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.