SAM’s Snow People highlights 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: 

Nelson Wingard and Corey Peterson COREY PETERSON and NELSON WINGARD, STEAMBOAT SKI RESORT, CO

Steamboat Ski Resort has appointed Corey Peterson as vice president of mountain operations. Peterson has been with Steamboat for nearly 20 years, most recently serving as the vice president of engineering, maintenance, and facilities, as well as the interim VP of mountain ops during the 2023-24 season. Peterson is now responsible for the long-term planning and strategic oversight of all mountain operations departments.

Nelson Wingard has been promoted to vice president of snowsports school. Wingard brings in more than 40 years of ski industry experience including almost 20 seasons in the snowsports school at Steamboat. In his new role, Wingard is responsible for overseeing the snowsports school, including mountain camp, and Steamboat’s bike park operations and bike school.

ELLY ORSZULAK and MEG ELLISON, ELDORA, CO

Elly Orszulak was promoted to senior director of base area operations of Eldora. Orszulak has been with Eldora for more than 16 years and most recently was the senior director of guest relations, rental and retail operations. 

Eldora hired Meg Ellison as its new human resources director. Ellison brings more than 10 years of human resources experience at various companies including Oakley, Epic Mountain Express, Arapahoe Basin, Steamboat Resort, and Sterling Crane USA.  

JESSICA JACOBI, ASPEN ONE, CO

Jessica Jacobi was promoted to vice president - marketing, digital, and e-commerce for Aspen One (Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk). Jacobi has been with Aspen One for more than 12 years, most recently serving as vice president of marketing. 

SHANTA HOFF, MT. ABRAM, ME

Mt. Abram has hired Shanta Hoff as its new director of mountain operations. Most recently, Hoff was the mountain operations director at Berkshire East Mountain Resort, Mass. Prior to that, she spent more than 10 years at Sunday River, Maine, in various roles including aerial lift mechanic, ski school, and mountain operations program manager. 

JEFF COLLINS and EVAN VOMACKA, CANNON MOUNTAIN, NH
Jeff Collins and Evan VomackaJeff Collins was promoted to mountain operations director of Cannon Mountain. Collins has 24 years of experience working in grooming, snowmaking, trail maintenance, lift operations, ski school, building maintenance, and patrol. He has served as the ski area’s patrol director since 2023.

Cannon Mountain named Evan Vomacka as ski school director. Vomacka brings more than 20 years of experience in the snowsports industry at various resorts. Prior to joining Cannon, he was the Loon Mountain children’s center manager since 2019. 

PAUL BARGER, SUNDANCE MOUNTAIN RESORT, UT
Paul Barger has joined Sundance Mountain Resort as marketing operations and content manager. Barger is a 15-year marketing veteran, most recently serving as marketing manager of Lee Canyon, Nev. 

DAVE KULIS, BOUSQUET MOUNTAIN, MA

After nearly three years as assistant general manager at Catamount, Mass./N.Y., Dave Kulis started in a new role as operations manager for Bousquet Mountain earlier this summer. Kulis’s ski industry career includes leadership roles in sales and marketing at Schweitzer, Idaho; Okemo, Vt.; and Windham Mountain Club, N.Y.

DEHLIA WRIGHT, JAY PEAK, VT

Jay Peak hired Dehlia Wright as its new communications manager. Wright served as the resort’s snow reporter during the 2023-24 winter season. In her new role, she’s in charge of Jay’s public relations, communications, and media relationships.

CHRIS HAGGERTY, MONARCH MOUNTAIN

Monarch Mountain appointed Chris Haggerty as its new general manager. Prior to joining Monarch, Haggerty was a longtime team member at Mountain Creek Resort, N.J., where he served as general manager from 2001-2022. He most recently served as the director of operations at Crystal Springs Resort, a New Jersey golf and spa destination. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

ANDREW RUSYNYK, PASS POWDERKEG, AB

Andrew Rusynyk was named as general manager of Pass Powderkeg Ski Hill and the Pass Community Pool in Alberta. Rusynyk previously served as GM of Hidden Valley Highlands, Ontario, and was GM of Batawa Ski Hill, Ontario, before that. Prior to the move to Ontario, he held leadership positions at Castle Mountain Resort, Fortress Mountain, and Nakiska Ski Area in Alberta. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

ELIAS ORTNER, MIKE WIEGELE HELICOPTER SKIING, BC

Alterra Mountain Company promoted Elias Ortner to president and COO of Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing (MWHS), based in Blue River, British Columbia. In his new role, Ortner, who most recently served as general manager of MWHS, is responsible for all operations and the guest experience as well as driving the growth of the destination. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

SHAWN TAYLOR, KING PINE, NH

Shawn Taylor is now general manager of King Pine. Taylor, who started as a seasonal employee at King Pine in 1986 and has been year-round since 1996, previously served as the ski area’s assistant general manager. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

PAUL MAITLAND, MAGIC MOUNTAIN, VT

Magic Mountain has promoted mountain operations director Paul Maitland to general manager. Maitland has served as the ski area’s director of mountain operations since 2022. His career began in 1995 at Stratton Mountain, Vt., where he worked in mountain operations for more than 25 years, rising to senior management. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

CRAIG CIMMONS, EAGLECREST, AK

Craig Cimmons has been selected as the new general manager of Eaglecrest Ski Area. Cimmons previously served as the director of the ski and ride school and community engagement at Jay Peak, Vt. He starts his new role in early October. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

SHANNON BUHLER, KEYSTONE RESORT

Vail Resorts moved Shannon Buhler from her role as vice president and GM of Stowe Mountain, Vt., to vice president and general manager of Keystone Resort. Buhler is now one of four female GMs leading Vail Resorts ski areas in the Rocky Mountains. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

CINDY DADY, SUNLIGHT MOUNTAIN RESORT, CO

Cindy Dady is the new CEO of Sunlight Mountain Resort. Dady’s ski industry career began in the 1980s at Greek Peak in New York. She has since managed kids ski and ride operations for Intrawest, served as the general manager of Echo Mountain in Colorado, spent nearly three years as the health and safety director for California’s Mammoth Resorts, and most recently served as risk manager for the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

Taylor Middleton and Troy NedvedTAYLOR MIDDLETON and TROY NEDVED, BIG SKY RESORT, MT

Longtime Big Sky Resort president and chief operating officer Taylor Middleton has stepped down from day-to-day responsibilities to serve in a strategic advisory role for the company. Pervious general manager Troy Nedved will succeed him, assuming both the president and COO positions. Middleton and Nedved both began their careers with Big Sky Resort as seasonal employees. Middleton's first job with the resort was 43 years ago as a Huntley Lodge desk clerk; Nedved, a National Powder Eights ski champion, started as a ski instructor in 1995. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

AMY OHRAN, PALISADES TAHOE, CA

Alterra Mountain Company has named Amy Ohran as the new president and COO of Palisades Tahoe. Ohran has nearly 35 years of experience in the snowsports industry, much of it in the Tahoe region. Most recently, she served as the vice president and general manager of Northstar California. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

SUPPLIERS

SE Group hired Michael van Eyck as senior resort analyst. Eyck brings more than 20 years of experience to the job in all aspects of ski area operations including marketing, finance, strategic planning, and executive management. 

Kässbohrer All Terrain Vehicles, Inc., has appointed Liz Worgan to the role of marketing manager. Prior to joining Kässbohrer, Worgan was at Palisades Tahoe for more than five years in various marketing roles. Worgan now leads PistenBully’s marketing efforts for North America, focusing on brand growth, customer engagement, and innovative partnerships.

flaik promoted Kelly Frey to senior vice president of operations. Frey has been with flaik for three years, most recently as VP of operations. 

The New England Ski Museum received a Cultural Facilities grant from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. The grant will cover a portion of the expenses needed for the “2024 Technology Project,” including broadband enhancements, website redesign, and digital exhibit upgrades for permanent exhibits.

SNOW Partners was recognized as one of the 2024 “Top Workplaces” in New Jersey by NJ.com for the third consecutive year. The company was also honored as one of the “Top Workplace in the United States” for the second year in a row by USA Today. 

National Ski Patrol partnered with North American Rescue Dogs to reinforce mountain safety with canine support. 

PNP Supply reached a partnership agreement with Demaclenko that will support and expand North American distribution of TRM (Tiroler Rohre GmbH) ductile-iron pipe for snowmaking systems. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) has appointed Ski California president Mike Reitzell as its new president and CEO. Reitzell will replace Kelly Pawlak, who gave her notice in May that she would be stepping down as the leader of NSAA. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

Switzerland-based wire rope manufacturer Fatzer AG has acquired Canada-based Rocky Mountain Lift Services and Supplies Inc., aka Rigging Specialties. Full report on SAM’s Headline News. 

AWARDS

COLORADO SNOWSPORTS MUSEUM HALL OF FAME

Five industry legends were inducted into the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame: 

Ross Anderson, athlete

Bjorn Erik Borgen, sport builder

Lindsey Vonn, athlete

Johno McBride, sport builder

Sigurd Rockne, sport builder

OBITUARIES

JAMES (JIM) FLEMING RICHARDS JR.

James Fleming Richards Jr. died August 3, 2024. He was 84. Richards was the co-founder of Maplelag in Minnesota, where they produced maple syrup before turning the property into a fully operational cross country ski resort. Maplelag became one of the top destination XC ski resorts in the U.S.