Snowmaking manager, pajarito mountain ski area, n.m. Age: 28 Push to The Latest: No Education: BBA with a concentration in organizational leadership, University of New Mexico First job in the industry: ski instructor Super power: Control the weather. Six-word bio: "Hard working, passionate and driven."

THE NOMINATION

From driving heavy equipment, winch cats, to sophisticated work on the automated snowmaking system, Tommy’s unfailing work ethic and productivity makes the survival of a small ski area possible. These types of people will allow our industry to continue to survive. (I'm sure you can tell from the name association it is a family tradition as well.)

—Tom Long, general manager, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area

The Interview

You work in what is practically a family business [dad Tom is GM]. How did you develop your skill set to excel within it?

My drive has always been a great love for skiing. My parents instilled this love at a very early age, along with a strong work ethic. I started as a ski instructor when I was 14, and I really enjoyed introducing the sport to new people. I [then] started to help in any department that needed it. This allowed me to learn how a ski area works as a whole. There are so many different parts that have to work together to make a ski area successful, seeing it all come together is really neat.

Snowmaking is a significant budget item, especially at a small area. How do you ensure this cost is manageable and the snowmaking successful?

Snowmaking is a vital part of our industry and of providing a quality experience for our guests, but it is challenging and costly. We have a small but dedicated crew of people, and as such, we chose to use a TechnoAlpin automated system. It allowed us to significantly cut down the manpower we need to run our system, a huge advantage because labor is one of our largest costs.

What intrigues you the most about this business? What are the greatest challenges facing small ski areas such as Pajarito?

Skiing is in my blood; I couldn't imagine doing anything else. The ski industry is like no other. I’ve always loved working outside and creating things, and the ski industry supplies plenty of opportunity to do both. Every day is different; one day you may be a lumberjack or a plumber, the next you may be a heavy equipment operator or a welder.

And people don't ski the way they used to. People used to go skiing every weekend, from the time their local ski area opened to when the springtime pond-skimming event was held. Now, kids activities start earlier or go year-round. Combine that with the elevated cost of our industry, and you have a challenging recipe.

Tell us about your leadership style.

I once was told that one of the keys to being a successful leader is to never ask someone to do something you wouldn't do. That advice has stuck with me, and I try to apply it, along with leading by example, in everything I do. Small ski areas require the crew to wear many different hats; this means that the entire organization from the top down needs to be involved. I always try to motivate people by showing them the fruits of their labor. In snowmaking, we are responsible for making a quality product for people to come and enjoy. The smiling faces of our guests are what motivate us all to keep coming back.