Leadership Articles

September 2024
Words To Live By

“Culture statements” form the backbone of a strong company culture and talent development strategy at Arizona Snowbowl. The difficulties facing those who enter mountain resort life are well documented: long hours (and, ironically, little ski/board time), high cost of living, high expectations, “Culture statements” form the backbone of a strong company culture and talent development strategy at...
July 2024
10 Under 30

This class of 20-somethings is sure to impress with their problem-solving prowess, bright ideas, team-building skills, and passion for the industry. A self-proclaimed “lift nerd.” A calm-as-a-cucumber-in-a-crisis assistant patrol director. A “gifted clinic leader.” A viral content creator. This class of 20-somethings is sure to impress with their problem-solving prowess, bright ideas,...
March 2024
Following the Leader

Industry mentors share best practices for building and leading effective teams, including hiring the right people, setting clear priorities, and coaching crews to success. Several factors distinguish great leaders from the simply good, including the ability to build great teams. But what d Industry mentors share best practices for building and leading effective teams, including hiring...
January 2024
How To Be A Boss

Industry up-and-comers express relatable challenges, and mentors share lessons, advice, and actionable solutions. Great leaders are made, not born. Effective leadership requires a mix of knowledge, expertise, foresight, people skills, and organization. Leaders must be able to define a strateg Industry up-and-comers express relatable challenges, and mentors share lessons, advice, and...
July 2023
10 Under 30

This peer-nominated group of 20-somethings are thinkers, tinkerers, and hard workers—and they are the future leaders of our industry. They are tinkerers and thinkers. Collegiate athletes and coaches. Scholarship winners. East- and West-Coasters. Beginner and seasoned skiers and snowboarders. The This peer-nominated group of 20-somethings are thinkers, tinkerers, and hard workers—and they are...
July 2023
Where Are They Now?

We checked in with a few past "10 Under 30"s to see what they're up to, learn how they got there, and get their thoughts on the industry and the people in it. We often refer to those profiled in the annual SAM “10 Under 30” as the future leaders of the ski industry. Their nominators saw great We checked in with a few past "10 Under 30"s to see what they're up to, learn how they got there,...
May 2023
Reinventing Resilience

Individual resiliency is key to organizational success. The latest SAM Summit Series discussion brought together the leadership development program’s mentors and mentees to talk about resiliency. With a focus on “reinventing resilience for ourselves,” the conversation explored both indivi Individual resiliency is key to organizational success.
March 2023
Values Lead the Way

When leadership has defined values, organizations can grow and thrive. What exactly is values-driven leadership? How can it be achieved? For Mark Gasta, associate director of the outdoor recreation economy program at the University of Colorado and former chief of HR and sustainability at Vail When leadership has defined values, organizations can grow and thrive.
January 2023
Rules of Engagement

By focusing on relationship building, resorts and communities both win. There are roles at ski areas that we all understand—titles like human resources coordinator, F&B manager, and patrol director are easy to wrap your head around. But what about the more nebulous role of “community eng By focusing on relationship building, resorts and communities both win.
September 2022
Training Gains

A simple formula to help operators make the business case for staff learning and development intiatives—and measure the ROI. Each fiscal year, resort leaders gather in the conference room to slog through budget meetings, ensuring that every dollar is well invested. Difficult compensation decis A simple formula to help operators make the business case for staff learning and development...
July 2022
10 Under 30

This year's class of 20-somethings are adept problem solvers, team players, and emerging leaders at their resorts. In a season where staffing shortages and strong demand created myriad challenges (and opportunities) for ski areas across North America, these 10 20-something rising stars showed thei This year's class of 20-somethings are adept problem solvers, team players, and emerging leaders...
July 2022
We Need Women in Operations

Female mountain ops pros are breaking into the boys' club. Here's why our industry will be better off with more women in the field. The maintenance shop at your ski area is likely a male dominated space—and likely always has been. Our industry’s complacency about that fact is starting to shift Female mountain ops pros are breaking into the boys' club. Here's why our industry will be better...
July 2022
Insider Trading

Mentoring programs help ski industry up-and-comers and veterans trade expertise and experience. Imagine driving down an unfamiliar, winding road at night. Twists and turns reveal one unknown after the next. It’s as thrilling as it is stressful. You keep going with hope that it all leads to a Mentoring programs help ski industry up-and-comers and veterans trade expertise and experience.
March 2022
Culture, Care, Compensation

It’s complicated, of course, but there are many concrete steps resorts can take to overcome staffing challenges. History marks the winter of 1979-80 as one that nearly destroyed the mountain sport industry in the East. At a time when snowmaking was largely a means to open a few trails during l It’s complicated, of course, but there are many concrete steps resorts can take to overcome...
January 2022
Corporate Culture, Redefined

Universal design principles can create a company culture that strengthens all aspects of your business—including the bottom line. In the Spring 2019 issue of Adventure Park Insider, SAM’s sister magazine, organizational development expert Paul Thallner suggested that diversity in the workplace Universal design principles can create a company culture that strengthens all aspects of your...
July 2021
11 Under 30 :: July 2021

This year's group of 20-somethings has already left their mark and they have ideas about where snowsports should head next. Some of you may be eyeballing that number 11 and wondering, but isn’t this the 10 Under 30? To that, we say, you try narrowing down this field—our deepest ever. This seas This year's group of 20-somethings has already left their mark and they have ideas about where...
November 2020
Hunt the Good Stuff

Lessons for resilient leadership for managers at all levels. If there ever was a year in need of such a motto as “hunt the good stuff,” it’s 2020. Beyond mottos, it’s something Col. John Vermeesch, Ret., has used as a lodestone for a life that’s included a degree from West Point, a few Lessons for resilient leadership for managers at all levels.
September 2020
Summit Series :: Industry Sustainability

Even before the pandemic, “sustainability” was about more than the environment. Now, the concept has expanded even further. The third edition of the SAM Summit Series kicked off last fall with 10 current industry leaders mentoring 10 next-generation leaders. This continued the mentor Even before the pandemic, “sustainability” was about more than the environment. Now, the concept...
July 2020
11 Under 30 :: July 2020

Our annual profiles of twenty-somethings who are making their mark. This year, we couldn’t narrow down our under-30 industry up-and-comers to just 10, which should tell you something about the caliber of the crop. The 11 under 30 are an impressive group that represents the full breadth of depart Our annual profiles of twenty-somethings who are making their mark.
July 2020
Summit Series :: Effective Teams

Teambuilding requires a clear purpose and supportive leadership. The SAM Summit Series kicked off this past fall with 10 current industry leaders mentoring 10 next-generation leaders. This continued the mentor- mentee dialogue SAM started three years ago to assist the development of the mounta Teambuilding requires a clear purpose and supportive leadership.
May 2020
SAM Summit Series 2020 — Part 3: Problem Solving & Strategic Thinking

Mentors ruminate on how to approach major obstacles and challenges. The SAM Summit Series kicked off this past fall with 10 current industry leaders mentoring 10 next-generation leaders. The series continued the mentor-mentee dialogue SAM started three years ago to assist the development of th Mentors ruminate on how to approach major obstacles and challenges.
March 2020
SAM Summit Series :: Management vs. Leadership

Three mentors discuss managing and leading, and how the two relate. “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” —Peter Drucker The Summit Series kicked off this fall with a mission to connect 10 current industry leaders with 10 next-generati Three mentors discuss managing and leading, and how the two relate.
January 2020
SAM Summit Series 2020—Part 1: Welcome to our Happy Place

Year three of the Summit Series begins. Three mentors offer candid and insightful advice on creating life-changing guest experiences. The landscape of the mountain resort industry is changing, both in terms of the business operations and what it takes to lead resorts. The Summit Series kicked Year three of the Summit Series begins. Three mentors offer candid and insightful advice on...
September 2019
SAM Summit Series 2019 — Part 5: What Does the Future Hold?

Four mentors provide genuine—and sometimes pointed—answers to questions from mentees about our industry's future. At the root of it, the SAM Summit Series—a leadership development program where industry up-and-comers learn from respected resort leaders—is all about the future. It aim Four mentors provide genuine—and sometimes pointed—answers to questions from mentees about our...
July 2019
SAM Summit Series 2019—Part 4: Risk Management

Three mentors answer tough questions, posed by a group of inquiring young managers, about handling thorny issues around risk. In this edition of the SAM Summit Series—a leadership development project where industry up-and-comers learn from respected resort bigwigs—the discussion focuse Three mentors answer tough questions, posed by a group of inquiring young managers, about handling thorny...