In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight personnel moves in the mountain resort industry. From resort hires, promotions, and retirements to awards, obits, and supplier news, we celebrate the people that make this industry thrive.
PEOPLE
ADELINE DEYOUNG, NATIONAL SKI AREA ASSOCIATION
Adeline DeYoung was hired as the director of public policy for the National Ski Areas Association. DeYoung holds dual degrees in political science and sustainability from San Diego State University as well as a master of public policy from Georgetown.
LUKE SUSSDORFF, VAIL RESORTS
Vail Resorts appointed Luke Sussdorff to manager of season pass business operations. Prior to Sussdorff’s new role he was the field marketing manager at Stowe Mountain Resort, Vt.
MATT MELILLI, SUGAR BOWL, CA
Sugar Bowl named Matt Melilli as snow surfaces director.
ALEX MCANDREW, BURKE MOUNTAIN, VT
Alex McAndrew joined Burke Mountain as summer operations manager. McAndrew brings more than two decades of experience across the bike industry, including roles as a mechanic, trail builder, coach, engineer, guide, and business owner. In his new role, he will oversee trail operations, bike park development, events, and guest experience.
RYAN STUBBS, GOGEBIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE, MI
Gogebic Community College named Ryan Stubbs director of ski area management. Most recently, Stubbs helped bring an abandoned ski area, Nutt Hill, back to life as a non-profit community ski hill.
SARAH SLUTZKY, HUNTER MOUNTAIN, NY
Sarah Slutzky was promoted to director of mountain operations for Hunter Mountain. Most recently, Slutzky was the director of skier services.
MARK KOHLER, POWDER MOUNTAIN, UT
Mark Kohler was named chief hospitality officer at Powder Mountain. Kohler brings more than 20 years of hospitality experience at private clubs, destination hotels, and resort communities. Most recently, he served as general manager of Gozzer Ranch Golf and Lake Club in Idaho.
BRANDON SWARTZ, SMUGGLER’S NOTCH, VT
Smugglers’ Notch Resort appointed Brandon Swartz as its new general manager. Swartz most recently served as general manager of Attitash Mountain and Wildcat Ski Area in New Hampshire. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.
RYAN THOMPSON, SKEETAWK, AK
Skeetawk Ski Area promoted Ryan Thompson to general manager. Thompson previously served on the board of directors for the nonprofit that runs Skeetawk before resigning in 2025 to serve as Skeetawk’s construction development manager. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.
TRENT POOLE, HEAVENLY MOUNTAIN RESORT, CA
Vail Resorts appointed Trent Poole as Heavenly Mountain Resort vice president and general manager. He currently serves in the same role at Hunter Mountain, N.Y., and succeeds former Heavenly chief Shaydar Edelmann, who was named as Vail Mountain, Colo., VP and COO in April. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.
NICK LEMIRE, BOLTON VALLEY, VT
Nick Lemire was promoted to the role of general manager for Bolton Valley. He previously served as director of guest experience and now oversees general day-to-day operations and all departments at the family-owned ski area. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.
CHRIS SALHANY, CASTLE MOUNTAIN RESORT, AB
Castle Mountain Resort hired Chris Salhany as its new president as part of a leadership restructure following the recent retirement of general manager Dean Parkinson. Prior to joining Castle Mountain Resort, Salhany held leadership roles across the ski and tourism industries, including serving as general manager of Toronto’s Mansfield Ski Club. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.
DAN COCKERELL, BOYNE RESORTS
Boyne Resorts appointed Dan Cockerell to the newly created role of president of operations. Cockerell spent most of his career at The Walt Disney Company in several leadership roles during his 26 years there, ultimately serving as vice president of Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.
SUPPLIER
Chief operating officer Lee Cowie will become CEO of accesso Technology Group as part of a planned leadership transition. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.
Richard Donahue, senior vice president program manager of MountainGuard, retired. Ryan Lavoie has assumed additional responsibility for loss control operations, and Mike Brandi has additional leadership responsibilities in claims operations.
 Richard Donahue |
 Ryan Lavoie |
 Mike Brandi |
Sean Kennedy was promoted to general manager, North America, of Atomic. Kennedy has been with Atomic for over 13 years and was most recently the marketing director for North America.
AWARDS:
Bob HallCanada West Ski Areas Association has recognized Bob Hall with the Jimmie Spencer Lifetime Achievement Award. Shawn Balog of Snow Valley Ski Club received the Jim Marshall Leadership Award. Jason Gill of Cypress Mountain Resort was honored with the Rod Chisholm Operations & Maintenance Award, and Scott Zacharias of Troll Resort Ltd received the Lars Fossberg Excellence Award.
Nub’s Nob Ski AreaNSAA named Bec Bale of Copper Mountain Resort, Colo., its 2026 Safety Champion and Kayla King of Massanutten Resort, Va., its 2026 Hero of Sustainability. Nub’s Nob Ski Area, Mich., was awarded the Conversion Cup. Jackson Hole and Berkshire East were recognized with HKD’s 2026 Herman K. Dupré Sustainable Snowmaking Grant.
The North American Snowsports Journalists Association (NASJA) awarded Moira McCarthy and Peggy Shinn with Harold S. Hirsch Awards of Excellence; Dino Vournas received the Hirsch Award in the images category; Stuart Winchester received the Hirsch Award in the podcast category. Erik Mogensen was recognized with the Bob Gillen Memorial Award. Dino Vournas received the Mitch Kaplan Award. Tom Kelly received the Carson White Snowsports Achievement Award. Jessie Diggins received the Paul Robbins Outstanding Competitor of the Year.
Ski Utah’s inaugural Yeti awards: Matt Serna, Solitude Mountain, Back of House, Food & Beverage Professional of the Year; Riley Dahlquist, Snowbasin Resort, Front of House, Food & Beverage Professional of the Year; Alfrado (Frado) Jefferies, Alta Ski Area, Groomer of the Year; Kyle Quinn, Snowbird, Guest Services Professional of the Year; Tim Roelofs, Brian Head Resort, Instructor of the Year; Elisha Shannon, Brian Head Resort Lift Mechanic of the Year; Bevan Hawkins, Deer Valley Resort, Lift Operations Person of the Year; Austin Stoval, Brighton Resort, Parking Attendant of the Year; Chris Dever, Brian Head Resort, Patroller of the Year; Rebecca Manley, Deer Valley Resort, Snowmaker of the Year; Matt Byerly, Brighton Resort, Terrain Park Groomer of the Year; Stephen Tallant, Snowbasin Resort, Vehicle Mechanic of the Year; Matt Baird, Sundance Mountain Resort, Chairperson’s Award; Snowland Ski Area, President’s Award; and Joe Bott, Second Summit Hard Cider Co., Member of the Year.
Colorado Ski Country USA Double Diamond Award recipient included: Lisa Brazil, Granby Ranch, Food & Beverage Professional of the Year; Claire Thilenius, Eldora, Guest Services Professional of the Year; Javier Pineda, Arapahoe Basin, Ski and Snowboard Instructor of the Year; Aaron Peyrouse, Monarch Mountain, Ski Patrol Professional of the Year; Christopher Gabrielsen, Winter Park Resort, Snowmaker of the Year; Zach Schell, Steamboat Ski Resort, Terrain Park Professional of the Year; Steven Wilson, Loveland Ski Area, Groomer of the Year; Scott Pressly, Monarch Mountain, President’s Award; Shoshana Lew, CDOT, Chair’s Award.
 Lisa Brazil |
 Claire Thilenius |
 Aaron Peyrouse |
 Scotty Pressly |
Ski New Hampshire recognized Ellen Chandler, a longtime Nordic skiing leader, with the A.I. Merrill Award; Frank MacConnell, owner of Bob Skinner’s Ski Shop, with the 2026 H.H. “Bill” Whitney Award; Sean Norton, director of snowsports at Dartmouth Skiway, and Connor O’Neil, food and beverage manager at Mount Sunapee, with the Next Gen Award.
 Ellen Chandler |
 Frank MacConnell |
 Sean Norton |
 Connor O’Neil |
Ski Vermont honored longtime Smugglers’ Notch owner Bill Stritzler with the Industry Achievement award; University of Vermont Parks, Recreation, and Tourism professor David Kaufman with the Friend of the Industry award; and Mad River Glen director of Cricket Club Callie McAllister and Bolton Valley ski patroller Kevin McKegney with Career Industry awards.
 Dave Kaufman |
 Bill Stritzler |
Brad WilsonThe Intermountain Ski Areas Association (ISSA) presented its annual awards, recognizing several industry leaders: Nate Hunt of Brundage Mountain Resort, Idaho, received the Golden Wrench for Operations, Maintenance, Safety & Equipment, while Mike Vandeweghe of Deer Valley, Utah, earned the Golden Wrench for Lift Maintenance. Brad Wilson of Bogus Basin, Idaho, was honored for his outstanding contribution to the sport of skiing, and the late Paul Alden of Soldier Mountain, Utah, was posthumously recognized with the Pioneer Award for his significant contributions to the development of the ski industry.
OBIT
Paul Prince Alden died April 9, 2026. He was 89. Alden worked with Burton Snowboards from 1984 to 1990 and played a key role in expanding resort access to snowboarders. He was also a founding figure of the North American Snowboard Association and contributed to the development of international competition and Olympic inclusion. He continued working in the snowsports industry into his final years, serving as general manager for Soldier Mountain Ski Area, Idaho.
