10 Years at Level Six: VP of Sales Pat Quinney

Ten years ago, Pat Quinney thought he was making a temporary career move. Fresh off a Grand Canyon expedition, he joined Level Six expecting to stay for a year—just long enough to transition from guiding and ski bum life to whatever came next. Turns out, what came next was a decade of growth, transformation, and an undeniable impact on the paddling industry.

From answering customer calls to leading our global sales team, Pat has seen it all—company milestones, industry shifts, and Level Six’s relentless pursuit of innovation. He’s been instrumental in expanding our reach, pushing sustainability initiatives, and ensuring that every product we create is built with purpose.

As we celebrate his 10th anniversary with us, we sat down with Pat to reflect on his journey, the evolution of paddlesports, and what’s ahead for Level Six (spoiler: big things are coming).

1. What first brought you to Level Six, and what excited you most about joining the team 10 years ago? 

A: I had just gotten off a 21-day trip in the Grand Canyon and was looking to make the transition from guiding/ski bum life. I saw Level Six was hiring and figured it would be a good gig until I could transition to a new career path. That was only supposed to be for a year, but then I was introduced to a whole new side of the paddle sports industry, and the rest is history. I think what I was most excited about was continuing my journey in the paddle sports industry. It’s an incredible community driven by passion.

2. How has your role evolved over the past decade? 

A: I started as a junior inside sales & customer service rep, then transitioned to managing key accounts to coordinating our sales programs and plans now I’m managing our top accounts, nine amazing and talented individuals that make up our sales and customer service force and coordinating our global sales strategies.

3. Can you share a moment that made you especially proud to be part of the Level Six team?

A: Man, there are so many moments, I feel like every year we get better and more polished in what we do. If I had to pick one, it would be our concerted effort to make our operations and products as environmentally sustainable as possible. That’s one value we all hold very high, and as a team made the decision to really jump into this sustainability journey with two feet. This ongoing process started with eliminating all single-use plastics from our productions. Then we transitioned our entire collection of apparel and technical dry wear to 100% recycled fabrics. At this stage we’re phasing out petroleum-based neoprene and going PFAS-free in our entire product catalogue (we’re 99% there). Our next goal is to be a climate-neutral company, outfitting our building with solar energy. The eventual dream is to have a circular production cycle where we recycle expired products and create new products with them.

4. How has Level Six grown and evolved as a company since you first joined? 

A: It's changed in so many ways; I feel like part of our success has been our ability to reinvent ourselves time and time again. When I started at Level Six in 2014, there were 6 employees. We had a tight assortment of technical paddling gear, accessories and apparel. We were regarded as "that Canadian brand" that mostly deals in Canada. Since then, we've grown our product catalogue to over 750 products, our team has grown to over 20 people, we have dealers around the world, and we're regarded as an industry leader. It's remarkable how far we've come as a company and a testament to our talented team and tenacity of our leader Stig Larsson.

5. What changes in the paddling industry have you witnessed, and how has Level Six adapted to stay ahead? 

A: There has been so many changes in the last decade, I think the biggest change has been in manufacturing and supply chains, it seems like so many products can be easily mimicked or recreated and the off the shelf models offered by factories in Asia are of pretty decent quality. What we've done and continue to do is lean into innovation, none of our products are "off the shelf" we design all our products in house, meticulously reviewing materials to ensure performance and sustainability, designing with purpose by keeping our customer needs at the forefront of our minds, reviewing our existing products regularly to see if any improvements can be made, and leaning into our goal to make on water experiences better.

6. What do you think makes Level Six unique compared to other companies in the industry?

A: Great question. To speak from the heart here, I think what makes Level Six unique is the passion that drives our team, no one here is doing this to make a quick buck or to get rich, it's driven purely by passion and a desire to make Level Six the best version we possibly can. Collectively, there is this fear of being complacent or boring, which is what drives us to innovate the way we do. I'm sure there are other brands or companies that say they are passionate, but I can say without a doubt that the passion I see from our team is unmatched. Our objective always has been and continues to be to share that with the paddling community, no matter the scale or type of adventure, it is just about enjoying time on the water.

7. What excites you most about the direction Level Six is heading?

A: That's a hard one to answer there is so much to get excited about. We're currently in the midst of the biggest design and innovation cycle of our company's history. We're working on new products that we've never made before, developing new fabrics that will increase garment performance, and revamping and improving on existing product designs. I can't divulge too much yet but the next 2-3 years people are going to see a new side of Level Six. It's a privilege to be a part of leading this next chapter and something that I truly enjoy doing.

Pat’s journey at Level Six is a testament to the power of passion, adaptability, and innovation. Over the past decade, he’s helped transform the company from a small Canadian brand into an industry leader, growing our product line, expanding our global reach, and leading the charge on sustainability.

As we look to the future, Level Six remains committed to pushing boundaries—developing cutting-edge gear, refining our sustainability efforts, and continuing to evolve to meet the needs of paddlers and dealers alike.

Want to be part of what’s next? If you’re a dealer, reach out to Pat and our team to learn more about what’s in store for the coming seasons. Let’s keep innovating together. pat@levelsix.com