Mountain Department
Leadership Development
Strong leadership drives successful mountain operations. The Leadership Development Department explores management skills, communication, coaching, training, and workplace culture strategies that help resort professionals build stronger teams and lead more effectively.
Cover Story
Happy Staff = Happy Guests
Why there’s a direct correlation between employee satisfaction and guest loyalty, and how ski areas can capitalize on the opportunity.
Leadership Articles
Mountain Spy :: Employment Edition
In honor of hiring season, the Spy revisits 20 years of employment-related calls.
Lessons in Leadership
Summit Series mentors share leadership lessons on navigating change, building culture, developing people, and growing careers.
Beyond Orientation: New Approaches to Staff Readiness
Six resorts are doing more than one-and-done onboarding to better prepare new hires and managers alike ahead of…
10 Under 30
These 10 rising professionals are making an outsized impact on their organizations—and on the future of the snowsports…
Changing the Narrative Around Ski Industry Careers
The ski industry offers unique careers for young professionals, but do they know that?
Latest News
SAM Summit Series Expands to 60 Participants, Welcomes New Mentor Class
Alta Names Dave Hirasawa as General Manager
Deirdre Riley Named General Manager of Attitash and Wildcat
Rob Perlman Returns as Steamboat President and COO
Mt. Ashland Names Rachel Canada as General Manager
Antelope Butte Names Peter Johnson General Manager
Ragged Mountain Names Wickstrom General Manager
Eaglecrest Board Appoints Julie Piper as Next General Manager
SPONSORED
Real growth happens in the Field of Play
When people have space to engage, experiment, and grow in real time, development goes deeper and creates lasting change.
Through the Decades
1960sNSAA NewsletterJune 1965
1970sThe Norton PhenomenonMarch 1975
1980sSki School: Cures for Mid-Season Burn-OutJanuary 1981
1990sThanks, Chris; Greetings, GaryMay 19942000sO’Donnell Wins Industry Achievement AwardMarch 2007
2010sMountain Creek Files for BankruptcyMay 2017
2020sVail Resorts Names Brandon Swartz GM of Wildcat, With Oversight of AttitashDecember 2024Cards show digitized stories tagged to this department. Decades without tagged articles are omitted; the chips below still search every decade from the 1960s on.
Community
On the calendar
- Oct13Mountain Towns 2030Sun Valley, ID
- Oct13NSAA Fall Education SeminarsSki Sante Fe, NM
- Oct15NSAA Fall Education SeminarsCopper Mountain, CO
- Oct16Snowvana – SeattleSeattle, WA
- Oct20NSAA Fall Education SeminarsTimberline Ski Area, OR
- Oct21CWSAA Fall Lift Safety BootcampPrince George, BC
Supplier Guide
Field of Play ConsultingField of Play Consulting helps leaders, teams, and organizations grow through experiential learning. Its approach creates purposeful opportunities to practice skills, tackle meaningful challenges, and learn through experience. Through guided challenges, reflection, and feedback, Field of Play builds leadership capabilities, strengthens collaboration, and supports lasting individual and organizational development.
MountainGuardMountainGuard is a leading provider of insurance and risk management solutions for the ski industry. With more than 60 years of experience, MountainGuard provides customized coverage, claims management, and loss control services tailored to ski areas, helping operators manage risk, protect their assets, and navigate the industry’s unique challenges.Department Sponsorship
Become the partner this department’s readers recommend.
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