SAM Magazine—Big Sky, Mont., Sept. 4, 2024—After nearly three decades leading Big Sky Resort, president and chief operating officer Taylor Middleton will step down from day-to-day responsibilities on Oct. 1, 2024.Taylor Middleton and Troy Nedved Current general manager Troy Nedved will succeed him, assuming both the president and COO positions. Middleton will continue to serve the company in a new strategic and advisory role. 

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. 

"As I reflect on Taylor's remarkable career, his wise, long-term vision has played a pivotal role in Big Sky Resort's trajectory,” said Stephen Kircher, president and CEO of Boyne Resorts, which owns Big Sky Resort. “His leadership has consistently focused on the betterment of the resort and the surrounding community, leaving an indelible mark on the region. Taylor has led with enthusiasm for the mission and love for what Big Sky is and what it can and will be." 

Kircher said he expected Nedved to continue and expand on Middleton's legacy, adding, “I know his deep experience in guest service and operations and his genuine passion for mountain sports and the Big Sky community will serve him well as the resort's new [p]resident." 

"I'm honored to take on this new role and build upon the strong foundation Taylor has established," said Nedved. "Our team is committed to enhancing the guest experience and further solidifying Big Sky's position as a world-class mountain destination." 

With Nedved’s transition to president and COO, the GM position will now be split into two specialized positions: general manager, hospitality; and general manager, mountain experience. This is part of the resort’s growth strategy, said Kircher, and it will “bring a higher level of focus to all aspects of the guest experience on the mountain and within hospitality operations—lodging, food and beverage, and retail,” according to a press release.