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 chief operating officer. Finley has nearly 20 years of experience in the private sector where she led mergers and acquisitions, conducted internal audits, and managed operations for various national and international companies. She has been with Tamarack since 2021.

JARED EVERSON, SNOWHAVEN SKI & TUBING AREA, ID

Jared Everson has been promoted to serve as manager of Snowhaven Ski & Tubing Area—an appointment that allowed the municipally-owned ski area to open for the season. Snowhaven was without a manager prior to promoting Everson, who has worked at Snowhaven for the last three years as a lift operator and instructor. 

TODD ARMSTRONG, RACHEL WESSEL, REBECCA REPP, and LILLY DAVIES, BRUNDAGE MOUNTAIN, ID

Todd Armstrong was promoted to chief financial officer for Brundage Mountain Resort and Brundage Mountain Holdings. Armstrong has decades of experience in accounting and strategic financial management. Most recently, he was the director of finance for Brundage.

Rachel Wessel, Brundage Mountain’s employee services manager, was promoted to the newly created role of director of employee services. 

Rebecca Repp has joined Brundage as food and beverage director. Repp brings 16 years of hospitality experience specializing in special event catering and food service management.

Lilly Davies is now Brundage mountain sports school director. Davies holds multiple certifications from the Professional Ski Instructors of America and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors. She also maintains the highest certification in adaptive alpine skiing.

PAT MORGAN, KISSING BRIDGE, NY

Pat Morgan has recently joined Kissing Bridge as head of freestyle terrain. Morgan is a ski industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience in non-traditional sport, hospitality, and resort industries. 

REBECCA MUNKELWITZ, VERMONT SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION

The Vermont Ski Areas Association recently hired Rebecca Munkelwitz as marketing and partnership manager. Munkelwitz’s 10 years of previous marketing and communications experience includes roles at SlopeStyle Ski & Ride, Northern Vermont University, and most recently, Vermont State University.

JOSH MILLER, STEAMBOAT, CO

Steamboat has hired Josh Miller as its lodging operations director. Miller has been in the lodging industry for more than 20 years, particularly around Steamboat Springs. In his new role, Miller will be responsible for overseeing daily operations of lodging, vacation rental management, and affiliated homeowner’s associations. 

JEFF SCHMIDT, RED LODGE MOUNTAIN, MT

Jeff Schmidt, general manager of Red Lodge Mountain, is retiring. Schmidt first joined Red Lodge in the late 1990s as a lift mechanic and went on to work at Solitude Resort and Deer Valley in Utah. He returned to Red Lodge in 2008 as director of mountain operations and was promoted to general manager in 2009.

LEXI DOWDALL, ALTA SKI AREA, UT

Alta Ski Area’s new communications and public relations manager is Lexi Dowdall. Dowdall has years of experience as a freelance writer for Ski Utah and brand ambassador for Picture Organic Clothing, and is also a burgeoning artist.

Credit to Mt. Brighton MEGAN GREENLEE, MT. BRIGHTON, MI

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. Greenlee began her ski industry career at Afton Alps in rentals and advanced through roles in group sales, events, and product sales and services before leading the food and beverage department. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

LEA GABRIELLE POTTS, MOUNT SNOW, VT

Lea Gabrielle Potts is the new vice president and general manager of Mount Snow. A newcomer to the ski industry, Potts is a former Navy fighter pilot who has served in various governmental roles and also as a reporter and correspondent for different local and national media outlets. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

DAN HEALY, SIERRA-AT-TAHOE, CA

Dan Healy is returning to Sierra-at-Tahoe, this time as the resort’s vice president and general manager. Healy previously served as director of snowsports at Sierra for more than three years. He was most recently vice president, recreational services at Solitude in Utah. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

Credit WildcatBRANDON SWARTZ, WILDCAT MOUNTAIN, NH

Vail Resorts has appointed Brandon Swartz as general manager of Wildcat. Swartz, who also serves as general manager of Attitash Mountain, will now oversee operations at both resorts, fostering greater collaboration between the neighboring properties. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

JOSH THOMPSON, MT. ABRAM, ME

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. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

Credit Myles Harrigan, Wildcat Mountain ResortJD CRICHTON, CRESTED BUTTE MOUNTAIN RESORT, CO

Vail Resorts named JD Crichton as the new vice president and general manager of Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Crichton had served as director and general manager of Wildcat Mountain in New Hampshire since 2021. He first started his career at Crested Butte in 1998 as a bellman. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

Credit Vail ResortsDEIRDRE RILEY, CROTCHED MOUNTAIN RESORT, NH

Vail Resorts has promoted Deirdre Riley to general manager of Crotched Mountain. Riley most recently served as senior mountain operations manager at Attitash Mountain, N.H. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

JOHN RICE, SKI CALIFORNIA

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. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

SUPPLIER

Sweden-based Hestra Gloves appointed James Hampton as president of its North America division. Dino Dardano retired after 20 years in the role.

Ecosign, a mountain resort planning company, is celebrating its 50th anniversary (1975-2025)

Doppelmayr USA hired Alex Adema as vice president of sales. Adema brings in a wealth of experience from the ski industry, most recently serving as the CEO of DPS Skis for eight years. 

AWARDS

John Fagan, an attorney who has worked with every California and Nevada ski resort, was honored with the Ski California Bob Roberts Award of Excellence for outstanding service to the industry. 

Loam Pass recognized mountain-biking pass partners with its inaugural Crankbrothers Riders’ Choice awards. Among the ski areas recognized were: Mt. Bachelor, Ore.; Timberline Lodge, Ore.; Tamarack Resort, Idaho; Angel Fire, N.M.; Woodward Park City, Utah; Woodward Tahoe, Calif.; Spirit Mountain, Minn.; Marquette Mountain, Mich.; Bryce Resort, Va.; Burke Mountain, Vt.; Bolton Valley, Vt.; and Killington Resort, Vt.

OBITUARIES

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. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.