SAM Magazine—Frisco, Texas, May 23, 2024—Kelly Pawlak is stepping down as president and CEO of the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). Newly appointed NSAA board chair and Windham Mountain Club, N.Y., president Chip Seamans shared the news at the NSAA National Convention and Trade Show in Frisco, Texas, today during the morning general session. 

Pawlak will remain in the role through the transition to a new president and CEO. The process to find a successor will involve a search committee comprised of three members of the NSAA executive committee and two board directors. The search will commence in the coming weeks.

“The NSAA board and staff are grateful for Kelly’s steady hand and leadership for the last seven years. She has navigated through challenging times and set clear goals and direction for the organization,” said Chip Seamans, chair of the NSAA board of directors and president of Windham Mountain Club, N.Y. “We appreciate her willingness to assist in the transition and wish her the best in the future—which hopefully includes staying connected to the ski industry.”

Pawlak took the reins at NSAA in 2017. With Pawlak’s arrival, NSAA shifted the industry’s growth focus away from beginner conversion to broader stakeholder groups, including diverse and lapsed participants. The U.S. ski industry enjoyed two consecutive record-breaking seasons in 2022 and 2023, and this year posted its fifth best season on record in respect to total skier visits.

During her tenure at the helm of the organization, 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. She also grew NSAA’s staff of experts and programs, spearheaded DEI efforts, supported climate advocacy initiatives, and helped establish the Mountain Foundation, a 501(c)3 scholarship fund to provide industry employees with access to educational offerings from NSAA and related organizations.

“It has been an honor to serve in this role and to work with the team at NSAA,” said Pawlak. “I would stay until the day I retire if it weren’t for the exceedingly strong yearning to be with family on the East Coast.”

Prior to joining NSAA, Pawlak served as vice president and general manager of Mount Snow in Vermont for 12 years and had worked at the resort for more than 30 years in a variety of executive positions.