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

KELLY PAWLAK and CHIP SEAMANS, NSAA

Kelly Pawlak is stepping down as president and CEO of the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). Pawlak will remain in the role through the transition to a new president and CEO. She took the helm at NSAA in 2017. During her tenure, Pawlak shepherded the industry through the Covid-19 pandemic, developing the highly successful “Ski Well, Be Well” campaign to reopen ski areas amid pandemic-related restrictions. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

Chip Seamans has been appointed chair of the NSAA board of directors. Seamans is the president and GM of the Windham Mountain Club, N.Y. Prior to joining Windham, he held various positions within the industry, including GM and COO of Kirkwood Mountain, Calif., and president and managing director of Sunday River, Maine. He previously served as vice chair of NSAA’s board of directors and is chairman of the Ski Areas of New York board of directors.

DEE BYRNE, PALISADES TAHOE, CA

Dee Byrne, president and COO of Palisades Tahoe, is retiring after 40 years in the industry. She will remain in her position through the transition to a new president and COO. 

“It’s been such an honor to work alongside the team and lead Palisades Tahoe,” said Byrne. “I look forward to the days ahead knowing the resort is in good hands with the current outstanding leadership team and dedicated employees who will continue to advance Palisades Tahoe.” 

Byrne joined Palisades Tahoe in 2011 and was named president and COO of the resort in 2021. During her tenure, she oversaw the resort’s name change and rebrand as well as the installation and opening of the Base to Base Gondola connecting Palisades with Alpine Meadows. In addition to her leadership role at the resort, Byrne serves on multiple boards of directors and received PSIA-AASI’s national “Distinguished Service Award” in April 2020. 

“During my time as president at Palisades Tahoe, I quickly learned to respect Dee’s thoughtful approach and strong leadership,” said Ron Cohen, executive vice president of Alterra Mountain Company, which owns Palisades Tahoe. “Like so many others in the industry, our company, and the broader community, Dee’s impact on me is positive and enduring, and I join everyone in thanking her for her many dedicated years of service and friendship.”

MIKE LEWIS, PARK CITY MOUNTAIN, UT

Mike Lewis, currently senior director of base area and village operations for Park City Mountain Resort, has been promoted to vice president of mountain operations, effective June 24. In this role, he will oversee patrol, mountain safety, trail crew, vehicle and lift maintenance, lift operations, snowmaking, grooming, terrain parks, and competition services, and will share oversight of dispatch services. Lewis succeeds Shaydar Edelmann, who was recently promoted to vice president and general manager of Heavenly, Calif.

Lewis started his career in the ski industry as a volunteer ski patroller in upstate New York. After moving to Utah in 2000, he spent 15 years in mountain operations at Alta Ski Area, working on patrol and, later, as founding director of the Alta Environmental Center. He gained significant experience in large-scale multinational operations during a six-year stint at Rio Tinto’s Kennecott Utah Copper Mine. 

JAKE BROWN and MIKE FERRARI, MT. ROSE SKI TAHOE, NV

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe promoted Jake Brown to director of mountain operations. Brown started at the resort in 1994 as a lift attendant. Since then, he has served in a variety of roles including lifts supervisor, lifts manager, and, most recently, lift maintenance manager. As director of mountain operations, Brown has direct oversight of the resort’s lift maintenance and operations, vehicle maintenance, grooming and snowmaking, terrain parks, ski patrol, parking and transportation.

Mike Ferrari was promoted to director of risk management at the resort. Ferrari has been part of the Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe team since 1988. He started in the resort’s ski school, where he taught the first snowboard lesson at Mt. Rose, before moving to ski patrol in 1995, later becoming ski patrol director. As director of risk management, Ferrari will manage, develop, implement, and refine the resort’s employee and guest safety programs.

THOMAS PRINDLE and CHRIS MCNEVISH, KING PINE, NH

King Pine Ski Area and Purity Spring Resort marketing director Thomas Prindle was promoted to director of hospitality for Highway West Vacations, which operates the Hoyt Family business, including King Pine/Purity Spring. In his new role, Prindle will share his marketing expertise with Highway West Vacations (HWV) properties beyond New Hampshire while still providing marketing oversight for the Hoyt businesses.

Chris McNevich was hired as marketing coordinator for King Pine/Purity Spring. He joins the company in a new role that was created following Prindle’s promotion. McNevich’s previous experience includes sales and marketing roles with the Manchester Monarchs Hockey Club (AHL), Mt. Washington Valley Radio Group, Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce and as owner of Peak Homes & Land, Keller Williams Lakes & Mountains Realty. 

COURTNEY GOLDSTEIN, VAIL RESORTS

Vail Resorts named Courtney Goldstein as executive vice president and chief marketing officer. Goldstein joined the company with more than two decades of experience at Comcast and American Express. She reports to CEO Kirsten Lynch and has also joined the company's executive team.

KATHERINE FULLER, PSIA-AASI

PSIA-AASI appointed Katherine Fuller as its new marketing and communications director. Fuller has more than 15 years of marketing and PR experience in the outdoor recreation industry, including more than four years with Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Colo., where she was part of several SAM "Best in Marketing" efforts. 

DAVE HUNTER and ERIC CLARK, ALTERRA MOUNTAIN COMPANY

Eric Clark and Dave Hunter Alterra Mountain Company has appointed Dave Hunter as president and COO of Steamboat in Colorado and Eric Clark to president and COO of Mammoth Mountain and June Mountain in California. Both served as interim leaders at their respective resorts throughout the 2023-24 winter season after Rob Perlman (Steamboat) and Ron Cohen (Mammoth) were both promoted to executive vice president positions for Alterra. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

MICHAEL HAMMES and LEE LORIMER, MASSANUTTEN, VA

Industry veteran Michael Hammes was named the new general manager and vice president of Massanutten Resort, a four-season resort in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Hammes most recently served as director of base operations at Summit at Snoqualmie, Wash. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

In addition, the Resorts Companies, Inc., owner of Massanutten Resort and Wilderness Presidential Resort, Va., named Lee Lorimer as its new corporate director of human resources. In this newly created position, Lorimer will oversee HR needs across The Resorts Companies' various locations. Lorimer brings experience from his extensive HR career spanning nearly 30 years in multiple industries, including service, technology, retail, hospitality, manufacturing and healthcare.

SHAYDAR EDELMANN, HEAVENLY MOUNTAIN RESORT, CA

Tom Fortune and Shaydar EdelmannShaydar Edelmann will succeed Tom Fortune as the general manager and vice president of Heavenly Mountain Resort, effective June 24. Edelmann, who has more than two decades of experience in the ski industry, has been the vice president of mountain operations at Park City Mountain Resort, Utah, for the last four years. He helped lead efforts to upgrade lifts and snowmaking at the resort and optimize chairlift operations across the Vail Resorts portfolio. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

STEVE HALL, THE REMARKABLES SKI AREA, NZ

Steve Hall has been hired as the ski area manager of The Remarkables. A Queenstown local, Hall began his career working in The Remarkables rental department in 1986. He later worked as a ski instructor, led glacier tours, rafting excursions, and heli-ski trips, and served as a field training leader in Antarctica. He succeeds Ross Lawrence, who retired in April after 40 years in the industry. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

JACE WIRTH, CANNON MOUNTAIN, NH

Jace Wirth, a former ski racer and 13-year industry veteran, was hired as general manager of Cannon Mountain, N.H. Wirth most recently served as CEO of Alaska Shore Tours, a Skagway-based tour company organizing adventure tours for cruise ship visitors. Prior to that, Wirth and his father, Andy, were involved in since-nixed plans to build the first Bode Miller Ski Academy at Granby Ranch, a Colorado golf and ski resort community. Both Wirths left Granby Ranch in 2022. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

NATHAN HAKSETH, WILD MOUNTAIN, MN

Wild Mountain snowsports manager Nathan Hakseth was promoted to general manager of the Taylor Falls, Minn., ski resort. He will oversee all operations of the mountain and also retain his duties within the snowsports school and competitions department. Hakseth has worked in the ski industry for 27 years, and at Wild Mountain since 2021. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

SUPPLIERS

Yolanda Foose was named SVP of customer success and business development for Aspenware.

Kevin Moudy is the new vice president of after sales and services at Kässbohrer All Terrain Vehicles.

Industry veteran Jeff Boliba launched a new consulting agency, The Snowball Effect Group, which will focus on facilitating partnerships, coaching and training staff, connecting brands with athletes, and sustainability consulting. Rich Morin, who will serve as sustainability lead, and business expert Mike Williams join Boliba.

AWARDS

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS ADVOCATE AWARD, NH TRAVEL COUNCIL

Jessyca Keeler, president of Ski New Hampshire, was presented the Sustainable Business Advocate Award by NH Travel Council president Rebecca Metcalf and member Charyl Reardon during the council's 50th anniversary luncheon in Lakeport, N.H., May 21.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION CHAMPION, U.S. SKI AND SNOWBOARD

Schone Malliet, president and CEO of Winter4Kids, a winter sports program operating at the National Winter Activity Center in New Jersey, was named U.S. Ski and Snowboard’s 2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion. The award recognizes a person, group, organization, or program that has contributed significantly and sustainably to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in skiing and snowboarding. 

NSAA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Russ Coloton and Kenny Hess each received a 2024 National Ski Area Association (NSAA) Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated an extraordinary lifetime commitment to NSAA and the ski industry, and whose contributions will benefit the industry for decades to come. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

NSAA AWARDS

Kate Wilson of Vail Resort, Colo., and Mike Nathan of Arapahoe Basin, Colo., received the Hero of Sustainability award, and the following ski areas/companies were recognized with Golden Eagle Awards for Sustainability: Arapahoe Basin, Colo.; Massanutten Resort, Va.; Taos Ski Valley, N.M.; Boyne Resorts, Mich.; and Jay Peak Resort, Vt. 

Ski California received the inaugural Stoked on Safety Award for its Deep Snow Safety campaign. Other Marketing Award recipients were Palisades Tahoe, Calif.; Grand Targhee Resort, Wyo.; Keystone Resort, Colo.; and Mammoth Mountain, Calif.

Kolina Coe of Keystone Resort, Colo., was named Safety Champion. Safety Award recipients included: Mammoth Mountain, Calif.; Loveland Ski Area, Colo.; Heavenly, Calif.; Crystal Mountain, Mich.; Sugarbush Resort, Vt.; and Arapahoe Basin, Colo.

Ski Saint Bruno, Quebec, won the 2024 Conversion Cup, and Vail Resorts received the Mountains are for Everyone award recognizing a ski area or resort group that has made inclusion a priority.

CANADA WEST SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION AWARDS

Charlie Locke, owner and president of Lake Louise Ski Resort, Alberta, was honored with the Jimmie Spencer Lifetime Achievement Award; vice president of mountain operations for Whistler Blackcomb, B.C., Doug Macfarlane received the Jim Marshall Leadership Award; Dean Roberts, lift maintenance manager at Sun Peaks, B.C., was awarded the Rod Chisholm Operations & Maintenance Award; Anders Svenson, business manager and partner at Mission Ridge, Saskatchewan, received the Lars Fossberg Excellence Award; and Zoe Sloan of Edmonton Ski Club, Charles Albrow of Sun Peaks, Anna Boyd of Whistler Blackcomb, and Shannon Johnston of Asessippi Resort were all recognized with Peak Performance awards.

OBITUARIES

BOBBIE BURNS

The “original hotdogger,” Bobbie Burns, died in April. He was 85 years old. Burns was a 2020 U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame inductee. He personified freeskiing culture and is remembered as both a world-class skier and ski designer. Burns grew up in Ogden, Utah, dancing ballet and practicing diving and gymnastics. He began tuning skis in the late 1960s, and went on to design skis for K2 and star in a number of ski movies.

JANEK KUNCZYNSKI

Aerial ropeway legend Janek “Yan” Kunczynski died in March. He was 80 years old. Kunczynski got his start with Poma before going on to establish Lift Engineering in 1965. By the late 1980s, the company was one of the largest ski lift suppliers in North America. Although Lift Engineering ceased operations in 1996, nearly 200 “Yan” lifts still operate around the world, according to liftblog.com’s Peter Landsman.