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Pacific Group Resorts, Inc. Submits Top Bid for Jay Peak at $76 Million
PGRI president and CEO Vern Greco shares his thoughts on the acquisition with SAM. SAM Magazine—Jay, Vt., Sept. 8, 2022—Pacific Group Resorts, Inc. (PGRI) made the highest and best final bid to buy Jay Peak, $76 million, following an auction with multiple bidders. PGRI president and CEO Vern Greco told SAM that after three years spent pursuing the acquisition, PGRI is poised to bring renewed stability to the resort and its staff, and tap into its passion and energy. The prevailing bid remains subject to approval by the United States District Court in Southern Florida during a final hearing scheduled for Sept. 16. Judge Darrin P. Gayles, who has presided over the receivership in federal...
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SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Feb. 14, 2023—The booking pace for guests arriving in January through June rose 13.3 percent compared to the same time last year at Western mountain destinations, boosting the aggregated occupancy for those six months 7.1 percent, according to the monthly Market Briefing from DestiMetrics, part of the business i...
SAM Magazine—Boyne Falls, Mich., Aug. 21, 2026—Risky business: Layne Anderson from Powder Ridge and MSAA's Bo Bigelow talk on-hill safety with Zander Kestly of Camber Risk and Safety and AlpenRisk's Mark Petrozzi.The Midwest Ski Areas Association (MSAA) welcomed an upbeat crowd of 503 ski industry professionals to its annual Summer Meeting and ...
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 SAM BURNS, KILLINGTON RESORT, VT Sam Burns was named as snowmaking supervisor for Killington Resort. Prior to jo...
SAM’s Supplier News roundup delivers a quick look at the latest business moves shaping the mountain resort industry. From mergers and acquisitions to new services, partnerships, and product expansions, this snapshot keeps operators up to speed on the companies and solutions driving change across the supplier landscape. SNOWCLOUD unveiled a ma...
SAM Magazine—Shell, Wyo., Aug. 7, 2026—Antelope Butte Mountain Recreation Area has appointed Peter Johnson as its new general manager. Johnson most recently led the Anthony Lakes Outdoor Recreation Association, overseeing Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort in North Powder, Ore. Johnson brings 16 years of experience leading the redevelopment of Anth...
SAM Magazine—Lebanon, N.H., July 31, 2026—Sean MalagutiSean Malaguti has been promoted to serve as president of SnoCountry Ski Areas Association as part of a reorganization at the national snow conditions and ski area promotional outlet. He succeeds Mike Colbourn, who served as president since 2017 and has transitioned to chairman of the SnoCou...
SAM Magazine—Danbury, N.H., July 23, 2026—Ragged Mountain has named Alan "Al" Wickstrom as general manager, bringing the longtime New Hampshire operations leader back to the resort where he previously led mountain operations. Wickstrom rejoins Ragged after four years as vice president of operations at Loon Mountain Resort. Before joining Loon,...
SAM Magazine—Juneau, Alaska, July 22, 2026—The Eaglecrest board of directors selected Julie Jackson Piper to be the next general manager of the non-profit Eaglecrest Ski Area during a July 7 Eaglecrest board special meeting. Piper will begin her new role on Aug. 31. She succeeds Craig Cimmons, who resigned in early January. Piper’s prior e...
SAM Magazine—Bolton Valley, Vt., July 22, 2026—Left to right: Evan DesLauriers, Lindsay DesLauriers, Tara Murphy, Nick Lemire.Bolton Valley Resort’s leadership is evolving, as president and CEO Lindsay DesLauriers transitions to chair of the board while assuming a new strategic leadership position. Tara Murphy has become president and CEO, an...
SAM Magazine—Bretton Woods, N.H., July 21, 2026—Omni Mount Washington Resort & Spa has appointed Jace Wirth as general manager of Bretton Woods Ski Area, where he will oversee year-round operations, including mountain operations, guest experience, community relations, and long-term strategic growth. Wirth brings nearly 20 years of mountain...
SAM Magazine—Salt Lake City, Utah, July 20, 2026—The Rocky Mountain Lift Association (RMLA) held its annual conference in Salt Lake City for the first time this spring, relocating the event from its longtime home in Grand Junction, Colo., to better accommodate future growth and improve accessibility. Held May 18-21 at the Salt Palace Conventio...
SAM Magazine—Macungie, Pa., July 9, 2026—Attendees at the 2026 PORA Lift Maintenance Seminar, Bear Creek Mountain Resort, June 2026.The Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Association (PORA) hosted its annual Lift Maintenance Seminar on June 30 and July 1 at Bear Creek Mountain Resort. The two-day event brought together more than 75 participants, i...
SAM Magazine—Jackson, N.H., July 2, 2026—Entabeni has added 11 team members across operations, technology, analytics, mergers and acquisitions, accounting, and partner support as it continues building the organization behind its mission to serve independent ski areas. The hires represent the latest step in a strategy founder and CEO Erik Mogen...
SAM Magazine—Hunter, N.Y., June 30, 2026—Chuck Randles has been named as the new vice president and general manager of Hunter Mountain, effective July 15, 2026. He takes over for Trent Poole, who was named as vice president and GM of Heavenly Mountain Resort, Calif., in May after two-and-a-half years at the helm at Hunter. Randles is a 20-yea...
SAM Magazine—Eden, Utah, June 29, 2026—Powder Mountain named Bill Cubbage as general manager of resort operations. He will oversee guest services, rental and retail, base area operations, ski and ride school, mountain operations, ski patrol and I.T. Cubbage joined Powder Mountain in 2024, previously serving as vice president of mountain operat...
SAM Magazine—East Burke, Vt., June 24, 2026—Hannah Barrego has been hired by Bear Den Partners as its executive vice president of strategy, operations and integration, a new leadership position focused on strategic execution and operational alignment across the company’s portfolio of ski areas. Barrego joins Bear Den Partners with nearly two...
SAM Magazine—Reno, Nev., June 22, 2026—Despite a challenging winter season in the West, Ski California’s 2026 Lift Maintenance and Operations Education (LMOE) Conference drew 387 attendees from ski areas in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah, just 16 shy of last year’s record attendance. Held June 2-4 across three venues near Reno—the ...
SAM Magazine—Deep Creek Lake, Md., June 22, 2026—Erik BarnesErik Barnes will join Wisp Resort as general manager designate, ultimately succeeding general manager Ron Hawkes following Hawkes' planned semi-retirement at the conclusion of the 2026-27 winter season. During the transition period, Barnes will focus on risk management, safety initiat...
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 ADELINE DEYOUNG, NATIONAL SKI AREA ASSOCIATION Adeline DeYoung was hired as the director of public policy for th...
SAM Magazine—Jeffersonville, Vt., June 10, 2026—Smugglers’ Notch Resort appointed Brandon Swartz as its new general manager. Swartz most recently served as general manager of Attitash Mountain and Wildcat Ski Area in New Hampshire. “Brandon understands that great resorts are built on great people and strong communities,” said Jon Schaefe...
SAM Magazine—Bretton Woods, N.H., June 5, 2026—Doug and Liz Fichera, Summit Resources, with SAM's Karolyn Towle.New Hampshire’s alpine ski areas recorded 2,283,539 skier visits during the 2025-26 season, according to Ski New Hampshire (Ski NH), which represents more than 30 alpine and cross-country member ski areas in the state. The result is...
SAM Magazine—Jay, Vt., June 5, 2026—JJ Toland from Sugarbush with former Jay Peak teammate and 2017 SAM "10 Under 30" Andrew Lanoue and SAM's Dave Meeker.The 242 attendees at the Vermont Ski Areas Association’s (Ski Vermont) 57th Annual Meeting at Jay Peak, June 3-4, were the first to hear that the 2025-26 winter’s early start, good snowfal...
SAM Magazine—Palmer, Alaska, June 4, 2026—Skeetawk Ski Area has promoted Ryan Thompson to general manager. Thompson previously served on the board of directors for the nonprofit that runs Skeetawk before resigning in 2025 to serve as Skeetawk’s construction development manager. As construction development manager, Thompson oversaw capital ...
SAM Magazine—South Lake Tahoe, Calif., May 29, 2026—Vail Resorts has appointed Trent Poole as Heavenly Mountain Resort vice president and general manager. He currently serves in the same role at Hunter Mountain, N.Y., and succeeds former Heavenly chief Shaydar Edelmann, who was named as Vail Mountain, Colo., VP and COO in April. This will be...
SAM Magazine—Bolton Valley, Vt., May 26, 2026—Nick Lemire has been promoted to the role of general manager for Bolton Valley. He previously served as director of guest experience and will now oversee general day-to-day operations and all departments at the family-owned ski area. He is taking on the responsibilities of former vice president and...
SAM Magazine—Pincher Creek, Alberta, May 20, 2026—Castle Mountain Resort has hired Chris Salhany as its new president as part of a leadership restructure following the recent retirement of general manager Dean Parkinson. “Chris brings extensive operational experience, a strong track record in resort leadership, and a deep appreciation for th...
SAM Magazine—Boyne Falls, Mich., May 14, 2026—Boyne Resorts has appointed Dan Cockerell to the newly created role of president of operations, effective Aug. 1, 2026. Cockerell will report to Boyne Resorts president and CEO Stephen Kircher. Cockerell spent most of his career at The Walt Disney Company in several leadership roles during his 26 y...
SAM Magazine—Carlsbad, Calif., May 8, 2026—Nubs Nob Ski Area takes home the 2026 Conversion Cup.The 2026 National Ski Areas Association National (NSAA) Convention and Tradeshow drew 857 attendees to the Omni La Costa Resort near San Diego, May 4-7, strong attendance given the challenging winter in the West that resulted in total national skier ...
SAM Magazine—Twyford, United Kingdom, May 4, 2026—Chief operating officer Lee Cowie will become CEO of accesso Technology Group as part of a planned leadership transition. He succeeds Steve Brown, who founded the company’s namesake accesso business in 2008. "I’m leaving the business in very good hands,” said Brown. “Lee's deep experi...
SAM Magazine—Gatlinburg, Tenn., May 4, 2026—The 14th annual SAM Summer Ops Camp is headed to Gatlinburg, Tenn., Sept. 1-3, 2026. Known as the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park—the most visited national park in the United States, with approximately 12 million visitors anually—Gatlinburg is home to a wide variety of summertime mo...
SAM Magazine—Hancock, Mass., April 21, 2026—Packed house for older fixed grip roundtable.The 49th annual Lift Maintenance Seminar (LMS) returned to Jiminy Peak, April 13-16, drawing a sold-out crowd of roughly 415 ski area operations professionals, supplier representatives, state officials, and experts from all over North America to engage in a...
SAM Magazine—Canmore, Alberta, April 20, 2026—Climate/snowpack presentation. Credit: Reese Brown.The Cross Country Ski Areas Association (CCSAA) Annual Conference drew 72 attendees from across North America to 1988 Winter Olympic venue Canmore Nordic Centre in Alberta, Canada, April 8-10, 2026. Attendance was up compared to the last three years...
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 TROY HAWKS, GIANTS RIDGE, MN Giants Ridge has appointed Troy Hawks as marketing director. Most recently, Hawks...
SAM Magazine—Durango, Colo., April 13, 2026—A new leadership structure at Purgatory Resort includes general manager Dave Rathbun moving into the role of chief executive officer of Purgatory Resort Holdings, the company overseeing the resort’s affiliated businesses, owned by Mountain Capital Partners. In addition, Josh Benson will become senio...
SAM Magazine—Vail, Colo., April 8, 2026—Shaydar Edelmann has been appointed as vice president and chief operating officer of Vail Mountain. He succeeds Beth Howard, who is retiring at the end of the ski season after 41 years with Vail Resorts, but will “remain engaged” during a leadership transition period. “I’m incredibly honored...
SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., April 6, 2026—Pat Campbell and Geraldine LinkThe National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) will recognize two longtime industry leaders at its 2026 National Convention and Tradeshow, May 4–7 in Carlsbad, Calif., awarding Pat Campbell the Lifetime Achievement Award and Geraldine Link the Industry Impact Award. Camp...
SAM Magazine—Pierce County, Wash., March 27, 2026—Linnea Hansen has been named the new president and COO of Washington’s Crystal Mountain, effective immediately. She will report to Alterra Mountain Company regional chief operating officer and executive vice president of the Western Mountain Division Ron Cohen. “Linnea is a strong leader w...
SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., March 23, 2026—The SAMMY Leadership Award Class of 2026 includes four terrific leaders whose spheres of influence and positive impact extend far beyond their office walls. This year’s SAMMY honorees are: Kari Brandt, risk manager, Sugar Bowl, Calif.; Jay Dougherty, president and general manager, Mount Southington, ...
SAM Magazine—Jackson, N.H., March 12, 2026—Indy Pass director and Entabeni Systems CEO Erik Mogensen has bought out early investors to take full ownership of Black Mountain in New Hampshire, in a significant shift from his original plan to sell ownership shares to individuals and create a board of trustees to operate the ski area. Mogensen led...
SAM Magazine—Denver, March 11, 2026—Jared Smith plans to step down from his role as chief executive officer of Alterra Mountain Company at the end of this season. An exact end date was not shared. Smith joined Alterra as president in June 2021, reporting to then-CEO Rusty Gregory. He previously served as president and global chairman of Ticket...
SAM Magazine—Burke, Vt., March 2, 2026—Gabe Porter Henry leads an on hill tour.After nearly a decade in receivership, Vermont’s Burke Mountain is coming out of hibernation. New owners Bear Den Partners are prioritizing long-deferred capital improvements and operational stability, having already accomplished a variety of projects after taking ...
SAM Magazine—Glenwood, N.Y., March 2, 2026—Kissing Bridge All Seasons Resort has hired Matt Thomas as its new general manager. Thomas comes to the role with nearly 30 years of ski industry experience, most recently serving more than six years as director of risk management at Telluride Ski and Golf, Colo. “We are beyond excited to bring Ma...
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 a...
SAM Magazine—Big Sky, Mont., Feb. 23, 2026—Taylor Middleton, the longtime Big Sky Resort executive who led the Montana destination through decades of expansion and repositioned it as one of North America’s premier ski resorts, died Friday at his home in Big Sky. He was 68. An Alabama native and 1979 University of Alabama graduate, Middleton ...
SAM Magazine—Denver, Feb. 18, 2026—Alterra Mountain Company has appointed David Flueck as chief customer officer and president, Ikon Pass. Flueck will lead the company’s customer engagement strategy as well as its sales, marketing and communications functions, and steward continued growth of the Ikon Pass product. He joins Alterra from Marri...
SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt., Feb. 9, 2026—Colleagues took time to connect sharing stories and highlights from the season. A banner winter across much of the East, marked by consistent cold temperatures for snowmaking, steady natural snowfall, and record holiday attendance at many ski areas, set an upbeat tone for the National Ski Areas Associa...
SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt., Feb. 3, 2026—Nearly 7,500 total votes were cast for the six competing snowmaking teams during the 13-day voting period of the 2026 I AM a Snowmaker contest, with Seven Springs, Pa., receiving the most votes to take home the title. Contest sponsor HKD Snowmakers president Charles Santry honored Seven Springs at the ...
SAM Magazine—Tooele, Utah, Jan. 26, 2026—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. “With Andrew’s leadership, Prinoth continues to reinforce its position at the forefront of snow grooming techno...
SAM Magazine—Blakeslee, Pa., Jan. 23, 2026—Vail Resorts has hired Tony Torsell as general manager of Jack Frost Big Boulder, effective Feb. 15. Torsell, who grew up not far from the neighboring ski areas, succeeds previous GM Tony Santora, who is now the vice president of mountain operations at VR-owned Beaver Creek, Colo. “Coming back hom...
SAM Magazine—Snowbird, Utah, Jan. 16, 2026—NSAA president Mike Reitzell and Snowbird president Dave Fields at the first track breakfast.A challenging start to the season for much of the west kept some ski area personnel from attending the National Ski Areas Association Western Winter Conference, but a crowd of 690 industry professionals—up fr...
SAM Magazine—Nederland, Colo., Jan. 16, 2026—Powdr Corp. has hired Andrew Gast to serve as president and general manager of Eldora Mountain Resort, effective Feb. 1. Gast will serve in his current role as general manager of Mt. Ashland, Ore., until Jan. 24. Powdr CEO Justin Sibley said the company—which remains Eldora’s owner while the Tow...
SAM Magazine—Happy Valley, Ore., Dec. 30, 2025—Jay PeakExtreme and erratic weather defined the first week of the 2025 Christmas-to-New Year period across much of North America, forcing operators to contend not only with snow, or lack thereof, but also power failures, access disruptions, infrastructure breakdowns, and workforce concerns. Whi...
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 LUCA SIGNORELLI, ASPEN SNOWMASS, CO Luca Signorelli has been appointed as senior vice president, commercial de...
SAM Magazine—Reno, Nev., Dec. 2, 2025—The Sky Tavern board of directors has appointed Chris "Toph" Brown as the Nevada ski area’s new chief executive officer. The decision was announced Oct. 25, 2025, following the retirement of former CEO Pat Cashell. Brown has long been part of the Sky Tavern leadership team, most recently serving as chie...
SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Nov. 25, 2025—Vail Resorts has appointed Celeste Burgoyne as executive vice president and chief revenue officer, effective Jan. 26, 2026. Burgoyne is the current president of the Americas and global guest innovation for athleisure-wear company lululemon. In her newly created role, Burgoyne will oversee Vail Re...
SAM Magazine—Boston, Mass., Nov. 19, 2025—The stalwart consumer ski and snowboard shows still play an important—and in some cases a growing—role in stoking excitement for winter sports in key markets of the country, and a handful of this year’s events reportedly did well in their current venues as relocation and expansion discussions are ...
SAM Magazine—East Burke, Vt., Nov. 19, 2025—Burke Mountain Resort has named industry veteran Gabe Porter-Henry as its new general manager, effective Dec. 1. He will work alongside interim general manager Tom Day through the end of the calendar year as the resort continues its transition to new ownership under Bear Den Partners. Porter-Henry ha...
SAM Magazine—Huntsville, Utah, Nov. 5, 2025—Powder Mountain has appointed Brandi Hammon as president, overseeing all resort operations, real estate, and hospitality. Hammon, an Ogden Valley native, previously served as the resort’s chief revenue officer and has been involved with Powder Mountain’s growth and development since its transitio...
SAM Magazine—Pinedale, Wyo., Nov. 4, 2025 —White Pine Ski Resort has named Dalan Adams as general manager and Austin Bevilacqua as assistant general manager.Dalan Adams and Austin Bevilacqua. Credit: White Pine. Both are longtime Pinedale residents with community ties and experience in outdoor recreation and hospitality. Adams brings near...
SAM Magazine—New York City, Oct. 30, 2025—Indy Pass director Erik Mogensen speaks during the Indy Pass press event.The number of Indy Pass products sold for 2025-26 grew 60 percent year-over-year, and pass holder redemptions at partner ski areas were up 40 percent for the 2024-25 season compared to 2023-24, according to a presentation at the se...
