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

MASON WILLETT, MOUNT SUNAPEE, NH

Vail Resorts has appointed Mason Willett as director of mountain operations at Mount Sunapee. Willett has been with Vail Resorts for more than 10 years. Most recently, he served as senior manager of guest services at Beaver Creek.

 

 

 

BKate Rauber ONNIE KOSCHIR, NIKI KLEIN, and KATE RAUBER, HOLIDAY VALLEY, NY

Bonnie Koschir was appointed chair of the Win-Sum Ski Corp. board of directors. Koschir began her career at Holiday Valley in 1991 and has contributed to the resort’s development for more than three decades. 

Holiday Valley has promoted Niki Klein to vice president of resort services. Klein has been with the resort since 201, most recently serving as director of resort services.

Kate Rauber has been promoted to vice president of skier services and secretary of the Win-Sum Ski Corp. board of directors. Rauber was previously the director of skier services. 

 

KARI BRANDT, SUGAR BOWL RESORT, CA

Kari Brandt was named risk manager of Sugar Bowl Resort. Prior to joining Sugar Bowl, Brandt was the safety coordinator and ski patrol director for Diamond Peak Ski Resort, Nev. Brandt is also the president and founder of Women in Patrol, a non-profit organization that strives  through mentorship and education to encourage more women to become patrollers. 

  

DANNY JONES, DIAMOND PEAK SKI RESORT, NV

Diamond Peak Ski Resort has appointed Danny Jones as ski patrol director and safety coordinator. Jones has been working in the industry for 20 years, starting as a lift operator at Mt. Shasta Ski Park, Calif. Most recently, he served on ski patrol at Northstar California.

 

 

 

WENDY RAND, ALTERRA MOUNTAIN COMPANY, UT

Wendy Rand has been appointed vice president of people at Solitude Mountain Resort. In this role, she will oversee human resources, employee engagement, and people strategy. Prior to joining Alterra Mountain Company, Rand served as chief human resources officer at InMoment and as senior director of human resources at Park City Mountain, Utah.

 

 

JUDIE RULLIS, WINTER4KIDS

Winter4Kids has appointed Judie Rullis as interim chief executive officer. Rullis has been with the organization since its inception and previously served as director of programming and operations. She holds multiple USSS certifications, including Level 2 Timing & Calculations, Level 1 Race Administrator, Level 1 Chief of Race, and Level 1 Referee.

  

 

From left to right: Jeremy Hall, Kasia Scontsas, and Chris DiStefanoKASIA SCONTSAS, CHRIS DISTEFANO, and JEREMY HALL, KING PINE SKI AREA, NH

Kasia Scontsas was promoted to director of skier services at King Pine. She was previously the school group coordinator and ski school supervisor at the ski area and held roles at the Danforth Bay Campground & RV Resort. 

Chris DiStefano was appointed director of facilities and projects at King Pine. He brings more than 20 years of experience in hospitality facility management and most recently served as facility manager at Danforth Bay Campground & RV Resort.

King Pine named Jeremy Hall director of guest services across the Hoyt Family properties, including King Pine Ski Area, Danforth Bay Campground & RV Resort, and Purity Spring Resort.

 

FRED SEYMOUR, GIANTS RIDGE, MN

Fred Seymour, general manager of Giants Ridge, has retired. Seymour has served as general manager since 2017. Prior to that, he was general manager of Hidden Valley Ski Resort, Mo. Earlier in his career, he spent more than 20 years at Hyland Hills Ski Area, Minn., where he served as operations supervisor and senior manager of alpine services.

  

 

TONY TORSELL, JACK FROST BIG BOULDER, PA

Vail Resorts has hired Tony Torsell as general manager of Jack Frost Big Boulder. He has several years of ski industry experience, including nearly a decade working at Ski Cooper, Colo., where he rose to senior director of resort services and administration. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

  

 

ANDREW GAST, ELDORA, CO

Powdr Corp. has hired Andrew Gast to serve as president and general manager of Eldora Mountain Resort. Gast has served as general manager of nonprofit Mt. Ashland Ski Area, Ore., since 2022, where he led daily operations, set long-term strategy, and delivered capital improvements, including the ski area’s first new chairlift in more than 35 years. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

 

SUPPLIERS

  

ANDREW NICOLAS, PRINOTH U.S. 

Prinoth named Andrew Nicolas as CEO of its U.S. snow grooming division in December. In his new role, Nicolas oversees snow grooming services and product distribution for the U.S. market. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

DANIELLE KRISTMANSON, MMGY ORIGIN, BC

Origin’s founding partner and creative director, Danielle Kristmanson, has retired. Kristmanson founded Origin, now MMGY Origin, over 30 years ago. 

THOMAS AICHER, KAVEH SHAHI, and ELLIE GEBAROWSKI-SHAFER, GFELLER LAURIE LLP, VT

Gfeller Laurie LLP has added Thomas Aicher and Kaveh Shahi as partners, and Ellie Gebarowski-Shafer as associate. 

AWARDS

I AM A SNOWMAKER

Seven Springs, Pa., won the 2026 I AM a Snowmaker contest, sponsored by HKD Snowmakers. Seven Spring received a custom-made HKD Viper table. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

INTERNATIONAL SKIING HISTORY ASSOCIATION (ISHA) AWARDS

Junior Bounous of Utah has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from ISHA for his lifelong activities promoting skiing and its culture. Bounous served on the board of Far West Ski Instructors’ Association and was a founding member of PSIA.

ISHA presented the Women in Snowsports Industry Award to Connie Nelson for her role in establishing, building, and directing the Alf Engen Museum in Park City, Utah.

SMI PHOTO CONTEST

Ben Tompkins from Royal Mountain, N.Y., won the SMI Snow Makers photo contest.

OBITUARIES

MARK MEADOWS

Mark Meadows died Dec. 20, 2025 at 64. Meadows began his career at Ratnik Industries in the early ‘80s before starting Torrent in 2000. He was involved in snowmaking infrastructure projects for three Winter Olympics (Vancouver, Sochi, and South Korea) and helped to bring snowmaking to Arizona Snowbowl and numerous projects all over the world.

JEFFREY (BERGER) ROSENBERG

Jeff “Berger” Rosenberg died Jan. 13, 2026. Rosenberg started his career at Sugarloaf in 1976, where he held a variety of roles over the years, including ski school supervisor, alpine coach, and director of retail operations. He later served as vice president at Mount Snow and vice president of skier services and mountain operations at Sunday River Resort. He concluded his career at Sugarloaf as outdoor center manager. He was inducted into the Maine Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2023. 

MIKE BERGLES

Mike Bergles died Feb. 19, 2026. He was 63. Bergles was the longtime general manager of Chestnut Mountain in Illinois. Prior to joining Chestnut, Bergles trained as a pipefitter and spent 28 years with Great Lakes Plumbing & Heating, Union 597.

TAYLOR MIDDLETON

Transformative Big Sky Resort leader Taylor Middleton died Feb. 20, 2026, at 68. Over nearly three decades in top leadership roles, Middleton oversaw the construction of more than 20 lifts, two trams, two slopeside hotels, and major summer infrastructure that helped reposition Big Sky as a year-round destination. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.