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

KATHY HASTINGS, STEAMBOAT RESORT, CO

Steamboat Resort has promoted Kathy Hastings to vice president of food and beverage. Hastings has more than 20 years of leadership experience in the food and beverage industry and has been with Steamboat since 2019. Prior to joining the resort, she held director roles with Hyatt properties and JW Marriott.

 

 

TINA BURFORD, PARK CITY MOUNTAIN, UT

Tina Burford has been appointed senior director of skier services at Park City Mountain. Burford brings more than 40 years of experience in the ski industry, including 32 years at Perisher in Australia. She most recently served as vice president and general manager of Hotham Skiing Company.

 

 

RICHARD PHILLIPS, HOTHAM RESORT, AUSTRALIA

Richard Phillips, current vice president and general manager of Australia’s Falls Creek, is now also overseeing Hotham Resort as its vice president and general manager. Phillips is an industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience and has led the team at Falls Creek for nearly six years.

 

 

LASZLO OTVOS, CAMELBACK RESORT, PA

Camelback Resort has named Laszlo Otvos as its new director of mountain operations. Otvos has spent more than 20 years in the ski industry in various leadership roles at resorts like Mammoth Mountain and Northstar in California.

 

 

 

CHRIS SETCHELL, GUNSTOCK MOUNTAIN RESORT, NH

Chris Setchell has been named snowsports director at Gunstock Mountain Resort. Setchell’s previous industry experience includes serving as program director for Denmark’s national U14/U16 alpine ski team and as director of ski and ride schools at Whakapapa in New Zealand and Afton Alps, Minn. Most recently, he was the snowsports director at King Pine Ski Area, N.H.

Jessica Jansen and Melvin Poncio JESSICA JANSEN and MELVIN PONCIO, MT. ROSE SKI TAHOE, NV

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe has appointed Jessica Jansen as human resources director. Jansen brings more than 10 years of experience in hospitality and human resources to the job, most recently serving as human resources manager for Palisades Tahoe, Calif.

Melvin Poncio has been promoted to lead the new Wildside Tahoe snow tubing park. Poncio has been with Mt. Rose for more than 10 years in various roles, most recently as parking assistant manager. 

STEVE ZWEIG, MARYJO ZWEIG, and BRIAN BIRENBACH, GFELLER LAURIE LLP

Gfeller Laurie LLP has named Steve Zweig and Maryjo Zweig as senior counsel and Brian Birenbach as counsel. 

Steve Zweig, Maryjo Zweig, and Brian Birenbach

Zack Kirchner, snowsports director, Karen Dolan, and Ben Wilcox, Cranmore president and GM.ZACK KIRCHNER and KAREN DOLAN, CRANMORE MOUNTAIN RESORT, NH

Zach Kirchner is now the snowsports director at Cranmore Mountain Resort. Kirchner’s career began at Alpine Valley, Ohio, before he moved on to serve five years as adult ski and ride school supervisor at Attitash, N.H. He holds a PSIA Level 2 Certification, along with Children’s Specialist 1 and Freestyle Specialist 1 credentials.

Karen Dolan, current snowsports director, will transition into an advisory role after 50 years with Cranmore’s snowsports school. In her new capacity, she will focus on mentoring and supporting the snowsports team.

Jonathan Handy and Dave LindgrenJONATHAN HANDY and DAVE LINDGREN, WILD MOUNTAIN, MN

Wild Mountain has promoted Jonathan Handy to mountain manager. Handy has been with Wild Mountain since 2021 in various roles, and prior to that, he served in the Army National Guard for nine years.

After more than 40 years as mountain manager, Dave Lindgren will transition into a senior advisory role in mountain operations.

Bonnie Hickey and Kristen BlacklerKRISTIN BLACKLER and BONNIE HICKEY, BRIDGER BOWL, MT

Bridger Bowl has appointed Kristin Blackler as its new director of sustainability. Blackler has more than a decade of experience in the field and most recently served as director of sustainability at Montana State University–Bozeman.

She succeeds Bonnie Hickey, who has retired after more than 30 years with Bridger Bowl. Hickey served as snowsports director for 28 years before stepping into the sustainability role in 2018.

BEN WILCOX, NEW ENGLAND SKI MUSEUM

Cranmore Mountain Resort, N.H., general manager Ben Wilcox has been elected the new president of the New England Ski Museum. He succeeds former president Bo Adams. 

 

 

GREG FISHER, LITTLE SWITZERLAND, WI

Schmitz Brothers Resorts has hired longtime ski industry leader Greg Fisher as the new general manager of Little Switzerland ski area. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

 

 

SIMON PAGÉ, ISABELLE ST-GERMAIN, and PIERRE CHAREST, LES SOMMETS

Les Sommets has promoted three long-standing employees to corporate vice president roles. Simon Pagé was named executive vice president and deputy general manager of the company. Isabelle St-Germain was appointed as VP of finance, and Pierre Charest as VP of operations. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

 

JEAN MIKULAS, RED LODGE MOUNTAIN, MT

Red Lodge Mountain has hired Jean Mikulas as its new president and general manager. She brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in the ski and hospitality industries to the role. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

SUPPLIERS

TECHNOALPIN

TechnoAlpin is a key partner and official supporter for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

MIKE EVENSON, ACCESSO

Accesso has named Mike Evenson chief commercial officer. Evenson brings in more than 20 years of knowledge in technology, ticketing, and customer engagement to the role. Most recently, he was the chief marketing officer for AudienceView.

 

 

 

ROB CLARK, AXESS AG

Axess has welcomed Rob Clark as its new managing director–product and growth. Clark most recently was chief revenue officer for Aspenware.

 

 

 

NATIONAL SKI PATROL

National Ski Patrol is the new title sponsor of the National Avalanche School. This sponsorship will give ski patrollers and snow professionals access to avalanche training and resources.

WINTERSTEIGER SPORTS

Wintersteiger Sports has acquired Sports Rental software from SR Software GmbH & Co. KG, based in Dreieich, Germany. Sports Rental software is used in more than 2,000 shops that rent ski and snowboard equipment, boats, and bikes, in 25 countries.  

ALPINE SOLUTIONS

Former Boyne Resorts vice president of snow surfaces and design Brendan Ryan has launched Alpine Solutions, a New Hampshire-based consulting firm that specializes in snowmaking system planning, design, effectiveness, and management.  

AWARDS

U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD HALL OF FAME

The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame has named eight to its Class of 2025:

Chris Cushing

Raelene Davis

Nancy Gustafson

Hugh Harley

Douglas Pringle

Todd Richards

Kikkan Randall

Lindsey Van

Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

SKI NY

Ski Areas of New York honored attorneys Steve and Maryjo Zweig with the Stafford Safety in Skiing Award, and Windham Mountain Club chairman Chip Seamans received the Ski NY Hall of Fame Award during the Ski NY/PORA Expo at Holiday Valley, N.Y.

Bristol Mountain's Dan Fuller (left) and Holiday Valley's Dennis Eshbaugh (right) presented attorneys Steve and Maryjo Zweig with the Stafford Safety in Skiing Award.

Ski NY president Scott Brandi (left) honored Windham Mountain Club chairman Chip Seamans with the Ski NY Hall of Fame Award, presented by former MountainGuard chief Bo Adams.

 

2025 RISE UP CHALLENGE

Bogus Basin’s Maddie Baldwin has won the 2025 Rise Up Challenge, sponsored by Leitner-Poma of America. Baldwin and Bogus Basin will receive a $3,500 education grant along with a swag bag provided by LPOA.

 

 

OBITUARIES

SAM BONASSO

Ski Lift International (SLI) co-founder and renowned aerial lift and tramway engineer Sam Bonasso died in July. SLI built 46 double chairlifts, several of which are still in use, and was eventually acquired by Riblet Tramway Company in 1973. Sam founded architectural and engineering firm Alpha Associates, based in Morgantown, W.Va., in 1969. He was one of the original engineers for the National Ski Areas Association Insurance Plan Manager, now today’s MountainGuard, and served as a committee member and secretary for the 1983 revision of the ANSI B77 code. He also co-founded the North American section of the International Organization for Transportation by Rope (OITAF).