44: Sarah Wood on Progression: From Beginning to Kicking Ass

Published: May 24, 2018, 11 a.m.

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I am excited to introduce you today to Sarah Wood, director of operations for I9, or Industry Nine, makers of high-end mountain and road bike wheel sets. Everything Industry Nine does is\\xa0handmade in their facility in Asheville, NC. The machine shop next door (and sister company) makes all their parts except for the rims and is owned by the father of I9\\u2019s owner, Clint. Clint\'s father had started that shop 50 years ago and Clint practically grew up in that shop.

Sarah\\u2019s role as ops director has included everything from business strategy and development, management, restructuring, systems implementation, events, marketing...you name it! She has to know and have experienced each role to best manage and improve their operation so she\\xa0chips in where needed from shipping and boxing to picking parts and running one of their assembly machines.\\xa0

After this episode, you might\\xa0consider\\xa0upgrading your bike with a new set of wheels. This is one of those things you didn\\u2019t know could be\\xa0better but once it\\u2019s explained to you? Wow. And sounds like once you try them, wow. Just wait until you hear her explanation of why. Sarah is smart, even more so when she gets technical.\\xa0

This is a story about someone who led a varied career that might seem, to the uninitiated, sort of disjointed but turned into a very natural progression of one thing leading to the next. Sarah ended up with a unique combination of experiences and skills to land her where she is now, doing what she loves. (For those of us who feel like we are wandering aimlessly, maybe don\'t worry about that!) Having started in music, she moved to film festival executive director for 5point Films in Carbondale, CO, to her current position. We have a great conversation about being a beginner and being OK with that, and working through progressions not only professionally, but out there on our mountain bikes as well - All with the end goal of restoring our confidence and doing what we want to do, no excuses.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. and with that, let\\u2019s listen in and gear up for what\\u2019s next.\\xa0

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Where to Find Sarah:

Instagram

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Resources

Industry Nine Wheel Sets

5point Films

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