Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) 2025 Conference

What if your ideal reader or customer were always available—just a click away—ready to chat 24/7? In this session, I’ll show you how to turn that vision into reality with a custom GPT.

A custom GPT is a mini version of ChatGPT that you fine-tune for your specific needs (and no, you don’t have to be a tech genius to build one). We’ll walk through the process of setting one up to act as your ideal customer or reader, equipped with their demographics, preferences, and behaviors. When you engage with it, it responds as if it is that persona, giving you direct insights into their thoughts and reactions.

Imagine the possibilities:

• Test how an article or marketing copy resonates before publishing
• Brainstorm perfectly targeted content ideas
• Ask about product updates they want—or what new offerings excite them
• Identify potential pain points and how you can solve them
• Get direct feedback on pricing strategies

By the end of this session, you’ll have the tools to create a custom GPT–powered feedback loop that helps you refine content, products, and messaging with unmatched precision. Whether you're a writer, editor, marketer, or entrepreneur, this technology will revolutionize how you understand and connect with your audience.

in 1969, CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite announced to the world that the federal government had named Chattanooga “the dirtiest city in America.” Thanks to heavy manufacturing, Chattanooga's air quality was so bad that drivers kept their headlights on even in mid-day, and smog discolored clothing. The mighty Tennessee River, which cuts through the city, fared just as poorly. The broadcast was an embarrassment and a wakeup call that became a rallying cry for transformation.

Barely a half-century later, Chattanooga collected a range of positive superlatives including being named “Best Outdoor Town” twice by Outside magazine. In April, Chattanooga became the first National Park City in North America, part of an international grassroots movements to make cities greener, healthier and wilder. This panel of community leaders will share the Chattanooga Story: how Chattanooga achieved its renaissance.