CEO Jerry Stritzke at REI headquarters in Kent, Wash., Dec. 23, 2013, sees being head of REI as an opportunity to combine his retail expertise with a passion for the outdoors and "was really a dream come true."

Erika Schultz/Seattle Times / MCT

CEO Jerry Stritzke at REI headquarters in Kent, Wash., Dec. 23, 2013, sees being head of REI as an opportunity to combine his retail expertise with a passion for the outdoors and "was really a dream come true."