Glen van Peski
Founder of Gossamer Gear | Author of take less. do more. | Entrepreneur | Engineer | Speaker | Philanthropist | Dishwasher
- Role
- Managing Director Founder at Gossamer Gear Inc
- Location
- Bend, OR, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Glen van Peski
I\'ve had a 40-year career in civil engineering and business, accidentally starting a successful backpacking gear company along the way. Based on repeated requests from close associates, I recently published a book,\"take less. do more. Surprising Life Lessons in Generosity, Gratitude and Curiosity from an Ultralight Backpacker.\" My book details the lessons I learned from lightening my backpacking load, and the applications of those learnings to life in general. I\'ve worked for private engineering firms, founded my own engineering company, consulted, and worked for public agencies, so my land development engineering experience is diverse and from varied perspectives. I retired as the Community and Economic Development Director for the City of Carlsbad. Besides loving the problem-solving aspect of engineering, I\'m intrigued with leadership and how to foster an engaged work team. I am a registered civil engineer in OR, CA and NV and a CA licensed land surveyor (as well as holding an OR Foodhandlers Certificate). I\'ve always been a tinkerer, so started sewing my own backpacking gear when everything commercially available was too heavy. This quickly got out of hand and resulted in Gossamer Gear, but I always kept my engineering career.Through founding Gossamer Gear, one of the early manufacturers of lightweight backpacking gear, I developed a reputation for taking trips with minimal gear. I\'ve spoken extensively in the U.S. and abroad about lightening your backpacking load. My parallel career in backpacking created a rich world of friends from all walks of life and in many parts of the globe. Despite being an introvert, I love meeting new people \"who have something to say but nothing to prove.\" For more information and some fun facts, check out and connect!https://linktr.ee/glenvanpeski
Experience
Managing Director Founder
Jan 2003 — Present · Austin, TX, US
Started outdoor recreational equipment company from passion for ultralight backpacking. Designed gear based on personal experience, sewed prototypes, sourced and managed production, handled customer service, managed marketing. Created company identity (icon and logo, letterhead) and maintained website. Attended trade shows to represent company. Gave seminars on ultralight backpacking to groups of up to 250. Built company into one of the early leaders in the ultralight backpacking movement, sold majority share to an investor. Continue to serve as Managing Director, designer, product tester and spokesperson.
Education
National University
MBA
1983 — 1984
California State University, Northridge
BS, Engineering
1978 — 1983
Skills
- Outdoor Industry
- Project Management
- Low Impact Development
- Hydrology
- Local Government
- Engineering
- Environmental Awareness
- Program Management
- Entrepreneurship
- Water Quality
- Leadership
- Stormwater Management
- Public Speaking
- Land Use Planning
- Zoning
- Legal Descriptions
- Project Planning
- Sustainability
- Floodplain Management
- Subdivisions
- Environmental Permitting
- Plan Review
- Feasibility Studies
- Civil Engineering
- Construction
- Urban Planning
- Land Development
- Site Planning
- Product Design
- Contract Management
- Sewer
- Drainage
- Construction Management
- Outdoor Adventures
- Title Searches
Find verified contacts for anyone on LinkedIn
Unifers gives sales teams verified emails and direct dials, enriched profiles, and outreach that lands in the inbox.
Free plan included · No credit card required
This profile is compiled from publicly available professional sources. Unifers is not affiliated with or endorsed by LinkedIn. Request removal of this profile.