In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight recent personnel moves that have been made in the mountain resort industry. From resort hires, promotions, and retirements to supplier news, awards and obits, we celebrate the people that make this industry thrive.

PEOPLE

BONNIE MACPHERSON, GUNSTOCK MOUNTAIN RESORT, N.H.

Bonnie MacPherson joined Gunstock Mountain Resort as marketing director on Jan. 23. MacPherson began her 20 plus year PR and marketing career in New Hampshire at Bretton Woods and the Mount Washington Hotel. She joined Booth Creek Ski Holdings in 2004 as director of public relations, supporting Loon, Waterville Valley, and Cranmore, N.H., before later moving to Okemo Mountain Resort, Vt., to serve as PR director. She eventually became the Northeast communications manager for Vail Resorts, representing Okemo, Mount Sunapee, and Crotched Mountain after VR acquired the properties in 2018.

TIM KOONS, WHITETAIL MOUNTAIN RESORT, PA

Tim Koons was named general manager for Whitetail Mountain Resort. He has 36 years of experience in the ski industry. Most of those years were spent at Liberty Mountain Resort, Pa., where he served in many roles including director of mountain operations, operations manager, and marketing manager. Koons and his team are focused on providing a fun, memorable guest experience.

TIM WALSH, BLUEBIRD BACKCOUNTRY, CO

Tim Walsh was named ski patrol and snow safety director for Bluebird Backcountry. Walsh brings over 20 years of experience in the ski industry in various roles, including food and beverage, snowmaker, lift operator, ski patrol, and most recently as an avalanche forecaster and snow safety technician. He has been recognized with awards such as the National Ski Patrol Merit Award in 2015 and a nomination for Colorado Ski Country Patroller of the Year in 2021.

TOM ROYTHER, WISP RESORT, MD

Wisp Resort hired Tom Royther as its sustainability coordinator. This winter, Royther will be working in a hybrid role as the pumphouse operator as the resort further develops its sustainability program.

RICH BURKLEY, LAKE LOUISE, ALBERTA

Rich Burkley has joined Lake Louise Ski Resort as the CEO. Burkley was recently at Aspen Skiing Co., where he spent 33 years in various roles, including accounting and finance, director of ski and snowboard school, and vice president of mountain operations. In his new role, he will help Lake Louise expand its lifts, terrain, and facilities. Find a full report on SAM’s Headline News.

COURNTEY DIFIORE, VAIL RESORTS

Courtney DiFiore was promoted to senior communications manager for the Northeast region at Vail Resorts. DiFiore will oversee eight resorts in that region: Stowe, Mount Snow, Okemo, Hunter, Attitash, Wildcat, Crotched and Sunapee. She first joined Vail Resorts in September as a communications manager for Vermont and New York.

MAGGIE LORING, SOLITUDE MOUNTAIN RESORT, UT 

Maggie Loring joined Solitude Mountain Resort as the new snowsports school training manager. Loring was the longtime mountain school director at Snowbird, Utah. She is a PSIA-I Clinic Leader and Examiner, ad is also a member of PSIA’s Alpine Advisory Committee, Women’s Advisory Group, and the Nancy Oakes Hall Scholarship Committee.

ALINIO AZEVEDO, ASPEN SKIING COMPANY, CO

Aspen Skiing Co. promoted Alinio Azevedo to chief executive officer of its hospitality division, Aspen Hospitality. His most recent role was managing director and chief operating officer of the hospitality division, previously called The Little Nell Hotel Group. His background includes development, financing, operation, and asset management of the hotels and clubs that make up Aspen Hospitality’s portfolio.

PEGGY HILLER, PSIA-ASSI

The Professional Ski Instructors of America and American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI) has named industry veteran Peggy Hiller as its new CEO. Hiller is currently the vice president of operations for Arapahoe Basin, Colo., where she’s worked since 1997. Her past roles at A-basin included human resource director and assistant manager. Find a full report on SAM’s Headline News.

MELODY NESTER, SKI NEW HAMPSHIRE

Melody Nester has joined Ski New Hampshire as the assistant director. Nester has an extensive background in tourism and marketing. Her previous experience includes being the assistant director at the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce, working with New Hampshire state programs and managing ski partnership programs involving alpine and cross-country areas in the region. 

SUPPLIERS

DAVE BELIN, SNOW PARTNERS

SNOW Partners has appointed Dave Belin as its new chief financial officer for all its related businesses. Prior to joining SNOW Partners, Belin was the director of consulting services at RRC Associates, a research and strategy firm in Boulder, Colo. In that role, Belin was a recognized expert in the tourism, recreation, and snowsports industries, with a particular emphasis on ski resort operational and financial data, as well as the demographics of snowsports participants. Find a full report on SAM’s Headline News.

JIM BRYAN-KANDA, PARADOCS

Jim Bryan-Kanda has joined Paradocs Mountain Software as a business development manager. Bryan-Kanada will be responsible for expanding the Paradocs business in the United States. 

JOHANNES WIEDORFER, SUNKID

Johannes Wiedorfer has been promoted to the head of marketing for surface lift and leisure activity supplier Sunkid. 

AWARDS

DAN BERGERON, KILLINGTON, VT

Dan Bergeron was the 2022 recipient of the Einar Aas Award from the Eastern Division of the Professional Ski Instructors of America. The award recognizes dynamic leadership within a Snowsports school while achieving and maintaining the highest standards. Bergeron has over 37 years of experience in the snowsports industry. For the past 11 years, he has served as mountain school operations manager at Killington Mountain, Vt. Prior to that, he was the ski and ride school director at Mount Ascutney and later Okemo, Vt. 

SHANNON DUNN-DOWNING and TINA BASICH, U.S SKI AND SNOWBOARD HALL OF FAME

Shannon Dunn-Downing and Tina Basich have been inducted into the Snowboard Hall of Fame. This year marks the first ever induction of female snowboard athletes. Basich and Dunn-Downing are recognized as role models for female snowboarders, and have promoted and welcomed women to the sport through interviews, personal appearances, and by working with their sponsors to design new products for women.

OBITUARIES

AMY ALLISON STEELE 

Amy Allison Steele died Jan. 19, 2023, surrounded by her family. She was 67 years old. Steele spent years in the association business, first with the International Racquet & Sportsclub Association and later with the National Ski Areas Association as director of sponsorships.

She is survived by her husband Andy Steele, and her three children George Steele (30), Allison Steele (29), and Suzanne Steele (27), her mother Ginia Allison, and her older siblings Stephen Allison and Perry Allison.

CHRIS DIAMOND

Chris Diamond, former Steamboat Ski Resort president and author of seminal industry text Ski Inc., died Jan. 12, 2023, from pancreatic cancer. He was 76 years old. Diamond had a long, influential career in the industry. Find a full report on SAM’s Headline News.

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