Welcome to Snow People. This time, our monthly roundup of happenings to prominent people in the mountain resort industry is a combo of December and early January.

Peter Weber, Waterville Valley

Waterville Valley snowsports director Peter Weber has been honored with the Einar Aas Award for Excellence in Snowsports School Management from PSIA/AASI Eastern Division. The award is the highest honor in snowsports schools throughout the country.

Weber, known as “Webbie,” started at Waterville Valley as an instructor in the early 1980s and was promoted to snowsports director in 1999.

“What is the secret of my success? Loving what you do,” said Weber. “Everybody who works here loves to share the passion of sliding on snow. It isn't an ego thing. It's all about getting a great feeling by making somebody ski or snowboard better.”

Bobbie Rathjens, Boyne Highlands

Boyne Highlands, Mich., welcomed Bobbie Rathjens as the resort's new director of marketing.

Before joining the team at Boyne Highlands, Rathjens worked for Active Marketing as senior account manager and strategist. In her new role, she is responsible for developing the overall marketing strategy for the resort, directing initiatives to support growth in visitation, occupancy, and resort assets, as well as guest loyalty.

“Bobbie is an ideal fit to our team,” said Mike Chumbler, president and GM of Boyne Highlands. “We look forward to her positive influence and are happy to have her aboard.”

“I am excited to make a positive impact quickly, and above all, honored to be a member of the Boyne Highlands team,” said Rathjens.

Steve Graff, Deer Valley

Steve Graff has been promoted to director of mountain operations at Deer Valley, Utah, following the retirement of Chuck English, who has been in the position since 1986.

Graff joined Deer Valley in 1993, and most recently served as the resort's ski patrol manager, also overseeing mountain bike operations in the summer months.

“Deer Valley set the standard for ski resort operations and Chuck was instrumental to creating that foundation,” said Bob Wheaton, president and general manager for Deer Valley Resorts. “We are so lucky to have Steve's experience and tenure at Deer Valley to continue operating a top-notch mountain destination.”

Laura Schaffer, Powdr

Powdr Adventure Lifestyle Company has hired Laura Schaffer as its new sustainability director. In this role, Schaffer will oversee all sustainability and environmental initiatives for Powdr and its companies including nine mountain resorts, Woodward, Human Movement Management, Outside Television, and Sun Country Tours.

Most recently, Schaffer was the sustainability director for Mountain Hardwear. In addition to experience in corporate sustainability, Schaffer has held ski industry positions as public relations director for Snowbird, Utah, and worked with the Olympic Winter Games Organizing Committee in 2000 as an editor in the publications group.

Powdr founder and CEO John Cumming said, “I'm confident that Laura's experience and expertise in developing and implementing effective, successful, and nationally recognized sustainability programs will help POWDR meet our, and our customers, needs of today without compromising future generations.”

“As people who like to play outside, we're all in this together,” said Schaffer. “The fresh air fuels us, the sun and snow brings us joy, and we all share the impacts of climate change. The POWDR people and places make up a dream team to work with as we continue to reduce, reuse, recycle—and ultimately rethink—in order to make a difference.”

Moira McCarthy, NASJA

Moira McCarthy, a longtime snowsports journalist and regular SAM contributor, has been selected as the winner of the North American Snowsports Journalist Association's (NASJA) 2017 Mitch Kaplan Award for Excellence in Snowsports Coverage. The award is presented annually to the journalist whose work and spirit best captures the enthusiasm and dedication Mitch Kaplan brought to NASJA and to snowsports journalism.

McCarthy's nominator Nancy Marshall said, “Moira McCarthy stood up on fifth grade career day and announced a bold goal: to make a lifetime living as a ski writer. Today she has done just that. … She is the winter sports and travel editor of the Boston Herald, contributor at Ski Area Management and Adventure Park Insider, and does a weekly ski show on Boston sports radio.”

“Skiing has, almost all my life, sustained me in every way,” said Nancy quoting Moira in her nomination. “I love being a cheerleader for our world, and I love working to get everyone to get just why skiing and winter sports are so great.”

NASJA president Martin Griff said, " Moira has a passion for telling stories and getting people on the snow. While her work is often funny and easy to read, she can switch gears and be a serious journalist when appropriate. She is the perfect selection to help us remember Mitch and the high standards he held for those in our profession.”

Walter William Fisher, Nub's Nob

Walter Fisher, owner of Nub's Nob in Michigan, died Dec. 11, the same morning the ski area got its first major snowfall of the season. He and his two brothers founded Fisher Corporation and General Safety, an automotive supplier specializing in seat belt systems. After many successful years in the automotive business, they acquired Nub's Nob. His knack for running a business like a family resulted in the ski area becoming one of the best in the Midwest.

Fisher truly enjoyed the outdoors. He was an avid boater and hunter, frequently taking his grandchildren on hunting trips to northern Michigan.

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