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 development for Aspen Snowmass. He brings an extensive background in helping consumer companies improve profitability. Most recently, Signorelli spent eight years in upper management at AlixPartners. Prior to that, he held leadership roles at Target.

ROGER LEVANDUSKI, ALTERRA MOUNTAIN COMPANY, CO

In November, Alterra Mountain Company named Roger Levanduski as vice president of finance for the Rocky Mountain region. Levanduski previously served as vice president of finance at Alterra’s Steamboat Resort, Colo.

Credit: Ski Corp.PETE BLEI, STEAMBOAT RESORT, CO

Steamboat promoted director of finance Pete Blei to the role of vice president of finance. Blei has been with Steamboat since 2021 and held accounting roles at Steamboat parent-company Alterra prior to that. He succeeds Roger Levanduski, who was promoted in November to vice president of finance for the Rocky Mountain Region at Alterra.

ERIKA ROY, SUNDAY RIVER, ME

Sunday River has hired Erika Roy as terrain park manager. Most recently, Roy was the wedding and event manager at Saddleback, Maine, for four years.

CHRIS “TOPH” BROWN, SKY TAVERN, NV

The Sky Tavern board of directors has appointed Chris "Toph" Brown as the Nevada ski area’s new chief executive officer. Brown has long been part of the Sky Tavern leadership team, most recently serving as chief operating officer and executive director. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

CELESTE BURGOYNE, VAIL RESORTS

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. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

GABE PORTER-HENRY, BURKE MOUNTAIN, VT

Burke Mountain Resort has named industry veteran Gabe Porter-Henry as its new general manager. 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. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

BRANDI HAMMON, POWDER MOUNTAIN, UT

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 transition under new ownership in 2023. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

Dalan Adams and Austin Bevilacqua. Credit: White Pine.DALAN ADAMS and AUSTIN BEVILACQUA, WHITE PINE SKI RESORT, WY

White Pine Ski Resort has named Dalan Adams as general manager and Austin Bevilacqua as assistant general manager. Both are longtime Pinedale residents with community ties and experience in outdoor recreation and hospitality. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

Jason BaysJASON BAYS and OLIVIER MARC GLATTFELDER, CAMELBACK RESORT, PA

Camelback Resort has appointed two veteran hospitality executives to lead the year-round Poconos destination. Jason Bays will serve as vice president and general manager, providing strategic direction for the resort, and Olivier Marc Glattfelder will oversee all day-to-day and front and back of the house operations as resort manager. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

KHARA BENOIT, WHALEBACK MOUNTAIN, NH

Whaleback Mountain has named Khara Benoit as its new general manager. Benoit has spent the past four years at Whaleback managing the lodge, events, food and beverage, and daily operations, a role that allowed her to combine her passion for the mountain with her commitment to creating community-centered spaces. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

SUPPLIERS

ALLIE KAYE, MARILEE BOYLAN, and JASMIN GOMEZ, VERMONT ADAPTIVE SKI AND SPORTS

Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports has promoted Allie Kaye to program coordinator. In this role, she will oversee winter programming along with the organization’s summer and fall programs. Kaye has been with Vermont Adaptive since 2023, serving previously as a program specialist.

Marilee Boylan was hired as program coordinator. Boylan has more than 23 years of experience advocating with and for people with disabilities. Most recently, she served as the director of employment programs for the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities in New York.

Jasmin Gomez was promoted to design and content coordinator. Gomez has been with the organization since 2023 as the administrative assistant. 

AWARDS

Steve “Posi” Positano, snowsports director at Mount Southington Ski Area, Conn., was recognized as Snowsports Leader of the Year by the PSIA-AASI Eastern Region. Positano has been part of Mount Southington’s snowsports school for more than 25 years.

The McLane and Macomber families were recognized with the New England Ski Museum’s 2025 Spirit of Skiing Award, which honors those who build community and enhance the skiing experience. The families founded Wildcat Ski Area, N.H., which opened in 1957. They also held leadership roles with the U.S. Eastern Amateur Ski Association and the U.S. Ski Team Foundation.

Brad Wilson was recognized with the Idaho Governor’s Lifetime Achievement in Recreation and Tourism Award. The award recognizes individuals for significant contributions to Idaho’s outdoor recreation and tourism industry.

OBITUARIES

JOE GENOVESE 

Joe Genovese died Nov. 26, 2025 at 46 years old. Genovese started in the ski industry at Massanutten and later moved on to various resorts around the country as part of the terrain park crews including Mammoth Mountain, June Mountain, Mountain High, Park City, Wintergreen Resort, and Seven Springs Resort. Genovese also owned Windrow Alpine Program Development. ”Joe was one of the best at what he did, and one of the kindest and funniest people I have met in the industry,” Elia Hamilton, Mohawk Industrial Werks

WAYNE PATENAUDE

Pats Peak, N.H., co-founder Wayne Patenaude died on Dec. 5, 2025, at age 87. Patenaude and his three brothers built Pats Peak in 1962. The area has since seen significant investment and growth, and Patenaude was known for his innovation in snowmaking and business development.

RALPH DESLAURIERS

Bolton Valley Ski Area founder Ralph DesLauriers died Oct. 4, 2025. He was 90 years old. DesLauriers opened Bolton Valley, located to the east of Burlington, Vt., in 1967. He sold the ski area 30 years later, pivoting to develop hospitality properties in Wyoming and Idaho, before repurchasing Bolton Valley with his children and a group of local investors in 2017. DesLauriers served on the boards of the Vermont Ski Areas Association, the National Ski Areas Association, and the New England Council for Economic Development. In 1978, the Small Business Administration named him Small Business Person of the Year, and he was inducted into the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum Hall of Fame in 2022