Communications Manager, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Calif. Age: 26 Education: BA in Communication, University of Colorado Boulder Push to The Latest: No First job in industry: Intern, TransWorld Business Super Power: The ability to fly! Although, if I could control the weather I may choose that. Every day would be a powder day!

THE NOMINATION

On a normal day, Steve is relentlessly enthusiastic about telling the Sierra story. He is a game changer in the online communications realm, shooting and editing his own videos for daily posts, working with professionals to create footage for Terrain Park Takeover Tuesday, celebrating the accomplishments of the team athletes and making the Sierra family feel connected to the big names like Jamie Anderson, Hannah Teter, and Maddie Bowman. He represents a new paradigm of young leaders embracing fast-paced new media and seeking out new ways to engage skiers and riders.

—Kirstin Guinn, social media and marketing manager, Sierra-at-Tahoe

THE INTERVIEW

Communications manager doesn’t quite mean the same thing it used to. Can you tell us how you worked to reshape this role for today’s complex mediaverse?

Today we communicate with guests on so many levels and through so many mediums. Although there are many types of media, it’s my job to deliver a clear and concise message across each of them. With such a broad audience, the copy and talking points may change style, tone or format, but the core message remains the same. From traditional press releases to social media, it’s my job at Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort to let everyone know what’s going on.

What skills have served you best as communications manager at Sierra-at-Tahoe? What skills would you like to add to your resume?

It sounds very broad, but people skills. Being able to interact with everyone from industry personnel to a journalist who has never been skiing or snowboarding is extremely important. I also have been lucky enough to pick up multimedia tips and pointers throughout my career. I think being multi-faceted and being able to produce videos, know basic HTML, use Adobe Suite, et cetera, has been key to my success. Something I love about working at Sierra Resort is that my skill set continues to grow and I continue to learn. I never want to be content with what I have, only moving forward and learning more.

Tell us about helping to bring the Tanner Hall Invitational to Sierra-at-Tahoe and what it meant for the resort.

Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort works closely with Snow Park Technologies (SPT), and after they approached us with the event, we jumped at the opportunity. The contest itself embodies what Sierra Resort is all about, skiing and snowboarding in a progressive and laid-back environment. Knowing this, the entire mountain got behind the event, which made it a huge success. In the end, Sierra-at-Tahoe saw a huge return, the event got millions of impressions, the average time on site for the webcast was 29 minutes, and it gave us exposure with skiers who may have skipped over our presence due to our snowboard-heavy teams and events of the past.

What was your biggest career win or moment?

The Tanner Hall Invitational was a pretty big “win,” but being a part of the Burton Star Wars Experience has been my biggest career achievement. The Experience gives three- to six-year-olds the opportunity to learn how to snowboard in an interactive environment that is out of this world—cheesy, I know, but true! Working with such iconic brands such as Star Wars and Burton was an honor and one I will not forget any time soon.

Do you have any advice for future 10 Under 30 hopefuls in communications?

Don’t be afraid to dream big. Follow your passions, network, work hard, and play harder.