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 was the director of marketing and sales for Red Lodge Mountain, Mont.
MASON WILLETT, MOUNT SUNAPEE, NH
Mount Sunapee has named Mason Willett director of mountain operations. Willett brings in over 10 years of resort experience in the Vail Resorts portfolio.
RICK THORPE, BURKE MOUNTAIN, VT
Burke Mountain appointed Rick Thorpe as sales director of Burke Mountain Resort Hotel. Thorpe brings in over two decades of leadership within the hospitality and mountain resort industries. Most recently, he was the area director of sales and marketing for Charlestowne Hotels.
MORGAN BAST, SNOWBIRD, UT
Snowbird has appointed Morgan Bast as senior director of marketing. Bast brings more than 15 years of experience in resort marketing, with roles at Crested Butte, Breckenridge, Keystone, and most recently, Steamboat.
BRIAN WRIGHT, MAMMOTH LAKES TOURISM, CA
Brian Wright was named as president and chief executive officer of Mammoth Lakes Tourism. Wright has more than 25 years of outdoor and tourism industry experience and most recently served as the director of travel trade for Visit California.
SHAYDAR EDELMANN and BETH HOWARD, VAIL MOUNTAIN, CO
Shaydar Edelmann has been appointed as vice president and chief operating officer of Vail Mountain. Edelmann currently serves as vice president and general manager of Heavenly Mountain Resort, Calif. He succeeds 2015 SAMMY Leadership Award honoree Beth Howard, who is retiring after 41 years with Vail Resorts. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.
Dave RathbunDAVE RATHBUN, JOSH BENSON, and MICHAEL ROSENFELD, PURGATORY RESORT, CO
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 senior director of resort operations, and Michael Rosenfeld will be senior director of village operations. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.
MATT THOMAS, KISSING BRIDGE, NY
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. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.
LINNEA HANSEN, CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, WA
Linnea Hansen has been named as 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. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.
JARED SMITH, ALTERRA MOUNTAIN COMPANY
Jared Smith will step down from his role as chief executive officer of Alterra Mountain Company at the end of this season. He oversaw more than $1.5 billion in capital improvements across the company’s portfolio during his tenure. An executive committee of the board will function as an “office of the CEO” through the leadership transition period, the company said. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.
SUPPLIERS
SE Group has appointed Michael van Eyck as senior resort analyst. Michael brings over 20 years of experience in all aspects of operations, including finance, strategic planning, executive management, and marketing.
AWARDS
Four remarkable leaders were recognized with a 2026 SAMMY Leadership Award: Kari Brandt, risk manager, Sugar Bowl, Calif., and founder, Women of Patrol; Jay Dougherty, president and general manager, Mount Southington, Conn.; Jordan Elliott, president, Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association; and Ben Smith, vice president of resort operations and general manager, Mountain High, Calif. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.
Gunther Jochl, owner of Sugar Mountain, received the Winner’s Circle Award, which recognizes leaders who have made significant contributions to the success and growth of North Carolina’s travel and hospitality industry.
The National Ski Areas Association 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. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.
OBITS
Paul Prince Alden died April 9, 2026. He was 89. Alden worked with Burton Snowboards from 1984 to 1990 and played a key role in expanding resort access to snowboarders. He was also a founding figure of the North American Snowboard Association and contributed to the development of international competition and Olympic inclusion. He continued working in the snowsports industry into his final years, serving as general manager for Soldier Mountain Ski Area, Idaho.
Joseph “Joe” Cushing died in late November. He was 95. Cushing was one of the founding mountain planners of SE Group. Over his 40-year career, he worked on hundreds of ski areas across North America, including projects at Loon Mountain, Bretton Woods, Sugarbush, Stratton, Copper, Keystone, and Deer Valley. He was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2014.
