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The ski industry is on the cusp of a major shift. Nearly 40 percent of U.S.-based resort general managers are age 60 or over, according to NSAA. When all of these leaders retire, they’ll take about 3,000 years of experience with them.

Enter the young guns. Our industry has long thrived on superstars in supporting roles, but perhaps more than ever, the focus is on the crop of enthusiastic and passionate Millennials who are gearing up to assume leadership roles at ski areas. If this year’s 10 Under 30 is any indication, the future is in good hands.

SAM received more than two dozen nominations this year, diverse in geography, position, and sector. They came from marketing, guest services, snowmaking, retail, sales, admin, rental, retail, and mountain ops. Interestingly, nominations didn’t come only from coworkers—ski area suppliers and subcontractors also jumped in. One person received a whopping 11 nominations. Yet this group represents just a fraction of the young talent at resorts across North America.

Congrats to all the nominees, and a big “thank you!” to our readers who took the time to put them on our radar.

Click on a on any name in the list of Nominees above to read his or her full profile, complete with full interviews. We think you'll agree that it's an impressive group. Now let us know which six-word bio inspired you the most...and get everyone in your organization to vote—there are bragging rights at stake! — The Editors

 

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CHARLES “FREDDIE″ BACON

Title: Training and Quality Control Manager, Thaiwoo International Snowsports Academy, China; Race and Parks Head of Department, NZSki LTD., Coronet Peak, New Zealand

Age: 27

Hometown: Grantham, Lincolnshire, UK

Higher Ed: Kings School Grantham, University of London

Six-word bio: Traveling, snowboarding, learning, mentoring, ambitious, happy

First job in the industry: Snowboard instructor at Winter Park, Colo.

How did you get here?

I finished school and started snowboarding, loved it and made a career around it. I got my snowboard instructor qualifications in New Zealand and have taught snowboarding in New Zealand, Japan, Europe, and the USA.

What do you love most about your job?

Being able to get on a chairlift and go for a ride when I need to get out of the office. I love being in the mountains and the cold, especially on those blue-sky days.

Most rewarding accomplishment so far?

Being involved in setting up a new snowsports school at a brand new resort in China. My role was to design and implement a season-long training program to deliver our three core values: safety, customer experience, and retention. I coached and mentored Chinese colleagues through translators to deliver products (up to) international standards. I also assisted the ski school director in the development of daily operations.

What’s your biggest work challenge?

In China, it’s the language barrier and communicating through translators. In New Zealand, it’s hoping we have the snow conditions to run FIS races, events, and build safe and fun parks.

Describe your style of leadership:

Never asking anyone to do anything you wouldn’t be prepared to do yourself. Having a clear plan and gaining full support from the team for the plan. I’m a very open leader and expect high standards. My team knows this and my door is always open. I support my teams so they can succeed in what they’re doing.

In 10 years?

Hopefully in ski area operations management.

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STIRLING COBB

Title: Marketing and Communications Manager, Mt. Bachelor, Ore.

Age: 25

Hometown: Peru, Vt.

Higher Ed: University of Vermont

Six-word bio: Young professional, rugged boy

First job in the industry: Kids ski school instructor at Stratton Mountain, Vt., in high school.

How did you get here?

My dad [the late Mike Cobb] was in sales and marketing for multiple ski areas, including Stratton. I didn’t necessarily think I’d follow in his path, but post-college, I knew I wanted to come out West. I landed in Bend, and definitely wanted to do something for the mountain.

A day in the life:

A combination of things. Making sure our communication out to the public is dialed and accurately reflects the conditions of the day. Checking in with mountain communications. Story telling and content marketing. Probably the largest responsibilities of my job at the moment are email marketing and PR. I’ve still managed to ski 100 days this year—getting out on the mountain to talk to guests and enjoy the sport of skiing is also super important to me.

Why do you love your job?

The ski industry has helped shape my lifestyle, so giving back to the sport is a huge and motivational opportunity. And, it’s fun. Every day my team and I get to connect with people through sharing the experiences of skiing and snowboarding. In my mind, it’s important to maintain a playful and lighthearted approach to navigating the professional landscape of the ski industry.

You were president of UVM’s freeskiing club in college. How did that inform your career?

In that role, I was managing other officers and a team of 50 athletes. It was a good entry-level view of the ski industry, as well as a good introduction to ski industry relationships, sponsorship development, and building and executing events.

How do you think your age helps with your job?

I think I’m just innately more connected to what’s newer, and have a better gut understanding for what can be effective in content marketing. Just being able to contribute and identify quality content is pretty key in this day and age. It helps me to make a legitimate connection with our followers.

What’s an accomplishment you’re proud of?

I helped start a video series called “Why I love Mt. Bachelor,” featuring local athletes and longtime employees. It told the story of a few influential people at the mountain, and their connection to the Mt. Bachelor culture. It’s been fun to work with the videographer and producer, and a cool thing to be a part of.

Who’s your professional mentor?

I’d have to say my dad. Whether it was intentional or not, I learned a lot about marketing and the resort lifestyle by living under his roof.

In 10 years?

I’ll definitely be doing something related to skiing and the ski industry. I love marketing, so it’ll be something related to marketing and sharing stories of the mountain, or people who have compelling stories that should be heard.

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BEN COLONA

Title: Bike and Ski Shop Manager, Killington Sports at Snowshed

Age: 29

Hometown: Sandwich, Mass.

Higher Ed: Castleton University

Six-word bio: Four seasons of mountain bliss

First job in the industry: Intern at Killington running the smallest retail shop at the base lodge.

How did you get here?

I grew up skiing from age 3. I chose my college based on soccer and skiing. Killington was close to school, so I figured, why not work at a ski resort? After college, I worked on Wall Street for three days, and then called (former manager) Rich McCoy to see if there were any positions open. He had an assistant manager position at Snowshed.

A day in the life:

Waking up early when it’s cold, making coffee, heading to work and enjoying the beautiful job, the day-to-day ops at the resort, dealing with customers, operations and inventory. Really it’s customer service first. It’s our most important goal, to make everyone feel welcome and have a good time.

Did you know you wanted to work in retail?

Not originally, but I have to give a lot of credit to my boss, Rich McCoy. Being able to stay here and work for him is one of the main reasons I’m at Killington. He treats his employees well and knows there are other things that make you rich, like lifestyle.

What’s an accomplishment you’re proud of?

The most rewarding aspect so far is being a major player in the expansion of our bike program. I’m not the only player, but in terms of building it we’ve gone balls to the wall with our bike program over the last three years, and we’ve seen the return, so now they’re investing more into it.

What do you love about working at a resort?

The opportunity to take advantage of all that the resort offers. The activities. The people. They’re all here for the same reason: to enjoy the surroundings.

In 10 years?

I’d like to be a director, from some standpoint, for a ski resort, whether it’s retail director or something higher up than that. I’ve definitely committed to this industry and don’t know if I could go somewhere else at this point.

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DUSTIN COMBS

Title: IT Operations, Perfect North Slopes, Ind.

Age: 29

Hometown: Lawrenceburg, Ind.

Six-word bio: Continue learning, grow, stay humble, love.

First job in the industry: Rental shop at Perfect North.

How did you get here?

I was introduced to skiing at a young age and had developed a love for it early on. So when I was old enough to start working, at age 14, I naturally gravitated to working at the ski area.

What makes IT important?

Whether it’s staff scheduling and communication, electronic documentation, digital signage, or renting helmets, technology is intertwined in all of those. Good IT systems ultimately translate to a better product for our guests. These are areas I feel we have influenced in a positive way so that they continue to contribute to our business.

What do you love most about your job?

I really love having the opportunity to invest in the people at our area. I hope to have a positive impact on the lives of the people I work with, and that their experience here will be a unique one that stays with them for years to come. I feel it’s important to surround yourself with capable individuals that enjoy their time here. The coffee and PBJs are pretty great, too.

What makes you a good leader?

I would say I’m a problem solver. Also, we are always looking to invest in positive people and surround ourselves with energetic employees that will translate that enthusiasm to the customer. Identifying people who bring that is an important role that a leader must take on.

Your nominator also called you a problem solver. Can you give us an example?

We decided to offer a free daily ski and snowboard check, where customers can drop off their equipment and we secure it for them while they’re taking a break. We were trying to come up with a way to track it, so we developed a system using our point of sale software and hand-held scanners. We attach a tag with a barcode onto their equipment, scan the tag and the barcode on their lift ticket, and connect the two. It’s truly a digitized, all-electronic way to track personal equipment and keep it safe.

In 10 years?

I love this place, but didn’t think I’d be in this position here 10 years ago. I’d like to continue to be a part of it, and continue to improve the efficiencies of the business and invest in it, keep the needle moving and contribute to its success.

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BECCA DESCHENES

Title: Marketing Director, Cranmore Mountain Resort, N.H.

Age: 29

Hometown: North Conway, N.H.

Higher Ed: Plymouth State University (BS and MBA)

Six-word bio: A valley original, adventure-loving enthusiast.

First job in the industry: Snowboard instructor at Cranmore.

How did you get here?

As a child, my dad worked at Cranmore, so I spent a lot of time at the mountain with my sister, scored my first job in the industry at Cranmore teaching snowboarding, and got my “dream job” fresh out of college as the events and marketing coordinator.

A day in the life:

It could be a 4:30 a.m. wake up call for the snow report, grabbing first chair on a powder day, jumping in front of the camera for a video snow report, creating campaigns, planning for the upcoming season, or even throwing on my boots to help teach in ski school. I oversee marketing for not only winter operations, but also summer, a fitness center, and a Halloween attraction, so each day is different.

What do you love most about your job?

Someone once said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” The people, resort culture, and sharing your passion with the world make it effortless to love my job. 

What’s the biggest challenge in your job?

Trying to convince others that my job really is work.

Who’s your professional mentor?

Cranmore’s president and general manager Ben Wilcox. Every day is a new lesson working with him, where there are no mistakes, just new learning opportunities. I have a mentor who believes in me not only as a person, but as a young professional, and has given me numerous opportunities to allow me to grow my career here at the mountain. 

What makes you a good leader?

When it comes to leadership, I always work with my peers, not above them. I try to stay as open and straightforward as possible, while staying approachable and relatable.

In 10 years?

I’ll definitely be in the ski industry. Maybe behind the GM’s desk?

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KAELA GILLUM

Title: Events Manager, Taos Ski Valley, N.M.

Age: 29

Hometown: Oklahoma City, Okla.

Higher Ed: Principia College

Six-word bio: Flatlander turned mountain air enthusiast.

First job in the industry: Children's ski instructor at Taos Ski Valley.

How did you get here?

As a kid, my family visited Taos almost every summer and skied Colorado in the winter. Early in college, we started skiing Taos, and that was the point I fell in love with the mountain and culture. I moved to Taos after college to have the ski bum experience and to be able to keep up on the slopes with my dad and brothers. That one year turned into more.

What do you love about working at a resort?

I love seeing people come in on vacation excited to be in the mountains. We’re in a business to make people happy, and I think that’s so cool. As a reward for that, we get to work hard then go play on the mountain.

Who is your professional mentor?

My father. He owned and operated his own company for a number of years, and taught me that it’s important to be approachable and not be the person who’s getting upset or mad about constructive criticism. Being able to be open to suggestions is important. My goal is to make TSV a better place, and my events a better place. Like my dad, I try to say, “How do I make this better?”

What’s the biggest challenge you face?

Making sure I communicate with all the appropriate staff with event details and tasks before an event starts. There are a lot of moving pieces to every event, and I like to be in control. At times I have to remind myself to let go and know tasks I have assigned will be accomplished. 

What’s an accomplishment you’re proud of?

Seeing an event go off smoothly. I’d have to say the most rewarding event is this past season’s Freeride Championships. The athletes were on point and gracious, which is awesome when you’re dealing with 250 athletes. We didn’t have the most amazing snow conditions during the event, but people were smart and respectful. Just seeing everything come together and everyone having a good time was so rewarding.

In 10 years?

I’ve been looking a lot at the five-year plan lately, because Taos is in a redevelopment phase, and though we don’t have many summer events yet, that will change. In five years, I hope to be involved in the evolution of Taos into a year-round resort with summer and winter events. I came into this job with a great winter event program in place, but it’s exciting that summers are wide open to start developing events from the bottom up.

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SAGE MCDERMOTT

Title: Ski Patroller, Steamboat, Colo.

Age: 27

Hometown: Mt. Shasta, Calif.

Six-word bio: Ski hard, work hard, then repeat.

First job in the industry: Ski instructor at Mt. Shasta Ski Park, Calif.

How did you get into the industry?

Both my parents worked at our local ski area. I was always up on the mountain.

A day in the life:

Depending on snowfall, it might be going out on avalanche routes first thing. If not, we show up at 7:30, have a meeting to talk about projects for the day, then head up the hill and do trail checks. Then the mountain opens, and we’re skiing around doing work projects or responding calls. If it snowed a lot, we slay some powder.

What do you love most about your job?

I love winter and being out in the elements. And I get a really good feeling from helping people. Being outside and assisting people in some way is a really rewarding feeling. The job of patrolling is unique and can be very thrilling and fast paced.

What’s the biggest challenge you face?

We’re often meeting people on one of the worst days of their lives. Dealing with people really suffering can be a challenge. But ski patrolling is a wonderful job. I get paid to ski, have fun, and help people. Ninety-nine percent of the time, it’s the best job in the world. That’s why people who start ski patrolling don’t quit—they love it.

Who is your professional mentor?

Johnny Sawyer, who’s a patroller at Steamboat. He showed me the way it should be done. He’s an excellent patroller. A soft spoken and good-hearted man who got me pointed in the right direction.

Describe your leadership style:

I try to be the first one out the door and try to lead by example. Just be out there and do the little things first, because that’s what really holds everything together. Also, I try to be inclusive and not be overly vocal.

How does your experience as a river guide inform your ski patrol career?

Being a river guide, particularly on the Middle Fork of the Salmon, we don’t have access to the civilized world, so if things go wrong, it can be a big deal—whether that’s a medical emergency or forgetting the coffee. Being a river guide makes you focus and get the details correct. This has made me look at the little things: making sure your kit is set up right, looking at your friends’ kits, rope lines and boundaries and pads.

In 10 years?

I definitely want to pursue improving my education in the ski patrol world, whether from a medical standpoint, avalanche or rope rescue standpoint. And I would want to move into a leadership role as a supervisor or an educator.

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IAN NAUDAIN

Title: Water Operator; Slopes/Snowmaking Supervisor, Eldora Mountain Resort, Colo.

Age: 28

Hometown: Louisville, Colo.

Higher Ed: Colorado State by way of University of Oregon

Six-word bio: Take responsibility. Learn everyday. Be compassionate.

First job in the industry: Snowmaker at Eldora.

How did you get here?

After graduating college, I wanted to live in the mountains and be a ski bum for a year or two. I ended up falling in love with the job and the community, and six years later I’m still here. When I started, I had no idea what snowmaking even entailed, but I listened intently and asked a lot of questions. 

A day in the life:

Snowmaking season runs from October through January. After that I supervise our terrain park build and operations. I also help coordinate special events as well as helping run the water system. The great thing about the ski industry is that it’s unpredictable. You never know what that day is going to throw at you.

What’s most challenging about your job?

The natural environment, for one. Trying to maintain a safe and positive workplace when supervising a large group of people is also challenging. We’re out in the howling wind and freezing cold, but we need to try to stay positive, have fun, and be safe at the same time. Snowmaking is an extremely dangerous job. Training people who have never experienced anything like it in their life and keeping them motivated and happy is a challenge. 

What do you love most about the job?

The culture and the people. The people that live in our mountain communities are very unique. There is a culture of adventure and excitement. The people in these communities love to be outdoors and want to adventure in it, but we also want to protect it and be stewards of that environment.

What prompted you to become certified as a water operator?

I wrote my senior thesis in college about U.S. water law. When management mentioned they wanted to get another employee certified as a water operator, I went and got my certification. Now I help run the water system here. This involves maintaining all the drinking/potable water, as well as wastewater. Also, ensuring that our water returning to streams is safe, making sure it’s up to code and treated and tested, documentation, and more.

In 10 years?

Eventually I’d like to be in the mountain ops/management field, working for our mountain operations on a wider spectrum rather than just in singular departments. I’d really love to work on the legal side of things—working with the Forest Service and special interests to find common ground, balancing stewardship of our forest with the ability to run and progress the business of running a ski area.

 

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BRENDAN RYAN

Title: Director of Special Projects, Peak Resorts

Age: 29

Hometown: Guilford, Conn.

Higher Ed: Bucknell University

Six-word bio: It will snow. Weather or not.

First job in the industry: Mountain operations intern at Mount Snow, Vt.

How did you get here?

I grew up skiing at Mount Snow since age 2, and it’s been a childhood dream to run or own a ski area since I was a little kid. In college, I harassed Mount Snow’s director or mountain operations, Dave Moulton, until he gave me a job.

A day in the life:

Heavy civil construction is my background, and I’ve always loved analysis and finance. I get a lot of satisfaction seeing things built. Peak will send me to whatever is the biggest project they’re working on, which is great, because so far they have all involved snowmaking. That’s evolved into me overseeing the snowmaking systems for seven of Peak Resorts’ properties in the Northeast.

What project are you most proud of?

The snowmaking system overhaul at Wildcat, N.H., was really fulfilling. It was soup-to-nuts. Peak spent the 2013-14 winter studying snowmaking technology at Wildcat. This information provided a roadmap for how to move forward at Wildcat, and also spurred a huge investment at two of our other properties.

What’s your leadership style?

Lead by example. I certainly would never ask anyone to do a job that I wasn’t willing to do. People will go out of their way to help you succeed if you treat them with respect.

Who’s your mentor?

I worked for hedge fund manager Jeff Benton right out of college—he showed me that with hard work I could teach myself to do whatever I want. Jeff really transformed me into the person I am today. And Dave Moulton, who has taught me so much and showed me the resources needed to succeed in the ski industry.

What do you love about your job?

I love working in the ski industry. The people and vendors I work with are incredible. I’ve developed personal relationships with vendors—they’ve become really close friends.

In 10 years?

I don’t ever want to leave the ski industry. I have my dream job now. I think the only thing that’s left is to be the CEO!

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BRITTANY SMITH

Title: Multicultural Sales and Marketing Representative, Stevens Pass, Wash.

Age: 28

Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo.

Higher Ed: University of Colorado; MA/MBA Middlebury Institute of International Studies

Six-word bio: Live for family, friends, travel, wine.

First job in the industry: Group sales rep at Stevens Pass.

How did you get here?

I grew up skiing in Colorado, and after graduating from the Middlebury Institute I was looking for a job that allowed me to get sales and marketing experience while also doing what I love and have fun.

A day in the life:

A lot of my work is collaborative as we build out our diversity programs, so I am often talking with other departments and planning events. I also spend a lot of time talking with external partners. I really enjoy the days I go to Seattle and meet with people to build relationships with stakeholders in the international community.

What do you love most about your job?

I love the creativity. My position is a new one, and we get freedom to try so many things. I enjoy starting discussions about diversity with all the departments at our resort, and when I’m in Seattle for work. Plus, the work-life balance and getting to ski an amazing mountain is quite the benefit.

What’s your most rewarding accomplishment so far?

The Lunar New Years have been my favorite thing. To really get the whole resort involved, share a new culture with some of our guests, and celebrate an important holiday with our Asian guests—that really makes me happy! Creating a fun, interactive, and welcoming space around skiing is what we hope to keep doing at Stevens Pass. 

Who is your professional mentor?

My parents shaped me into who I am today and have always supported me, but my current mentors are my manager, Matt Porter, and marketing VP Chris Danforth. I know that I still have much to learn from both of them. Every day I strive to work the lessons they've taught me into my work style.

In 10 years?

I enjoy the industry and I love my job, so I see myself sticking around. I can tell you that in six years the Winter Olympics are in Beijing, and that really fascinates me. But who knows!