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ISKINY-PSAA Expo
The annual ISKINY-PSAA Expo, Sept. 19-21, 2016, at Holiday Valley, N.Y., attracted more than 345 ski resort, vendor, and guest attendees from across North America. The program kicked off with the annual golf tournament and opportunity to demo Holiday Valley's aerial adventure parks. {loadposition sany} (Thanks to Dave Gibson from Propeller Media Works for the beautiful photos!) Participants attended seminars ranging from managing peak days to energy choices and alternatives, crisis communications, and staffing strategies. Michael Berry kicked off NSAA's Fall Education seminars with his keynote titled, "Seven Important things." These things were addressed in more detail during foll...
SAM Magazine—Enfield, N.H., Oct. 3, 2025—Whaleback Mountain has named Khara Benoit as its new general manager. Benoit has spent the past four years at Whaleback managing the lodge, events, food and beverage, and daily operations, a role that allowed her to combine her passion for the mountain with her commitment to creating community-centere...
In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight personnel moves in the mountain resort industry. From resort hires, promotions, and retirements to awards, obits, and supplier news, we celebrate the people that make this industry thrive. PEOPLE KATHY HASTINGS, STEAMBOAT RESORT, CO Steamboat Resort has promoted Kathy Hastings to vice president of food an...
SAM Magazine—Tannersville, Pa., Sept. 29, 2025—Nearly 160 ski area and supplier personnel descended on Camelback Resort last week for the National Ski Areas Association’s Mountain Technology Symposium, where IT teams, business analysts, and industry vendors gathered to explore how technology can help shape the future of the ski industry.Sever...
SAM Magazine—Slinger, Wis., Sept. 24, 2025—Schmitz Brothers Resorts has hired longtime ski industry leader Greg Fisher as the new general manager of Little Switzerland ski area, effective immediately. Fisher has 25 years of mountain resort experience, much of it in leadership roles. He most recently served for five years as general manager...
SAM Magazine—Saint-Sauveur, Quebec, Sept. 23, 2025—Les Sommets, which owns and operates five resorts in Quebec, has promoted three long-standing employees to corporate vice president roles.Simon Pagé Simon Pagé was named executive vice president and deputy general manager of the company. Isabelle St-Germain was appointed as VP of finance, an...
SAM Magazine—Ellicottville, N.Y., Sept. 18, 2025—L to R: Brandon Quinn from GetSkiBots, NSAA's Earl Saline, Ski Big Bear (Pa.) GM Lori Phillips, and NSAA's Mike Lane at the trade show.The annual joint conference and expo hosted by Ski NY and the newly rebranded and reorganized Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Association (PORA, formerly Pennsylv...
SAM Magazine—Ishpeming, Mich., Sept. 16, 2025—The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame has named eight to its Class of 2025, to honor individuals who have shaped and elevated skiing and snowboarding in America. The Hall of Fame will fete the eight at the Class of 2025 Announcement Party on Sept. 23 in Ogden, Utah. The Class will be inducted o...
SAM Magazine—Portland, Maine, Sept. 10, 2025—Ski Maine hosted the annual New England Summit in Portland this year, bringing approximately 320 attendees together at the Holiday Inn by the Bay for two half days of education and networking, Sept. 8-9.L to R: Greg Sheets of Torrent Engineering & Equipment, Ian Jarrett of HKD Snowmakers, Kris Bl...
SAM Magazine—Whistler, British Columbia, Sept. 9, 2025—The fourteenth annual SAM Summer Ops Camp convened Sept. 2-4, at the world-class indoor and outdoor classroom of Whistler Blackcomb for three days of immersive learning, forward-thinking discussions, and genuine connection. A full day on the mountain allowed both resort operators and ven...
SAM Magazine—Lake Geneva, Wis., Aug. 15, 2025—It was Bo Bigelow’s first major event as executive director of the Midwest Ski Areas Association (MSAA) and the industry showed up in droves to celebrate the future, honor the past, learn, and network.Tim Larsen, Michael Bisner, and Nicholas Vornle from Axess with Dave Meeker, SAM Magazine. The 20...
SAM Magazine—Red Lodge, Mont., July 31, 2025—Red Lodge Mountain has hired Jean Mikulas as its new president and general manager. She brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in the ski and hospitality industries to the role. Mikulas is a Montana native who earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Montana, “so the mou...
In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight personnel moves in the mountain resort industry. From resort hires, promotions, and retirements to awards, obits, and supplier news, we celebrate the people that make this industry thrive. PEOPLE GAVIN MALIA, STEAMBOAT RESORT, CO Steamboat Resort hired Gavin Malia as its new vice president of engineering,...
SAM Magazine—Madison, N.H., June 26, 2025—Longtime team member Amanda Buswell has been promoted by the Hoyt family—owners of King Pine Ski Area, Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort, and Purity Spring Resort, among other businesses—to the role of regional general manager in charge of strategic operations and planning across the portfolio. ...
SAM Magazine—Alta, Wyo., June 26, 2025—The Intermountain Ski Areas Association (ISAA) hosted its annual conference atAward Winners, Paul Etcheverry, Tim Hendrickson, and Bill Cheney. Courtesy of Emma Calder with Thunderbird Enterprise. Grand Targhee Resort, June 9-11, drawing more than 320 participants from ski areas across Idaho, Montana, U...
SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, June 24, 2025—Pacific Group Resorts (PGR) has promoted Zach Marlowe and Mike Manara to serve as general managers of Wintergreen, Va., and Mount Washington, British Columbia, respectively, effective July 1.Zach Marlowe and Mike Manara “These internal promotions reflect our ongoing commitment to cultivating leader...
SAM Magazine—Taos Ski Valley, N.M., June 20, 2025—Taos Ski Valley named longtime executive John Kelly as its new chief executive officer, with current CEO David Norden transitioning to chairman of the board in a planned leadership succession.John Kelly and David Norden “Since the resort was built 70 years ago by Ernie and Rhoda Blake, it’s...
SAM Magazine—Granby, Colo., June 19, 2025—Indy Pass and Entabeni Systems have hired four senior executives to their C-suite: Alex Lahood as chief operations officer; Olga Grunskaya as chief financial officer; Nick Niebes as chief marketing officer; and Andy Shepard as chief purpose officer, a newly created role. Seth Ogden also joined the team ...
SAM Magazine—Rossland, British Columbia, June 18, 2025—Red Mountain Resort is undergoing a major leadership transition as longtime CEO Howard Katkov and resort president Don Thompson are both stepping down from their roles and, effective July 6, industry veteran Mark Schroetel will become the resort’s new president. Mark Schroetel and Howard...
SAM Magazine—Wilmington, Vt., June 18, 2025—The Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain has appointed Joshua DeBottis as its incoming executive director and general manager, effective August 2025. DeBottis will succeed Bill Benneyan, who joined The Hermitage Club in 2020 and oversaw its successful transformation into a member-owned private mountai...
SAM Magazine—Salt Lake City, Utah, June 12, 2025—Utah’s 15 alpine ski resorts recorded 6,503,635 skier visits during the 2024–25 winter season. While down 3.6 percent from last season, it’s the third-highest skier-visit total in state history and a 3.3 percent increase over Utah’s five-year average, according to the state’s trade asso...
SAM Magazine—South Lake Tahoe, Calif., June 12, 2025—The 2025 Ski California Lift Maintenance & Operations Education (LMOE) Conference drew a record 403 attendees to South Lake Tahoe, June 3-5. Under the theme “Back to Basics,” this year’s event aimed to reinforce foundational knowledge while addressing the evolving challenges of oper...
SAM Magazine—North Conway, N.H., June 10, 2025—Nearly 400 snowsports operators and industry suppliers gathered at Cranmore Mountain Resort, June 3–5, for Ski NH’s Annual Conference and Trade Show. Loon Mountain Resort employees Andrew Noyes and Ana Yacoubian (middle) and Ski NH's president, Jessyca Keeler (right). During the event, the trad...
SAM Magazine—Warren, Vt., June 6, 2025—A total of 205 resort and supplier members gathered at Sugarbush Resort for the Ski Vermont annual meeting, June 4 and 5, where it was revealed that Vermont alpine ski areas welcomed more than 4.16 million skier visits during the 2024-25 season, up 1.1 percent year-over-year.Keynote speaker Mirna Valerio p...
In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight personnel moves in the mountain resort industry. From resort hires, promotions, and retirements to awards, obits, and supplier news, we celebrate the people that make this industry thrive. PEOPLE ETHAN AUSTIN, SADDLEBACK, MAINE Ethan Austin has been appointed director of marketing at Saddleback Ski Area...
SAM Magazine—Burke, Vt., June 2, 2025—The new owners of Burke Mountain have coaxed industry veteran Tom Day out of retirement to serve as interim general manager of the resort, effective June 5. “Honestly, unretiring again to help Burke in this transition was an easy decision. It’s what I love to do,” said Day, adding, “It’s always...
SAM Magazine—Gatineau, Quebec, May 30, 2025—More than 560 attendees gathered in Gatineau for the Eastern Canada Ski Areas Conference and Tradeshow, May 26-29. ASSQ CEO Yves Juneau (and his discerning taste in reading material) with SAM's Katie Brinton.It was the first time the event has been held since 2016. The conference brings together ski i...
SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., May 27, 2025—Kirsten Lynch has stepped down as chief executive officer of Vail Resorts, and Rob Katz, who served in the role from 2006 to 2021, is returning to the role, effective immediately. Lynch had led the company since November 2021, succeeding Katz after his 16-year tenure as CEO. During her time at the h...
SAM Magazine—Aspen, Colo., May 22, 2025—Aspen One, the parent company of Aspen Skiing Company, has promoted John Rigney, Susan Cross, and Ian Stuart, and hired Steve Stout and Trip Riggs as part of a senior-level leadership update. “We are nothing without our incredibly talented people,” said Aspen One president and CEO Dave Tanner. “O...
SAM Magazine—Marco Island, Fla., May 16, 2025—The heavy rain that was forecast for most of the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) National Convention and Trade Show wound up missing Marco Island, where a total of 919 ski area operators and industry suppliers—up more than 200 people compared to the 2024 event in Texas—gathered for four da...
SAM Magazine—Innsbruck, Austria, May 12, 2025—Interalpin returned to Innsbruck, Austria, May 6–9 for its 25th edition, marking 50 years since the alpine technology and cable car trade fair was first held. Hosted every two years, the event brought together industry professionals from across Europe and beyond to discuss infrastructure, innovati...
SAM Magazine—Nederland, Colo., April 4, 2025—Longtime resort leader Brent Tregaskis will retire as Eldora Mountain Resort president and general manager, effective May 5. Brian Dobias, CFO of Eldora owner POWDR, will serve as the resort’s interim general manager.Credit: Eldora Mountain Resort Tregaskis’s 40-year career in the industry began...
SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., April 1, 2025—Four remarkable leaders have been recognized with a 2025 SAMMY Leadership Award for their vision, hands-on dedication, and people-first leadership. This year’s honorees are: Bo Bigelow, executive director, Midwest Ski Areas Association and Minnesota Ski Areas Association; Greg Gavrilets, general manag...
SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., March 27, 2025—The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) has named two longtime ski industry leaders as the recipients of two of its most prestigious awards. Chris Cushing and Chip PerfectResort planner Chris Cushing is the 2025 NSAA Industry Impact Award honoree, and Perfect North Slopes (Ind.) owner Chip Perfect ...
In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight personnel moves in the mountain resort industry. From resort hires, promotions, and retirements to awards, obits, and supplier news, we celebrate the people that make this industry thrive. PEOPLE MIKE VAN EYCK, TENNEY MOUNTAIN, NH Mike van Eyck has been named president and general manager of Tenney Mountain....
SAM Magazine—Denver, Feb. 24, 2025—Alterra Mountain Company has appointed Diane Neville as chief people officer (CPO) and Will Forbes will serve as president and chief operating officer of the company’s Will ForbesDiane NevilleExperiences Division. “We are very excited to add these talented leaders to crucial roles within our growing compa...
SAM Magazine—Wenatchee, Wash., Feb. 20, 2025—Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort named Matt Neubauer as its new general manager. He succeeds Josh Jorgensen, who led the resort for 13 years. Jorgensen will stay involved in the Mission Ridge Expansion master development project to ensure a smooth transition. “We are thrilled to welcome Matt t...
Dinner at The Hermitage Club: Mike Reitzell, NSAA, Bill Bennyan, Hermitage Club and Jon Schaefer, Berkshire East.SAM Magazine—West Dover, Vt., Feb. 7, 2025—It's been a pretty good winter in the East so far, with consistently cold temps allowing for terrific snowmaking conditions and retention of whatever natural snow ski areas have gotten. Whil...
SAM Magazine—Jackson Hole, Wyo., Feb. 3, 2025—Mary Kate Buckley will retire as CEO of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort on May 31, 2025, after seven years leading the resort. Resort COO Doug Pierini will succeed Buckley on June 1, 2025. Doug Pierini and Mary Kate Buckley “It has been an incredible honor to work with Mary Kate, from her time on ...
SAM Magazine—Olympic Valley, Calif., Jan. 20, 2025—Attendance was up at NSAA’s Western Winter Conference, with more than 670 ski industry folks gathering at Palisades Tahoe, Jan. 14-16, for the education and networking event. Total attendance surpassed numbers for 2024 and 2023. NSAA’s new CEO Mike Reitzell welcomed everyone at a hosted br...
SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Jan. 9, 2024—The Professional Ski Instructors of America and American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI) has named Jeff Lifgren as its new CEO, following an extensive national search. Lifgren, the former Vail Resorts ski and snowboard school executive sponsor, will start Jan. 13. “We are thrilled t...
SAM Magazine—Whistler, British Columbia, Jan. 7, 2025—Industry luminary and Canadian Ski Hall of Fame inductee Roger McCarthy died unexpectedly over the weekend. He was 75.Courtesy of Canadian Ski Hall of Fame & Museum "Roger was an authentic leader who connected with his team at every level. That connection resulted in an organizational e...
In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight personnel moves in the mountain resort industry. From resort hires, promotions, and retirements to awards, obits, and supplier news, we celebrate the people that make this industry thrive. PEOPLE KARA FINLEY, TAMARACK RESORT, ID Tamarack Resort chief financial officer Kara Finley is now also the resort’s ...
SAM Magazine—Brighton, Mich., Dec. 30, 2024—Vail Resorts has promoted Megan Greenlee from senior manager of food and beverage at Afton Alps, Minn., to general manager of Mt. Brighton in Michigan, effective January 13.Credit to Mt. Brighton She succeeds Mike Giorgio, who took over as general manager of Stowe Mountain Resort, Vt., in November....
SAM Magazine—Cheyenne, Wyo., Dec. 20, 2024—Grand America Hotels & Resorts has promoted Pete Sonntag to chief operating officer of Sun Valley Resort, Idaho, and Davy Ratchford to chief operating officer of Snowbasin Resort, Utah. Both will also continue in their current capacity as general managers of their respective resorts. Davy Ratchfo...
SAM Magazine—West Dover, Vt., Dec. 4, 2024—Lea Gabrielle Potts is the new vice president and general manager of Mount Snow, Vt., effective Dec. 19. A newcomer to the ski industry, Potts fills a seat that’s been vacant since late July when former Mount Snow VP and GM Brian Suhadolc departed for Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia. Accord...
SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt., Dec. 4, 2024—The annual Stifel Killington Cup, a women’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup race, drew more than 39,000 visitors to Killington Resort over Thanksgiving weekend, with a record 21,500 in attendance for Saturday’s giant slalom race featuring Mikaela Shiffrin, who was racing for a historic 100th win. This is t...
SAM Magazine—Twin Bridges, Calif., Dec. 4, 2024—Dan Healy is returning to Sierra-at-Tahoe, this time as the resort’s vice president and general manager, effective early January 2025. Healy previously served as director of snowsports at Sierra for more than three years until 2021, when he moved to his current role as vice president, recreation...
SAM Magazine—Gorham, N.H., Dec. 3, 2024—Vail Resorts has appointed Brandon Swartz general manager of Wildcat Resort, effective immediately. Swartz, who currently serves as general manager of Attitash Mountain, will now oversee operations at both resorts, fostering greater collaboration between the neighboring properties.Credit Wildcat Mountain ...
SAM Magazine—Boston, Mass., Nov. 25, 2024—Snowbound Boston returned to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Nov. 15-17. Attendance was flat year-over-year, with the event drawing more than 21,000 visitors across three days of sunny and mild weather in the city. Event organizer Racoon Media Group reported having more than 200 brands an...
SAM Magazine—Princeton, Mass., Nov. 21, 2024—Wachusett Mountain co-owner and ski industry leader David Crowley died Wednesday, Nov. 20. He was 69. Crowley succumbed to a rare degenerative neurological disease called progressive supranuclear palsy, or PSP. He was diagnosed several years ago. There is no known cure. Wachusett shared the new...
SAM Magazine—Greenwood, Maine, Nov. 21, 2024—Mt. Abram Ski Area & Bike Park hired Josh Thompson as its new general manager. Thompson previously served as a mountain operations manager at Sunday River, Maine. “With over 15 years in the ski industry, specializing in mountain operations and risk management, Josh brings a wealth of expertise...
SAM Magazine—Crested Butte, Colo., Nov. 20, 2024—Vail Resorts named JD Crichton as the new vice president and general manager of Crested Butte Mountain Resort, effective Dec. 9. Crichton has served as director and general manager of Wildcat Mountain Resort in New Hampshire since 2021.Credit Myles Harrigan, Wildcat Mountain Resort As general man...
SAM Magazine—Bennington, N.H., Nov. 21, 2024—Vail Resorts has promoted Deirdre Riley to general manager of Crotched Mountain, effective Nov. 25. Riley most recently served as senior mountain operations manager at Attitash Mountain, N.H.Credit Vail Resorts “With nearly 25 years in the ski industry, Deirdre brings a wealth of experie...
SAM Magazine—Petaluma, Calif., Nov. 19, 2024—The Ski California board of directors has appointed 47-year industry veteran John Rice as the association’s new president. Rice, who has served as vice president and general manager of Sierra-at-Tahoe since 1993, succeeds Mike Reitzell, who was named president and CEO of the National Ski Areas Asso...
SAM Magazine—Melbourne, Australia, Nov. 13, 2024—The Australian Ski Areas Association (ASAA), which represents the interests of Australia’s ski areas and their stakeholders, has named Josh Elliott as its new chief executive officer. His appointment comes as the ASAA looks to strengthen its position as a leading advocate for the snow industry...
In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight personnel moves in the mountain resort industry. From resort hires, promotions, and retirements to awards, obits, and supplier news, we celebrate the people that make this industry thrive. PEOPLE: CHRIS INGHAM, BRECKENRIDGE RESORT, CO Chris Ingham was appointed vice president of operations for Breckenri...
SAM Magazine—Stowe, Vt., Nov. 7, 2024—Vail Resorts appointed Mike Giorgio as general manager of Stowe Mountain Resort, effective Nov. 18. Giorgio mostly recently led six of Vail Resorts’ Midwest ski areas as regional general manager. He was based out of Mt. Brighton Resort, Mich. Credit to Vail Resorts “Mike’s appointment as the new GM...
SAM Magazine—Saint Paul, Minn., Nov. 1, 2024—The Midwest Ski Areas Association (MSAA) has named Bo Bigelow as its next executive director, effective today. His predecessor Amy Reents stepped down in October after leading MSAA for more than eight years. Bigelow will continue to serve as executive director of the Minnesota Ski Areas Associatio...
SAM Magazine—Truckee, Calif., Nov. 1, 2024—Vail Resorts has named Tara Schoedinger vice president and general manager of Northstar California Resort, effective Nov. 11. She moves from Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Colo., where she served in the same role. At Northstar, Schoedinger takes over for Amy Ohran, who became president and COO of Palis...
SAM Magazine—Revelstoke, British Columbia, Oct. 30, 2024—Dave Morrison is the new CEO of Mica Heliskiing, a boutique heliski operation and lodge in the Canadian Rockies. Morrison has more than 25 years of ski industry experience. “Dave Morrison is a proven leader with a remarkable track record in managing and growing luxury ski resorts and...
