photo credit: Marie Clark©
Growing at an increasingly fluid speed, aquatic footwear innovator, Astral, is jumping into the season with the introduction of a new VP of Sales and Marketing. Long-time industry sales rep and marketing maven, Christie Dobson, joins the team to lead in areas of new growth in the footwear category and oversee all facets of sales and marketing.

Dobson joins Astral following 8 years at Patagonia where she was a top-producing sales rep servicing the highly-coveted Northern California territory. Dobson’s history with Astral CEO and Founder, Philip Curry, goes back over 15 years. Dobson served as Field Marketing Manager for Lotus Designs, Curry’s first successful business. Her sales and marketing experience will further facilitate Astral’s advancement in the highly-competitive footwear market.

Astral emerged in the footwear category in 2013 with the introduction of the Brewer, a stylish yet highly-technical shoe that garnered industry awards and several media accolades. This spring, Astral’s footwear collection will span nine total styles with several women’s specific options and all utilizing Astral’s proprietary G Rubber. This remarkable rubber provides the maximum sole-to-ground friction and grip available.

“Christie was an easy choice,” says Astral CEO and director of R&D, Philip Curry. “Her experience working with a leading apparel brand like Patagonia meshes perfectly with our growth in the traditional outdoor arena. While her personality – energized, funny, rebellious, intelligent, and ambitious – will seamlessly integrate into Astral’s company culture.”

 “I’m honored that Philip has brought me on board to help lead Astral into this next chapter,” notes, Dobson. “Astral is a brand with so much talent and innovation that the possibilities are truly endless.”
Christie Dobson can be reached at 828.337.2247 and christie@astraldesigns.com.

For more information visit www.astraldesigns.com or contact Mandy Giles at mandy@darbycommunications.com.

 About Astral

 Established in 2002, Astral has grown to specialize in high performance outdoor footwear alongside its industry-leading safety gear for paddlers. Independently owned and operated with a sincere commitment to making products of the highest performance and style for use in the water, in the woods, or in town. Astral is based in the year-round outdoor wonderland Asheville, NC and has satellite offices in Northern California, Portland, and Saigon.
By Mandy Giles through press release ©