In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight recent personnel moves that have been made in the mountain resort industry. From resort hires, promotions, and retirements to supplier news, awards and obits, we celebrate the people that make this industry thrive.

PEOPLE

CHARLES BLIER, CAMELBACK RESORT

Charles Blier joins Camelback Resort as the vice president of facilities. Blier has an extensive background in the ski industry and more than 35 years of experience. He has worked at various companies including serving as vice president of planning and business development at PNP Supply LLC, vice president of sales for North America Prinoth, and vice president and general manager of Mountain Creek. He also ran his own consulting firm.

EMILY VAN GREUNING, MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN

Emily Van Greuning has been promoted to public relations manager at Mammoth Mountain. Van Greuning joined Mammoth in 2019 as the marketing manager, and since then she has successfully executed on-hill partnerships, interactive guest experiences, and a wide variety of marketing and public relations efforts.

KRISTA SPRENGER, GUI KARYO, and ANDREW BODZIAK, ALTERRA MOUNTAIN COMPANY

Krista Sprenger has been appointed chief development officer at Alterra. Sprenger has two decades of diverse real estate experience including being involved in the acquisition, development, and operations of more than 25 million square feet of mixed-use, commercial, and boutique hospitality projects.

Gui Karyo has been named chief technology officer. Karyo has more than 20 years of technical innovation experience at companies including Marvel, Ticketmaster, Atari, and Varsity Brands. In his new role he will be responsible for the oversight of all Alterra technology operations, software development, and overall continual improvement of the guest experience through technology.

Andrew Bodziak has been appointed executive vice president of hospitality. Bodziak has 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry at Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International.

JP GOULET and CHRIS MALOUF, BRUNDAGE MOUNTAIN

Brundage Mountain has hired JP Goulet as director of sales and marketing. Goulet joins Brundage after a decade-long career at Powder Mountain Resort directing a wide range of marketing and communication efforts.

Chris Malouf joins Brundage as director of finance. Malouf brings in three decades of experience in corporate finance. His most recent role was overseeing the accounting and finance efforts at Colorado’s Monarch Mountain Resort.

KEVIN COOPER, CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN RESORTS COMPANY

California Mountain Resorts Company has hired Kevin Cooper as director of communications and public relations. Cooper has more than 15 years of marketing experience at various companies including Vail Resorts, Outside TV, and Kirkwood Resort.

KATE WILSON, VAIL RESORTS

Kate Wilson has been promoted to vice president of environmental and social responsibility. Wilson has been with Vail Resorts for more than five years as the director of sustainability. Prior to joining Vail she worked at the Cadmus Group for more than a decade assisting clients in developing sustainability strategies.

KEVIN SMITH and STACY REECE, ASPEN ONE

Aspen One has hired Kevin Smith as chief financial officer. Smith brings in more than 25 years of experience in the ski, hospitality, and real estate industries. Prior to his most recent role he was the executive vice president and CFO for Northland Living, where he oversaw the company's hotels, restaurants and ski resorts.

Stacy Reese has joined Aspen One as the chief digital officer. Reese brings in more than 25 years of experience leading digital, ecommerce, and online growth. Most recently she served as chief digital officer at Boardriders, prior to that she was the senior vice president of ecommerce and customer experience for the Billabong group. 

BRIAN ONOFRIO, MAD RIVER MOUNTAIN

Brian Onofrio has been promoted to senior manager of skier services for Mad River Mountain, Ohio. Onofrio spent more than eight years at Mad River as a ski instructor and racing coach before being promoted. He also has his own photography company and is a level 1 certified alpine ski instructor for PSIA-AASI.

ELLEN WAINWRIGHT, SUNDAY RIVER 

Ellen Wainwright has been hired as communications director at Sunday River. Wainwright obtained a degree in political science from the University of Maine in 2019, and worked in public service prior to joining the resort, including in constituent services for Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine).

TRENT POOLE, VAIL RESORTS

Vail Resorts has chosen Trent Poole to become vice president and GM of New York’s Hunter Mountain Resort. An 18-year VR veteran, Poole has a background in finance, project management, and mountain operations. Poole began with financial roles at Keystone Resort and Breckenridge, Colo., eventually serving as director of finance at each resort. Find a full report on SAM’s Headline News.

JON COPELAND, BRECKENRIDGE SKI RESORT

Breckenridge Ski Resort has promoted Jon Copeland, current vice president of mountain operations, to vice president and COO. Copeland has worked at Breckenridge since 2019, serving as senior director of skier services before moving into mountain operations in 2020. Find a full report on SAM’s Headline News.

MATT JONES, STRATTON MOUNTAIN RESORT

Alterra Mountain Company has named Matt Jones president and COO of Stratton Mountain Resort. He most recently served as the VP and general manager of Kirkwood Mountain Resort in California. Find a full report on SAM’s Headline News.

JODY CHURCH, BRECKENRIDGE SKI RESORT

Breckenridge Ski Resort vice president and COO Jody Churich has been promoted to the role of senior vice president and COO of Vail Resorts West Region. Churich has more than 30 years of ski industry experience, starting as a ski instructor in Lake Tahoe in the 1990s. She has been with Vail Resorts since 2018, first as senior director of skier services at Park City Mountain, Utah, then vice president and general manager of Keystone. Find a full report on SAM’s Headline News.

SUPPLIERS

DRIFT SNOWMAKING ADDITIVE

CHS Snowmakers has acquired Drift Snowmaking Additive. 

ANDY LOVELL, NORDICA

Nordica has appointed Andy Lovell US national sales manager. Lovell brings in more than 20 years of experience in the outdoors industry. Prior to joining Nordica he served as global key accounts manager for W.L. Gore & Associates, the makers of GORE-TEX.