co-Chair

Confluence of States leaders gather in North Carolina, elect new leadership from Pennsylvania and New Mexico

September 24, 2025, Cherokee, NC – The Confluence of States met at the Outdoor Economy Conference in Cherokee, North Carolina. Each year, the conference brings together more than 700 outdoor industry leaders, advocates, businesses, and stakeholders from across the country to collaborate on pressing issues facing the outdoor economy. Attendees engage in keynote sessions, panel discussions, and workshops exploring how to build vibrant outdoor communities, support and grow outdoor businesses, advance inclusive coalitions, and envision the future of the outdoor economy

During the convening, Nathan Reigner, Director of the Pennsylvania Office of Outdoor Recreation, was elected Chair of the Confluence of States Coalition for 2026. Karina Armijo, Director of the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division, was elected to serve as Co-Chair.

“Pennsylvania is honored that our colleagues from around the country asked that we lead the Confluence of States,” said Nathan Reigner, Director of the Pennsylvania Office of Outdoor Recreation. “The Confluence of States has been instrumental in our success getting stuff done for outdoor recreation businesses, workers, and communities here in Pennsylvania, and now we look forward to helping all states in the Confluence, and across America, cultivate strong and thriving outdoor recreation economies.”

“It’s an honor to be elected Co-Chair and to step into this leadership role with Nathan. The Confluence is where state leaders come together to connect, collaborate, and push each other to think bigger about what outdoor recreation can mean for our communities,” said Karina Armijo, Director of the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division. “As we move toward 2026, I’m excited to strengthen that collaboration and keep building on the momentum we’ve created. New Mexico is proud to bring its voice to this work and contribute to the collective efforts of the Confluence of States in shaping the future of outdoor recreation nationwide.”

With 124 state parks, 2.2 million acres of state forests, and thousands of miles of trails, rivers, and streams – all free to visit and use – Pennsylvania is an outdoor state. Under Governor Josh Shapiro, the commonwealth has invested more than $400 million in parks, trails, and river access, launched the Outdoor Business Alliance of Pennsylvania, and supported initiatives like “Still Open. Still Awesome.” that drove record visitation to state parks in 2025. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), outdoor recreation generated $9 billion in economic output in Pennsylvania, supporting over 168,000 jobs and comprising 2.7% of the state’s employment.

In New Mexico, outdoor recreation generated $3.2 billion dollars in economic output, comprising 3.2% of New Mexico employees and more than 29,000 jobs. The New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division has led with initiatives such as the Outdoor Equity Fund, which provides grants to ensure all youth have access to outdoor experiences, and the Trails+ grant program, which invests in trail development, restoration, and access projects statewide.

21 states are currently members of the Confluence of States, having committed to supporting the outdoor recreation economy on behalf of their respective governors. Since the formation of the Confluence of States in 2018, the Chair position of the organization has been held by the leaders in Colorado, Oregon, Montana, New Mexico, Michigan, Nevada, and most recently Arkansas. Additional members include Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, Washington, Wyoming.

Working alongside outdoor recreation industry leaders, the Confluence of States member states are guided by five pillars of outdoor economy success:

  • Conservation and Stewardship
  • Education and Workforce Training
  • Economic Development
  • Public Health and Wellness
  • Opportunity and Experience

The Confluence of States also extends its gratitude to Katherine Andrews, Director of the Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation, for her service as outgoing Chair. Under her leadership, the Confluence saw three ceremonial signings that welcomed five new states into the network – Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. During her tenure, the Confluence also adopted its fifth pillar, Opportunity & Experience, further expanding the network’s vision and impact. Katherine’s leadership helped grow the reach of the Confluence, strengthen collaboration across states, and inspire new offices to learn from and join this national network.