Columbia Sportswear Co.

Columbia Sportswear Co. is one of America’s great success stories, growing from a family-run hat distributorship to one of the world's largest outerwear brands and a leading seller of skiwear in the U.S. The Columbia family of brands has grown to include Montrail, Mountain Hardwear, Pacific Trail and Sorel, and their product line includes a wide variety of outerwear, sportswear, rugged footwear, accessories and equipment, including travel gear and bags. “Columbia is known as a product innovator and has an unparalleled reputation for quality and value,” says Dan Hanson, vice president of marketing. “These basic principles guide Columbia through the creation of inventive and highly popular designs and technology, including our famous Interchange System.”

Columbia's history began in 1937 when Paul and Marie Lamfrom fled Germany and settled in Portland, OR. Today their daughter, 82-year-old matriarch Gert Boyle, is the chairperson of the board and her son, Tim Boyle, is president and CEO. With reported record net sales of nearly $1.2 billion in 2005, Columbia products are now available through more than 13,000 retailers in 72 countries. And while its corporate headquarters and domestic distribution center remain in Portland, OR, Columbia maintains sales offices in North America, Europe and Asia and employs more than 2,700 people around the world.

For more information, log on to www.columbia.com or contact Nick Schwartz at 503-985-4000; nschwartz@columbia.com.