RMLA CONFERENCE & TRADESHOW, GRAND JUNCTION, COLO., MAY 1-4, 2023

The Rocky Mountain Lift Association Conference & Tradeshow gathered lift maintenance pros for several days of training and connecting. 1. Attendees of the Hands-On Terminal Alignment Theory course turn wrenches on a sheave train assembly. 2. SAM’s Jack Fagone with Neville Sachs, a longtime SAM contributor and past recipient of the RMLA Outstanding Contribution to the Ski Industry award. 3. The RMLA conference was well attended. 4. Cara Sherlock from Park City Mountain, Utah, presents the Summer Ops Roundtable discussion with Andy Birch from Ski Granby Ranch, Colo.

NSAA NATIONAL CONVENTION, SAVANNAH, GA., MAY 8-11, 2023 

The NSAA National Convention welcomed more than 800 industry professionals and experts. 1. Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Rusty Gregory and Alterra CEO Jared Smith. 2. Nadia Guerriero of Vail Resorts with SAM’s Olivia Rowan. 3. Geoff Buchheister and John Rigney from Aspen Ski Co. with Rob Perlman and Dave Hunter from Steamboat, Colo. 4. HEAD’s Jon Rucker presents Joe Hession and Hugh Reynolds from Big SNOW, N.J., with the 2023 Conversion Cup.. 5. NSAA’s Kelly Pawlak honors Bo Adams with the Industry Impact Award. 6. JJ Toland, Sugarbush, Vt.; Guy Lawrence, The Summit at Snoqualmie, Wash.; and Brad Wilson, Bogus Basin, Idaho; chat with Dave Meeker and Jack Fagone from SAM. 7. Keynote panel “Everything Lifts” with Daren Cole, Leitner-Poma of America; Dennis Eshbaugh, Holiday Valley, N.Y.; Katharina Schmitz, Doppelmayr USA; Pat Campbell, Vail Resorts; and Eric Mann, Alterra Mountain Company.

SAMMY LEADERSHIP AWARDS, SAVANNAH, GA., MAY 8, 2023 

The 2023 SAMMY Leadership Awards hosted 25 years of past honorees and friends at Service Brewing Co. in Savannah. Bluegrass, bourbon, beer, and bacon were enjoyed by all. 1. Twenty-five years of SAMMY hall-of-famers gather with this year’s honorees for an epic image of leadership. 2. Congrats to the 2023 SAMMY Leadership Award honorees: Nadia Pépin, CEO, Mont Gleason, Quebec; Mike Solimano, president and general manager, Killington Resort/Pico Mountain, Vt.; Stacey Timmons Ehleringer, executive director of guest engagement, Sun Valley, Idaho; and Preston Cline, director of risk and business operations, Snowshoe, W.Va. 3. LPOA’s Daren Cole and Rob Andrews of Safehold Special Risk, SAMMY partners for 25 years, receive a gift.

CUTTER’S CAMP, TIMBERLINE, MT. HOOD, ORE., MAY 15-19, 2023

 The 19th annual Cutter’s Camp welcomed freestyle terrain professionals from resorts of all sizes and regions for the sold out five-day event. 1. Campers discuss investigation best practices after a tutorial from a panel of ASDA lawyers. 2. Chloe Butel from Timberline, Ore., and Marsha Hovey from Trollhaugen, Wis., discuss how creative events can help attract future employees. 3. Charles Beckinsale from Stomping Grounds Projects coaches Michael Dennett of Brighton, Utah, in an on-hill session. 4. A panel of risk management professionals included Mistica Walker and Colin Russell from Safehold Special Risk, Brian Augenthaler from Keating, Bucklin & McCormack, Brad Stanford from Farleigh, Wada, Witt, and Jason Kartchner and Ben Botelho from MountainGuard. 5. An on-hill workshop combines the skills of cat operators and hand crew to build a variety of transition features together.

SKI NH ANNUAL MEETING, WATERVILLE VALLEY, N.H., JUNE 6-7, 2023

Nearly 340 members attended Ski NH’s annual meeting, hosted at Waterville Valley. 1. Waterville Valley president Tim Smith with Pats Peak GM Kris Blomback and Crotched’s Britt Pippin. 2. Katie Smith, Waterville Valley; Jennifer Hefferan and Dennis Kinsella, MND America; with Sharon Walsh, SAM. 3. A session with Ross Boisvert, McIntyre (moderator); Ellen Chandler, Jackson Ski Touring Center; Jon Hunt, Whaleback; and Danny Allen, Black Mountain. 4. Folks from PRINOTH, Leitner-Poma of America, PSIA-AASI East, Pats Peak, and McIntyre gather on the trade show floor.

SKI VERMONT ANNUAL MEETING, KILLINGTON RESORT, VT., JUNE 7-8, 2023

More than 225 members came together at Killington Resort for Ski Vermont’s annual meeting. 1. Ski Vermont president Molly Mahar with Industry Achievement honoree Bill Nupp from Stratton. 2. Reese Brown from the Cross Country Ski Areas Association (blue shirt) addresses operators. 3. SAM’s Dave Meeker golfs with Jordan Spear, Killington; Christine Donovan, Raccoon Media; and Amy Laramie, Killington. 4. Eric Kelley, Killington; Mike Solimano, Killington; Chuck Clerici, Efficiency Vermont; and Geoff Hatheway, Magic Mountain.