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 Breckenridge. Ingham has more than 18 years of ski industry experience, starting in 2006 as an operations specialist at Park City Mountain Resort, Utah, where he stayed on following the Vail Resorts’ acquisition. While with VR, he has been the terrain park manager at Park City Mountain, director of mountain operations and, most recently, senior director of operations at Keystone, Colo.  

TOM MARSHALL, BIG SKY RESORT, MT

Big Sky Resort has promoted Tom Marshall to the role of general manager, mountain experience. Marshall has been with Big Sky Resort for 25 years, most recently serving as the VP of mountain operations. 

STACIE HARRIS, BOYNE RESORTS

Stacie Harris was elevated to vice president of communications for Boyne Resorts, overseeing communications strategy across the company’s portfolio of resorts. Most recently, Harris was the PR manager of Big Sky Resort for more than six years. 

JOSH ELLIOTT, AUSTRALIAN SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION

The Australian Ski Areas Association has appointed Josh Elliott as its new chief executive officer. Most recently, Elliott was the chief operating officer of the Blyton Group for more than nine years. In his new role, Josh will oversee the operations and strategy of the association representing the interests of snow resorts and their stakeholders across Australia. Full report on SAM's Headline News.

PHILLIP LEWIS, STOVEPIPE WELLS VILLAGE, CA

Powdr has hired Phillip Lewis as the general manager of Stovepipe Wells Village, a lodging, food and beverage, and retail facility in Death Valley National Park that Powdr is the concessioner for. Lewis has more than two decades of hospitality experience. 

JUSTIN DOWNES, HANAZONO RESORT, JAPAN 

Axis Liesure Management president Justin Downes—a longtime advocate and developer for China's ski and ride industry—is now president at Hanazono Resort in Niseko, Japan. Hanazono was redeveloped into a destination resort by Colin Hackworth, the late Australian Ski Areas Association CEO. According to Downes, there are plans for further growth of the ski area as well as its summer operations. Downes most recently helped develop and open the world's largest indoor ski facility, Shanghai L+SNOW, located just outside Shanghai.

MIKE HUSSEY, OAK HILL OUTDOOR CENTER, NH

Oak Hill Outdoor Center—a burgeoning cross-country ski center in Hanover, N.H.—hired Mike Hussey as its new general manager. Hussey has more than 30 years of ski industry experience, including 16 years in sales for HKD Snowmakers. He most recently served as the director of skiing for Middlebury College in Vermont, overseeing Rikert Nordic Center and Middlebury Snowbowl.

DAVE MORRISON, MICA HELISKIING, BC

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. Full report on SAM’s Headline News

MIKE GIORGIO, STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT, VT
Mike Giorgio is the new general manager of Vail Resorts-owned Stowe Mountain Resort, Vt., effective Nov. 18. Giorgio mostly recently led six of Vail Resorts’ Midwest ski areas as regional general manager, based out of Mt. Brighton Resort, Mich. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

BO BIGELOW, MIDWEST SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION

The Midwest Ski Areas Association (MSAA) has named Bo Bigelow as its next executive director. His predecessor Amy Reents stepped down in October after leading MSAA for more than eight years. Bigelow has roughly 17 years of ski association experience, spending the first 13 of those years at Ski Maine where he ultimately served as the association’s events and programs director. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

TARA SCHOEDINGER, NORTHSTAR CALIFORNIA, CA

Vail Resorts has named Tara Schoedinger as vice president and general manager of Northstar California Resort. She moves from Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Colo., where she served in the same role. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN RESORT COMPANY, CA

California Mountain Resort Company, which owns Mountain High, China Peak, Dodge Ridge, and Bear Valley in California, made several personnel moves.

Mountain High has promoted Katie Hartnell to chief technology officer and Rose Reinhardt to director of risk management. 

Kevin Somes, former general manager of Snow Valley, Calif., and 2022 SAMMY Leadership Award honoree, has been promoted to CMRC’s director of compliance. 

Brad Cumberland and Troy CoheeDiane Graue is now ski patrol supervisor at China Peak. 

At Dodge Ridge, promotions include Bret Rimmer to lift operations manager, Kevin Liljedahl to vehicle maintenance manager, and Lisa Sandberg to food and beverage manager.

At Bear Valley, promotions include Fred Ackerman to patrol director; Max McCormick to director of retail and rental; Emily Kay to ski and snowboard school manager; Kaylie Diaz to rental supervisor; Alec Barberi to head of facilities, parking, snow removal, and shuttles; Josiah Camacho to director of food and beverage for the village and resort; and Jeremy Rodegard to vehicle maintenance manager. 

Brad Cumberland was promoted to general manager of Bear Valley, and Troy Cohee was promoted to general manager of China Peak. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

Andreas Lambacher and Diego FacchinettiSUPPLIERS: 

Italy-based snowmaking equipment manufacturer Demaclenko named Diego Facchinetti as the new general manager for Demaclenko North America, which serves the Canadian and U.S. markets. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe has hired Snowball Effect to engage local youth year-round and make a positive impact in Northern Nevada.

Snow Partners promoted Jackie Cerra to marketing blazer and Doug Olson to executive director of the Hession Foundation. 

AWARDS: 

WES KRYGER, SKI NY HALL OF FAME

Wes Kryger, president of Greek Peak Mountain Resort, N.Y., was inducted into the SKI NY Hall of Fame for his contributions to the SKI NY association and the New York ski industry. 

OBITUARIES: 

Colin Hackworth, former chief executive of the Australian Ski Areas Association, died in October. Hackworth previously was the general manager of Mount Hotham and Falls Creek. While general manager of Hotham, Hackworth masterminded the construction of Gotcha, Orchard and Keogh lifts, spearheaded the first phases of the snowmaking system and oversaw the building of Hotham Airport. He went on to transform Japan’s Niseko Hanazono resort into a world-class ski destination. Read the Australian Ski Areas Association tribute to Colin HERE.

Daniel W. O’Connor died on Oct. 7, 2024. O’Connor was the owner of Daniel O’Connor & Sons, a company that spliced and inspected wire ropes for ski lifts, zip lines, and amusement rides. He was a member of the National Ski Areas Association safety committee.