Clay on a hike in full outdoors getup
Position: Assistant Manager/Hard Goods Manager.
Location: Virginia Beach.
Specialties: Hiking, fly fishing, traveling, fly tying, camping.
When did you start at GOPC? 2/09/22
A throwback photo of Clay fishing as a toddler
What (or who!) first introduced you to the outdoors lifestyle?
My parents. They were able to combine camping, sailing, fishing, crabbing, and swimming into a great package deal for their four kids. In retrospect, I'm amazed by how well my mom managed all of the planning, organizing, cooking, cleaning, and first-aid for a family of six for weeks at a time...seriously.
Beautiful views at Arches National Park
What's been your most memorable trip/outdoors experience?
Trekking around Arches National Park. As someone who grew up in the Southeast, I found the vistas not only stunningly beautiful, but utterly foreign...we don't have anything remotely like that in Virginia or North Carolina.
A blue, green and white fly tied by Clay
What first brought you to GOPC and what do you love about working there?
My brother, a fly tyer and fly fisherman who frequents our Winston-Salem shop, had mentioned to me that Virginia Beach would be getting its own Great Outdoor Provision store, so I checked it out shortly after it opened. The first time I walked through the door, I was struck by the classic GOPC layout (wooden floors and walls; wide, shopper-friendly aisles; great merchandising) and the approachability and professionalism of the staff. I had worked in retail a lot when I was younger, finding those opportunities more appealing than my previous gigs in lawn care and picking tobacco. I had loved every part-time job that I'd had, and had always appreciated the brick-and-mortar retail experience. When I retired from my second career, I looked for a position with a company that valued environmental stewardship and resource conservation, and was delighted when shop manager Zach Roberts offered me a position. It didn't hurt that GOPC offered opportunities to advance my fly tying and fly fishing skills, either! When I'm not at work, there's a good chance that I'm at home, sitting at my tying bench & working on some new fly pattern.
One of Clay's vibrant blue and orange flys
What has been your most special customer moment?
My favorite encounters have involved helping young families achieve their outdoor goals and objectives. I enjoy assisting them in identifying gear that would met their needs; working through the pros and cons of each option; and ultimately pairing them with the equipment that's best suited for them. I believe that getting kids and young adults on the trail, to the camp site, or on the water is the best way to build long-term, grass-roots support for preserving our public lands and natural resources. It's rewarding when I can play a small role in doing that.
A black and orange fly made by Clay
