Rock to Head PCMR/Canyons; Howard to Head Northstar

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09 October 2014

Push to The Latest: No

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Oct. 9, 2014—Vail Resorts has named Bill Rock, currently chief operating officer of Northstar California Resort, as the new chief operating officer of Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort. Beth Howard, currently vice president of mountain dining and clubs, will become general manager of Northstar California Resort. Both appointments are effective Nov. 1, 2014.

Rock joined Vail Resorts in 2010 as COO at Northstar and, at that time, also had oversight of Heavenly and Kirkwood mountains. Rock had previously been president and COO at Intrawest's Snowshoe Mountain Resort from 2005 to 2010. He also served as COO at Durango Mountain Resort has held other ski industry leadership positions since 1996.

“Bill brings nearly 20 years of experience in the mountain resort industry, including mountain operations, lodging, real estate development, association management, municipal services and commercial real estate that will be invaluable to our operations at Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort," said Rob Katz, chairman and CEO of Vail Resorts. “Bill was instrumental in our integration of Northstar in 2010, including overseeing a $30 million capital program and building cultural and community engagement and alignment. He has an outstanding leadership track record and a deep understanding of how to elevate the guest experience in close collaboration with our employees that will benefit all of our stakeholders in the Park City community."

Rock will report to Blaise Carrig, president of Vail Resorts' mountain division, who will step down as interim leader of PCMR. Mike Goar, general manager of Canyons Resort and a 30-plus year industry veteran, will continue in that position and report directly to Rock.

Howard, the new Northstar GM, began her career with Vail Resorts in 1985 as a college intern at Beaver Creek. That led to a 30-year career with the company. In 2010, Howard became vice president of mountain dining and clubs and had operational oversight across all of the company's resorts, including more than 100 restaurants and eight private mountain and golf clubs.

“Beth established herself as one of our most critical leaders, helping to design and deliver the outstanding guest experience at Beaver Creek for over 22 years. She built on that expertise by taking over leadership of mountain dining and clubs for both Vail and Beaver Creek and then ultimately for our whole company,” said Katz. “Beth will be able to leverage these successes and her strong leadership as she works with our entire Northstar team to continue to elevate the guest experience at the resort.”