The Start of an Outdoors Career: Mossberg’s Linda Powell
John E. Phillips 05.28.13
Author’s note: Linda Powell is Director of Media Relations for Mossberg and handles the company’s advertising for print, TV, and online. This article is the first in a series profiling Powell, one of the industry’s most prominent outdoorswomen.
Linda Powell has taken writers and members of the outdoor media on various hunts all over the world. No woman in the outdoor industry is more respected or more knowledgeable about hunting, guns, or shooting. No woman has been mentored by more prestigious outdoorsmen, journalists, videographers, photographers, and outdoor celebrities. Powell has every outdoorswoman’s dream job, but how did she get started? How did she become Director of Media Relations for Mossberg?
Linda Powell started her career as a nurse and a medical assistant, working for a group of ear, nose, and throat specialists. She had her nursing degree but still hadn’t decided what she wanted to do the rest of her life. Then she worked for some temporary agencies. “Next, I went to work in marketing for a hardware-manufacturing company to help build my resume,” Powell says. “While I was working there, a friend told me that Remington Arms Company was moving their worldwide headquarters to Madison, North Carolina, about 20 miles from my home. I realized that working in a worldwide headquarters for a major company would be a good place for me to get my foot in the door and have opportunities for growth. I knew nothing about hunting, shooting, or ammunition, except that my grandfather always hunted. He would get up early on Saturday morning, be gone all day and bring home rabbits, squirrels and deer for us to eat. When I was hired at Remington, my title was Administrative Assistant. My job was to support two public relations managers, Mike Fine and Bill Wall, who dealt with the public relations for the Remington Arms Company and Stren fishing line. I was really a glorified secretary, working 8 to 5 in the office to fill requests from members of the media for product information, photos and equipment.”
At that time, Powell had no idea what chances for growth she might have, or where this job might lead her. Remington had told Powell that if she wanted to learn more about hunting, shooting, and the outdoor industry, Remington would teach her. As Powell mentioned earlier, she was looking for growth in her professional career. So, when she was offered a chance to go to the shooting range and learn to shoot, she accepted the invitation.
“I shot handguns, rifles and shotguns,” Powell explains. After she became proficient with firearms, her mentors asked, “Do you want to take a Becoming an Outdoors Woman course?”
“I quickly said yes,” Powell remembers. “I highly recommend this course for any woman considering a career in the shooting, hunting, and outdoor industries, since it provides a safe and comfortable way to try out different aspects of the outdoors, including using a map and compass, and learning basic muzzleloading, basic rifle skills, Dutch oven cooking and many other outdoor skills. At my first Becoming an Outdoors Woman course, I took classes in basic muzzleloaders, shotguns, and rifles to get experience with a wide variety of firearms. I never dreamed that this humble beginning would lead me to one of the greatest jobs ever with some of the best people in the world.”
In our next article on Powell, we’ll detail the next steps on her career path in the outdoor industry.
John, the 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the year and the 2007 Legendary Communicator chosen for induction into the National Fresh Water Hall of Fame, is a freelance writer (over 6,000 magazine articles for about 100 magazines and several thousand newspaper columns published), magazine editor, photographer for print media as well as industry catalogues (over 25,000 photos published), lecturer, outdoor consultant, marketing consultant, book author and daily internet content provider with an overview of the outdoors.
Phillips has been a contributor to many national magazines, has been affiliated with 27 radio stations across Alabama serving as their outdoor editor and wrote for a weekly syndicated column, "Alabama Outdoors," for 38-Alabama newspapers for more than 13 years. Phillips was Outdoor Editor for the "Birmingham Post-Herald" for 24 years. Phillips was also the executive editor for "Great Days Outdoors" magazine for 3 years.
The author of almost 30 books on the outdoors, Phillips is a founding member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and an active member of the Southeastern Outdoors Press Association (SEOPA). Phillips also is the owner of Night Hawk Publications, a marketing and publishing firm, and president of Creative Concepts, an outdoor consulting group.
Phillips conducts seminars across the nation at colleges in freelance writing, photography and outdoor education besides teaching courses in how to sell what you write to writers' groups. Phillips received his photography training as a still-lab photo specialist for six years in the Air Force. He was the chief photographer for Mannequins, Inc., a Birmingham modeling agency, for 11 years.
While serving as 2nd Vice President of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, Phillips was in charge of all press releases for the organization as well as serving as Chairman of Alabama's Big Buck Contest, which he founded more than 30 years ago. He also was president of the Alabama Sportsman's Association for three years.
Phillips is the recipient of a Certificate of Merit from the Governor of Alabama and the Department of Conservation for his work in the outdoor field. Phillips is vitally interested in the outdoors and travels the nation collecting personalities, stories and how-to information for his articles and features.
EDUCATION: B.S. degree from the University of West Alabama with a physical education major and a history minor.
EXPERIENCE: 10 years parttime and fulltime physical director for YMCAs and 34 years as a freelance writer, photographer, editor, book author, lecturer and daily-content provider for websites. Currently, Phillips is a field editor for Game and Fish Publications; serves on the editorial board of Grandview Media; is a regular contributor to 12 internet magazines and a daily content provider for 8 websites.
WRITING AWARDS: Runnerup - Best Outdoor Magazine Feature - 1981 - SEOPA; Certificate of Merit - Awarded by Alabama's Governor for writings on conservation; Most Outstanding Sports Writer in Southeast - 1983 & 1984; Best Outdoor Feature in Alabama, 1987 - Alabama Sportswriters' Association 3rd Place; Best Book of the Year - 1989 - SEOPA; 2007 - inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Communicator; 2008 - received award naming him 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the Year from the Crossbow Manufacturers' Association; 2009 - GAMMA Honorable Mention for Consumer/Paid Best Essay for July/August 2008 in "Southern Sporting Journal."
