10 Under 30

July 2022

10 Under 30

This year's class of 20-somethings are adept problem solvers, team players, and emerging leaders at their resorts.

Written by: Halley O'Brien, April Darrow

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In a season where staffing shortages and strong demand created myriad challenges (and opportunities) for ski areas across North America, these 10 20-something rising stars showed their strengths. Empathy, humility, a keen ability to problem-solve, and a deep passion for the industry are common traits among this year’s “10 Under 30” class, who hail from little hills like Yawgoo Valley, Rhode Island’s only ski area, and major operations like Tahoe’s 4,800-acre Heavenly Resort.

This year, we asked the inimitable Halley O’Brien to interview our class of 2022. Recognized as a “10 Under 30” herself in 2011, Halley understands on a personal level the way raw talent and enthusiasm can be shaped into a truly impactful career in the industry. We could think of no one better suited to speak with this crop of young, hungry snowsports professionals, who are ready and able to take our industry through its next evolution.

CLICK ON A NOMINEE TO READ THEIR PROFILE AND INTERVIEW. THEN, CAST YOUR VOTE FOR WHICH "10 UNDER 30" YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO WORK FOR—THERE ARE BRAGGING RIGHTS AT STAKE! — THE EDITORS

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jul22 10u30 shaley bergeron

Shaley Bergeron first stood sideways on snow at 10-years-old in the McIntyre Ski Area snowsports program. She was soon hooked on the sport and the mountain lifestyle. While attending school, Shaley worked winter seasons in ticketing and events, and eventually worked her way into her current full-time year-round role as assistant manager of the ski area where she experienced her first turns. In addition, she’s a fourth-year ski patroller—a testament of her commitment to the industry, and the sport.

What do you love about your job/mountain?

For me, it’s all about the people and the camaraderie. We’re a tight-knit family. Anyone that joins the team immediately feels like family. It’s pretty special.

What’s a challenge you encountered this year?

The last two seasons have been a little different, to say the least. We had to rethink our operations as we navigated the Covid-19 pandemic. During the 2020-21 season, we were insanely busy; it was an all-hands-on-deck situation every day. It was very difficult explaining to customers that the mountain and tubing was at capacity before it had even opened. We definitely had to get creative.

What are you most excited about at McIntyre next season?

We finally launched online ticket sales toward the end of last season, so we’re excited to bring that to our customers next winter. I think this definitely came from the capacity struggles we experienced during the height of Covid. It’ll definitely help in many day-to-day aspects.

What leadership traits do you admire the most?

Making people feel valued. I always support the underdog and help them to be seen and to shine. I’m shy, so I understand and appreciate that kind of support. I love to help people discover their potential. We have a lot of staff still in high school—about 90 percent—and it’s very rewarding to help them discover and evolve into who they’re going to be in life.

Your natural sense of empathy must come in handy while ski patrolling. Was that a fit for you?

I took the O.E.C. (Outdoor Emergency Care) course to join the patrol after our patrol director encouraged me to do so. I really have learned so much, and am very glad that I did that. I just want to learn as much as I can, when I can, and I love to help people.

Describe your perfect day on the mountain.

I’m pretty easy going, so I’m happy with a beautiful sunny day, with great snow (no ice!). It would be great if it ended with a beer with friends. Work-wise? I would say getting to the mountain nice and early, with great weather, fully staffed and no major operational curveballs.

jul22 10u30 scott dalton

Some people just know that they want to pursue a career in the ski business, and Scott Dalton is one of those lucky people. Thanks to the support of his family who encouraged him to follow his passions, Scott went to Colorado Mountain College where he studied Ski Area Operations. While a student, Scott landed a job and climbed the ranks at nearby Winter Park, Colo. Now a level 3 lift mechanic, Scott is happy to call Winter Park home, surrounded by a team of like-minded people who love problem solving and being outdoors.

What do you love about your job/mountain?

I love the people and being outside every day. Every day is different, from seasonal maintenance to in-season when the radio goes off and I have to diagnose a problem and get it fixed quickly…I love the challenge. And Winter Park really is a great place to live. Winter Park Valley is small enough to know everyone, but big enough for services.

What’s a challenge you encountered this year?

There will always be day-to-day challenges. And occasionally, there will be bigger ones, such as the major overhaul of the resort’s Village Cabriolet. We installed a new haul rope last year, and then bearings in the main bullwheels. It was a big project and very rewarding.

Can you share some professional advice?

Every person has their own way of doing something. My advice to someone is learn how everyone does that job and pick the parts that work for you. No one way is perfect. And once you learn how people on your team function, you come together as a team. My co-worker Alex, he’s my right-hand person. We’ve gotten to the point where he will hand me a tool almost without having to discuss it. It just flows.

What’s one thing you must have on a ski or snowboard trip?

Something that’s always with me—skiing, biking, swimming—one specific leather belt. I was given it as a gift by my girlfriend at the time. Tube to river, that belt is always with me.

Any bucket list items we should know about?

I want to go to Alaska and spend as much time as I can there. I always wanted to go to Alaska as a kid. The landscape is special. The mountains are grander, the wildlife … it’s just a whole different way of life. It’d be a unique experience.

How did you feel when you found out you were recognized by SAM?

It’s a major deal to be honored. It shows my peers respect me and my abilities and see that it should be shared with others. We have the SAM subscription at the shop and it’s nice to know that lift maintenance was represented.

jul22 10u30 danielle dandrea

Danielle D’Andrea was born into a skiing family in New Hampshire and learned to ski “as a baby.” When her family picked up and moved to the flat prairie lands of Illinois, though, the world of winter took a backseat. Fast forward to college at the University of Rhode Island, where Danielle overheard a classmate talking about snowmaking at the nearby ski area, Yawgoo Valley. “But Rhode Island is the Ocean State,” she thought to herself. She became intrigued and applied to be a lift operator at the ski area because the job sounded unique—and it came with a free season pass. The rest is ongoing history.

Describe a typical day at Yawgoo Valley.

Well, we are the only ski area in Rhode Island. We’re a small area with a small, tight knit team. In season, I work with the lift attendants, rentals, and other operations, managing attendance and staffing. If someone doesn’t show, you either fill it or work it yourself. But honestly, I’ve been very lucky with my staff’s commitment to their shift and the mountain.

And we joke around that most know us as the state’s largest babysitter. It’s actually really nice to know that the parents trust us with their families and their children, and I love being able to provide such a safe, fun, family place.

What keeps you in the ski business?

I wouldn’t necessarily say my heart is in the “ski business.” My heart is in Yawgoo. I love the people here, and I love the mountain. I don’t know that I’d ever look for a new job at a bigger mountain. As long as there is opportunity at Yawgoo, I will definitely stay here. And, I went to college for teaching, so my expertise is in the education system, so it’s really cool that the management here sees potential in me and wants to invest in that. I appreciate it.

What’s a lesson you learned this season?

I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is to not be afraid to ask questions. I am always trying to learn and understand how things work, why we do what we do, etc. It’s probably annoying to my staff; I hope they don’t mind!

Most memorable moment this season?

When my friend, a rental tech, Ricardo [Napoles Marty] learned to ski for the first time. Ricardo is from Cuba and is a great artist—he sculpts and paints. So, one day, Ricardo decided he wanted to learn to ski. He asked all of us for pointers, but we’re all snowboarders. So, we did our best to explain “pizza and French fry,” and then we got him set up with equipment and I think he took a lesson. He came back at the end of the day so excited and happy. He had a great time skiing. His happiness is contagious, and it was cool to be a part of that experience for him.

jul22 10u30 ricardo illus Ricardo drawing of Danielle. Ricardo’s professional work: https://www.napolesmarty.com/home.

Best professional advice?

Be cautious of the staff from the old management. Just because someone else brought them in, doesn’t mean you’ve got to keep them. I like hiring new people with fresh ideas that mesh well with the culture we are trying to create. It’s important to build a solid team that is on the same page working toward the same goals.

Anything else you’d like to add?

It really comes down to the people. Our management … we all wear a lot of hats and work very well together. It’s been great to work with them and have the opportunity to learn new things. From rentals, to snowmaking, to management… I really do love operations.

Yawgoo is a woman-owned area, and I feel that is the reason Yawgoo is what it is today. The example set by Tracy (owner) is exactly why I am there. She has shown not only me, but each employee, what it means to be dedicated while showing kindness, compassion, and pride in your work. She is the bar we are all hoping to reach one day. I would not be the operations manager that I am without her leadership.

If you had to pick one thing to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I feel like it has to be pizza. Or sushi. Or cheese enchiladas.

Are you hungry now?

Yep, pretty much.

jul22 10u30 elise fontyn

Elise Fontyn grew up in Cambridge, Ont., and started skiing at the age of five before switching to snowboarding at age nine. Elise always knew she wanted to work in the ski business, especially at one of her local ski areas. Early on in her career, Elise would take three city buses and commute two hours each way to her first job as a lift operator. “I don’t know what was in the water there, but I loved it,” she explains. And her love for the industry has only grown in her role at Calabogie Peaks as the indoor operations and marketing manager.

You’re from a skiing family. How did that help shape your passion?

My family took a ski trip to Jay Peak (Vt.,) when I was little. I remember being in a weeklong ski school program there, and at the end of the week, they took us to the top to mountain and said “Go!” I loved it. In fact, every time my friends would travel somewhere south and warm on vacation, we would be headed somewhere wintry.

What do you love about Calabogie Peaks?

It’s an hour west of Ottawa, so it’s got mountains, land, and lake. It’s a year-round resort with year-round offerings like golf and weddings, too. I just love the seasonality of the tourism industry. It’s never dull, and just as you start to feel comfortable, the season changes and it’s on to the next thing. Keeps you on your toes, and I love that kind of fast-paced work.

What is one lesson you’ve learned from your role at Calabogie?

Working as team is very important. When everyone gets their hands dirty, everyone understands what each person goes through. In the end, it creates a much stronger team. It also helps to spawn new ideas, and new processes to consider. Everyone can always bring something to the table, regardless of a resume or years of experience. We can all learn from each other.

What do you think is the industry’s biggest opportunity for growth?

People are starting to discover that skiing isn’t that scary, and it’s not that inaccessible. Covid allowed people to try new things, especially new outdoor activities. The internet is too perfect, and resorts need to start showing the honesty. No matter your age, your fitness level, or your experience, there is something out there for you. And it’s great to have those kinds of offerings available here at Calabogie. In the summer, we have our beach, which is great for stand-up paddle boarding, or just hanging out on the sand, and of course, skiing and snowboarding in the winter. New people and new skiers that don’t know they’re skiers yet but they’ll get out there.

If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Sushi. No hesitation.

jul22 10u30 brendan hickey

Having grown up skiing there, Brendan Hickey has always called Mt. Shasta Ski Park home, though his was not a direct-to-slopes kind of career path. After considering working for the California Highway Patrol and then finding himself confined in a cubicle, Brendan eventually made his way back home to Mt. Shasta. And while his title reads chief financial officer, he wears a lot of hats, from accounting and human resources to marketing and beyond. And even after six years with the ski area, Brendan says that no two days are the same—and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

What about Mt. Shasta is special to you?

I was born and raised at Mt. Shasta. It was always my home mountain; I grew up skiing there, though it wasn’t necessarily a place I had planned on working at. For a while, in college, I initially thought I wanted to work for the California Highway Patrol, however, that turned out to be too structured for my liking. I much prefer things to be dynamic, and that’s one of the biggest draws for me about this business. Because we’re a smaller mountain, and I’m a part of a small team, we all wear a lot of hats. Whether I’m in accounting, helping out in I.T. or building a marketing plan, it’s all very fluid and keeps me on my toes.

What leadership traits do you admire?

Without question, the most important traits in a leader are integrity and transparency. These are two of the qualities I have come to appreciate from my leaders, and the traits I try to embody with my team. If the expectation is clear and communication is along the lines of an “open door policy,” it’s beneficial for everyone to work together toward the same goal and be successful.

What’s a challenge you encountered this season?

Quite honestly, technology has been a little bit of a struggle. I continue to push us in the direction of embracing technology, and sometimes it’s hard to get the buy-in across the board. But, if I can explain how this new approach or new tech will benefit those that are skeptical, it helps. For example, we looked at Covid as a way to test new technologies, specifically with the ability to forecast how busy we will be and how to plan for that.

What do you love about your job/mountain?

No day is the same. Initially, I would try to plan my day, give myself three major tasks that I needed to get done. And that was with the best of intentions. However, now, I don’t necessarily set those rigid expectations because the season is a living and breathing thing. I come to work, ready for anything, and I love that. And also, I can go skiing or snowboarding. It’s a great escape. That mental reset is so important, and it helps remind you why you’re here.

We heard you’re in the middle of a big project. Tell us about it.

Oh, it’s really exciting. We’re currently constructing a long-awaited, highly anticipated new lift. Like, this lift has been talked about for 20-plus years. It is only coming to fruition now, after a commitment with Doppelmayr, and to finally see this project come to life after such a long buildup, it’s really exciting. I’m very happy to be a part of it. And if all goes according to plan, our new lift should be operational this winter.

What do you like to do for fun?

I’m a big outdoorsman. I love being outside. Whether I’m hunting, fishing, riding quads, or camping, I just love reconnecting with nature. Out of them all, I would say my favorite pastime is hunting. I just love the challenge of it, the pursuit, and the fulfillment. It really connects you to a primal history, and makes you feel small in the world. It makes you appreciate where it all came from.

jul22 10u30 jacob madecky

Jacob Madecky has been skiing since “before he could remember.” The California native grew up sliding at Big Bear with his family, and then strengthened his passion for winter sports through his high school racing program while living in Wisconsin. Jake continued racing through college at Colorado State University while pursuing a degree in natural resources and tourism with a focus in ski area management. Now, back in his home state of California at Heavenly, Jake has worked his way up the ranks, wearing many hats in the patrol, safety, and management spaces.

What do you love about your job/mountain?

I love creating tools to empower people. I’ve worked on a couple of projects prior to my current role. One major project was the development and creation of a suite of training videos that helped our activities team greatly. This provided a baseline for the trainers and trainees, and it became a huge resource: more than 19 videos for every activity on the mountain. While in mountain safety, I created a dashboard that provides analytics that helps teams see where to focus efforts, where we can educate guests, enforce safety, etc.

What are your goals?

My ultimate goal is to become a general manager. I’ve learned that health and safety allows you to partner and work with every department, and my current role allows me to shadow lift maintenance, ski and ride school, F&B, etc. This has really helped me gain a better understanding of those different lines of business, and how safety is a factor and, at times, a challenge. Driving a successful safety culture allows for high efficiency ROI.

What developments have you stoked for the future of snowsports?

I spent three summers in the summer activities department. Truthfully, the entire summer side of ski resorts fascinates me. The future of ski resorts revolves around a sustainable workforce and operation. It takes time to convert a resort from winter to summer offerings, and some do it better than others based on terrain and operations. The more we can do to eliminate any kind of downtime to keep operational will be beneficial in keeping employees through the entire year versus seasonally. The struggle of being a season-to-season employee can be difficult to budget for in our mountain communities. I think the industry is on the right track, and I’m super excited to see the potential of summer activities at resorts come to life. For winter, the accessibility and the focus of diversifying the clientele we attract is also a huge opportunity for development and growth. We will all benefit if we better open up the ski industry to everyone.

What is on your bucket list?

I want to keep traveling and visit as many ski resorts as possible, summer or winter. Currently, I’ve visited 36 resorts in total. I’ve been to and worked at Perisher in Australia, but I would really like to visit and ski Japan. Canada is also up there on the list, with an eventual stop in Europe down the line.

jul22 10u30 ian mccluskey

Ian McClusky lets his passion be his guide. This self-proclaimed ski bum first stepped into a pair of skis when he was seven years old, and immediately grew fascinated with the science and process of snowmaking. With a background in farming and a love for the outdoors, Ian cut his teeth at Sunday River in Maine, where he and his team have shared great experiences making and improving the product skiers and riders come to enjoy each season.

Who are you? How did you get into the industry? Why do you stay?

I grew up skiing at Pats Peak in New Hampshire with a few bigger trips to Sunday River. I had always heard great things about their snow and the mountain, so I was intrigued. I had a natural interest in snowmaking. I kept thinking, “How does this all work? How do they do it?” When I had the opportunity, I applied for a night shift and everything clicked from there. Everyone on the team has a big passion for snowmaking and the product you’re putting out there.

Describe a challenge you encountered this season and how you overcame it.

This past season went pretty smooth, honestly. We did a lot of snowmaking upgrades last summer, which set us up nicely this past winter season; we can make a lot more snow with upgrades, more trails open faster with better snow quality. We also have a good-sized crew, so that, plus the equipment upgrades, made everything run smooth and more intuitive.

What was your most memorable working moment this season?

A few memorable moments come to mind. First, I would say firing up our brand-new equipment for the first time. It came with a learning curve for sure, but once we got familiar, it was smooth sailing and very rewarding to see it in action.

And this one night, I’ll never forget, we were out on the hill overnight making snow and found ourselves in the middle of a thunderstorm. You’re surrounded by darkness and suddenly, the entire sky and mountain lights up from a lightning strike. My buddy thought I was messing with him with my head lamp. It was pretty cool.

What’s the best professional advice you’ve ever gotten?

Best thing—don’t be scared to jump into it. Surround yourself with people with similar passions. And great teamwork is very important. A coordinated effort helps put a process to the madness.

What’s one item on your bucket list?

Disappear to Alaska! I’d like to get back into farming. I used to be in vegetable farming, and it taught me a lot. Specifically, how to run a crew, and be passionate about what you’re doing. There’s nothing more telling than farming; if you’re not doing your job properly, it shows.

What do you like to do for fun when you’re not at the mountain?

Fishing, camping, and kayaking.

jul22 10u30 hannah mercer

Hannah Mercer is a problem solver who, having never skied or snowboarded before, never thought she’d wind up in the ski business. Hannah was adopted in Bolivia, grew up overseas by way of Kenya and Indonesia, and eventually traveled back stateside to her father’s home state of Michigan. There, she thought she’d take a seasonal job to bridge the gap between school and career. And like many of us that “came for just one season,” Hannah discovered a love and passion for the outdoors, technology, and a resort family that she continues to call home.

What do you love about your job/mountain?

Boyne focuses on long term goals, and they’ve become more transparent with those goals. For us, it helps to keep the fire burning when we know what we’re working toward, and why we’re working toward it. And as far as individual professional development, they’ll support you if you want to pursue something. It’s also great to see that most of the staff recreates at the place they work; I think it says a lot. Everyone is always friendly, always welcoming.

It’s a huge community, and it’s really easy to want to be here, both on and off the clock. I love the people I work with and the ski community. It’s something I never thought I’d be immersed in as I never skied or snowboarded until I got my job, and I probably never would’ve if I didn’t come here. It’s a really good time.

What’s a hot topic in your department right now?

Technology is definitely top of mind these days. I love puzzles, and my team quickly noticed that about me, so they presented me with different opportunities to streamline our online offerings. And when Covid hit, we kind of had to rip the band aid off rather quickly when it came to moving everything online. And now, I’m really excited to dive deeper into using these tools for e-commerce to the fullest extent. I’m always asking questions like, “What are customers having the most difficulty with? How can we make it better?” We’re really leaning into the development side of things, and making the overall experience better for the guest.

What leadership traits do you admire?

Support, both on a professional and personal level. Boyne Resorts invests in people and it’s awesome to see. For a little while, I was homeless in the ski town, and Boyne really stepped up. They set me up with employee housing, despite my having a dog. They were very accommodating and helpful. I’ve also tried to do that as well, to show a lot of appreciation to a lot of people.

What do you think is the industry’s biggest opportunity for growth?

I think we have a lot of opportunity for growth in tech and sustainability. In some ways, they go hand in hand: better tech could lead to better sustainability. There’s a lot I think we need to be more conscious about. I’ve noticed many resort companies coming together over the last few years to do more to improve sustainability, and that is important to me. I also think the tech is going to get better for smaller resorts. Our guests want to jump from experience to experience without hassle, and I think technology will eventually build upon and improve the guest experience. If we’re able to make our systems more cohesive, we’re making the experience better for our guest.

jul22 10u30 kaitlyn schwalbe

Kaitlyn Schwalbe’s path into the ski industry was serendipitous, and anything but obvious. Kaitlyn grew up in Park City, Utah, and has been skiing since she could stand. However, it was never a clear career path. Instead, she traveled the world as a dancer until she had the epiphany—the one we can all relate to, whether or not we have rhythm—that she wanted to do something outdoors, free of four walls, with an ability to reconnect with nature.

Sounds like this was a pretty radical life change for you.

Yes. I felt like I just had a panic attack one day and had to get out of L.A. I stopped dancing and started working for Lululemon, and it was during one of our photoshoots at Snowbasin in Utah that everything changed. I just watched the resort employees out and about, enjoying the mountains, and asked myself, “How do you get to call THIS your office?” I gave my notice to Lululemon soon after, and my career with Snowbasin began. I’ve been with the resort for a year and a half so far, and I love it.

What’s a challenge you encountered this season?

My first season was at the height of Covid, so that presented a series of challenges. We introduced a new mountain safety program, which is in its second season. Our first season was very successful but came with some trial and error. One of my main goals was adding structure and a branding program. I wouldn’t say it was necessarily a struggle, but rather a lot of work, a lot of hands-on time, planning, as well as getting buy-in from other departments on goals and expectations. It took tenacity, and I’m happy to say year two has been successful, growing the people on the team, expanding my area of expertise around the mountain.

What does the mountain safety program do?

Well, mountain safety is responsible for monitoring the family safety zone. This is super fun. A lot of times, kids and families will come up to us and perfectly recite the full Skier’s Responsibility Code because they know they’ll be rewarded with a free hot chocolate voucher. We’ve had over 1,000 recorded interactions with guests on the mountain, and they range from preventative, to fun, educational, and gratitude.

What leadership traits do you admire?

Integrity, humility, grit, tenacity. I would never ask someone on my team to do something that I wouldn’t do. If we’re taking out the trash and find it has a broken liner, we got this together. Follow through is important. I admire that in other leaders and hold myself to it as well. Grit and tenacity have gotten me through the last two seasons.

What’s the best professional advice you’ve ever gotten?

Our resort motto is: We can do hard things. It’s great to have successes, and we celebrate those successes, but it also means that we’re on the right path to ask, “what else can we do? In what other ways can we improve?” And when things get tough, we remember, “we can do hard things.” It’ll all work out, and we’ll find a way through it.

What’s on your playlist?

I’m a HUGE country fan. Being in Nashville earlier this summer was a dream. I would say most of my road trips would start and end with country music, with everything else sprinkled in the middle.

jul22 10u30 ryder pittz

Ryder Pittz describes his career journey into snow sports as an “inevitability.” The fourth generation Coloradan was raised by “two ski bums who were raised by ski bums” and has been around the world of ski instruction his whole life through his parents. While ski instruction wasn’t necessarily an immediate passion, Ryder loves his mountain and the kids he teaches, and he has found purpose and fun through his role as ski and ride school supervisor at Loveland Ski Area in Colorado.

What is it about instruction that lights you up?

I love teaching kids under 14 since my own cognitive ability is that of a 10- or 12-year-old. (laughs) Joking aside, it is the only way to guarantee you’ll have fun with your day. Three years ago, I jumped into the supervisor role, and now I have the opportunity to teach other instructors how to teach kids, too. While I wasn’t initially drawn to instruction, I’ve always valued the combination of doing something and doing it well. And being able to share it with kids, plus having a natural ability for it, it becomes something that you love.

What was the biggest challenge you faced this year?

We’re still dealing with impacts of Covid this year. While we were fortunate to stay open, we were navigating public health issues, as well as staffing issues. When in a managerial role at a ski area, it’s not an easy job when you don’t have the roles you typically do in-season. We felt it across the resort, but we managed. The relationships you build with staff help you build equity with your staff so everyone can work to get the job done.

What do you think is the industry’s biggest opportunity for growth?

Loveland is the closest ski area to the Denver metro area, and we’re also the last independently owned ski area on the front range. Comparatively, we’re like the bargain bin, as our prices for lessons are sometimes half or a third of what others are charging. We see kids and adults trying skiing for the first time who might be priced out of the market in bigger resort towns. Loveland also works with a few groups out of the Denver area, including the Chris Anthony Youth Initiative Program, which exposes kids to more outdoor activities and experiential learning. Programs like that are great for bringing accessibility to the mountains.

What’s the best professional advice you’ve ever gotten?

I’ve gotta dive deep into the chasm of my brain for this one. I have a great relationship with my boss, Dan Houston. One thing he’s really good at, and what I strive to be good at, is being accessible to our team. We have a lot of young people on our staff, so helping them navigate their first full time job out of college or high school, it’s important and something I try to excel at.

And the worst?

It’s less advice and more of a mindset: I try to avoid being bottom-line oriented. I’ve worked for companies that are about maximizing profits, and that’s the worst part of the capitalistic part of our society. I report to our director, and I’m the one that goes to bat for my instructors. Of course, we still need to make money, but making sure that it isn’t done at the expense of the employees or the guests is what I am trying to achieve.

Fun fact?

I live in Georgetown, and a colleague’s dog is my town’s mayor. I didn’t vote for him.

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