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


Gavin MaliaGAVIN MALIA, STEAMBOAT RESORT, CO

Steamboat Resort hired Gavin Malia as its new vice president of engineering, maintenance and facilities, effective today, July 30. Malia most recently served as vice president of real estate for Resort Ventures West, a Steamboat Springs-based mountain resort development company.

 

 

Adam RobinsonADAM ROBINSON, GRANITE GORGE MOUNTAIN PARK, NH

Granite Gorge Mountain Park named Adam Robinson vice president and general manager. Robinson starts this new role after six years with Vail Resorts, most recently serving as senior manager of mountain operations at Crotched Mountain, N.H.

 

 

DENNIS BARQUINERODENNIS BARQUINERO, BURKE MOUNTAIN, VT

Dennis Barquinero is the new general manager of the Burke Mountain Hotel. Most recently, Barquinero spent a decade at Vail Resorts as senior director of lodging operations at the company’s Mid-Atlantic and Northeast resorts. 

 

 

JON SCOTT, PETE KILBRIDE, TOM BERCHER, and TRAVIS FACK, ANTELOPE BUTTE FOUNDATION, WY

Antelope Butte Foundation, the nonprofit that owns and operates Antelope Butte ski area, added four new members to its board of directors: Jon Scott, Pete Kilbride, Tom Bercher, and Travis Fack. 


Jon RuckerJON RUCKER, SKI AND SNOWBOARD CLUB VAIL

Jon Rucker was appointed executive director of Ski and Snowboard Club Vail. Rucker brings more than 20 years of ski industry experience to the role, most recently serving as president of HEAD/Tyrolia Winter Sports, USA. 

 

 

Amanda Buswell webAMANDA BUSWELL, HOYT FAMILY BUSINESSES, NH

Amanda Buswell has been promoted by the Hoyt family—owners of King Pine Ski Area, Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort, and Purity Spring Resort, among other businesses—to the role of regional general manager in charge of strategic operations and planning across the portfolio. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

 

 

Zach Marlowe and Mike ManaraZach Marlowe and Mike ManaraZACH MARLOWE and MIKE MANARA, PACIFIC GROUP RESORTS

Pacific Group Resorts has promoted Zach Marlowe and Mike Manara to serve as general managers of Wintergreen, Va., and Mount Washington, British Columbia, respectively. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

 

 

 

John Kelly and NordenJohn Kelly and David NordenJOHN KELLY and DAVID NORDEN, TAOS SKI VALLEY, NM

Taos Ski Valley named longtime executive John Kelly as its new chief executive officer, with current CEO David Norden transitioning to chairman of the board in a planned leadership succession. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

 

 

 

Mark SchroetelMARK SCHROETEL, RED MOUNTAIN, BC

Industry veteran Mark Schroetel is the new president of Red Mountain, B.C. Schroetel has more than 30 years of ski industry leadership experience. He served for 15 years as general manager of Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania, and then spent eight years as general manager and CEO of Utah’s Powder Mountain. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

  

Josh DeBottisJOSH DEBOTTIS, HERMITAGE CLUB, VT

The Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain has appointed Joshua DeBottis as its incoming executive director and general manager. DeBottis has more than 20 years of hospitality experience, which includes serving as general manager of the Omni Mount Washington Resort, N.H., with oversight of Bretton Woods Ski Area, from 2018-2022. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

  

RETIREMENTS


Bill Benneyan headshotBILL BENNEYAN, THE HERMITAGE CLUB AT HAYSTACK MOUNTAIN, VT

After 40 years in the ski industry, Bill Benneyan has stepped down as executive director and general manager of The Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain, where he’s led the member-owned private ski area since 2020. Prior to Hermitage Club, Benneyan spent several years as president and COO of Mountain Creek, N.J. He was a 2003 SAMMY Leadership Award honoree.


Jay GambleJAY GAMBLE, WINTERGREEN RESORT, VA

Jay Gamble, a 44-year veteran of the ski industry, including 27 years in general manager roles, retired as general manager of Wintergreen Resort, Va., in early July. Gamble’s career included leadership positions at Killington, Vt., Sunday River, Maine, Poma of America, Mount Sunapee, N.H.—where he was general manager for more than 20 years—and Ragged Mountain, N.H. He came to Wintergreen in 2021 and led the resort through a period of growth following the pandemic. His industry career started in the late-1970s parking cars at Beech Mountain, N.C., while attending college.


Rob LindeROB LINDE, ARIZONA SNOWBOWL, AZ

Rob Linde, general manager of Arizona Snowbowl, has retired. Linde began his ski industry career in the 1970s as a ski instructor at Snowbowl while attending college. He then moved on to positions at Vail and Beaver Creek, and was marketing director for Eldora in Colorado. Linde also served as director of marketing for the National Ski Areas Association and in a leadership capacity at research firm RRC Associates prior to returning to Arizona Snowbowl, which he led for the last eight years.

 

 

Howard Katkov and Don ThompsonHoward Katkov and Don ThompsonHOWARD KATKOV AND DON THOMPSON, RED MOUNTAIN, BC

Longtime Red Mountain Resort CEO Howard Katkov and resort president Don Thompson are both stepping down from their roles. Katkov, who was at the helm for more than 20 years, will continue to serve as chairman of the board of directors. Thompson, who has served as resort president since 2015, will continue to be an active member of the board as well. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.


Peter Weber Sydney Dejager courtesy of Gunstock Mountain ResortCredit: Sydney Dejager courtesy of Gunstock Mountain ResortPETER WEBER, GUNSTOCK MOUNTAIN RESORT, NH

Gunstock Mountain Resort’s director of snowsports, Peter Weber, has retired. Weber has been with Gunstock since 2020. Prior to that, he was a director of snowsports at Waterville Valley, N.H., for 20 years. 



 

 

SUPPLIERS

WIEGAND

Wiegand Sports USA is celebrating its 20th year in business in the United States, and parent company Wiegand GmbH is celebrating 50 years in business.

Phil Van Why and Mark Horton 1Phil Van Why and Mark Horton PHIL VAN WHY and MARK HORTON, HKD SNOWMAKERS

Phil Van Why has been promoted to senior technician and North American training manager and will lead HKD Snowmakers’ newly established service department, HKD Service. As part of this move, Mark Horton will step into the role of Western sales. Horton is HKD’s vice president of business development and also supports customers in Ontario, Canada.


NICK MARVIN, CHRIS MOSPAW, JEFF MATSON, and PAYTON BAKER, SNOWCLOUD

SnowCloud appointed Nick Marvin to vice president of product. Marvin brings extensive industry experience from his time with Boyne Resorts and flaik. Other SnowCloud appointments include Chris Mospaw to director of program management, Jeff Matson to martech engineer, and Payton Baker to fullstack engineer.

Nick MarvinNick Marvin Chris MospawChris Mospaw Jeff MatsonJeff Matson Payton BakerPayton Baker

 

Steve Daly 2STEVE DALY, MND

MND named Steve Daly director of ropeways. In his new role, he will focus on ski resort, eco tourism, and people-moving ropeways for North America. He has more than 35 years of ski industry experience.

 

 

KRIS KUSTER, LILLY MCSWAIN, and KALIN TEGMAN, OBERMEYER

Obermeyer named Kris Kuster as its new CEO, Lilly McSwain is now customer service manager, and Kalin Tegman was promoted to director of sales.

kris kuster obermeyerKris Kuster Lilly McSwainLilly McSwain Kalin TegmanKalin Tegman

 

OLGA GRUNSKAYA, NICK NIEBES, ANDY SHEPARD, and SETH OGDEN, INDY PASS 

Indy Pass and Entabeni Systems have hired four senior executives to their c-suite: Alex Lahood as chief operations officer; Olga Grunskaya as chief financial officer; Nick Niebes as chief marketing officer; and Andy Shepard as chief purpose officer, a newly created role. Seth Ogden also joined the team as production manager. Full report on SAM’s Headline News.

Alex Lahood HNAlex Lahood Olga Grunskaya HNOlga Grunskaya Nick Niebes HNNick Niebes Andy ShepardAndy Shepard

 

AWARDS


RED DOT DESIGN AWARD 2025

SKIDATA was awarded Red Dot: Best of the Best award for the sMove access gate. This award recognizes sMove as a significant advancement over traditional turnstile systems. 


NORTH AMERICAN SNOWSPORTS JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION

Moira McCarthy, Lisa Ballard, and Josh Laskin received the Harold S. Hirsch Awards of Excellence; Bob Legasa received the Hirsch Award in the images category; Stuart Winchester received the Hirsch Award in the podcast category. 


Hugh Johnson was recognized with the Bob Gillen Memorial Award. Iseult Devlin received the Mitch Kaplan Award. Seth Masia received the Carson White Snowsports Achievement Award. Jake Adicoff received the Paul Robbins Outstanding Competitor of the Year.


INTERMOUNTAIN SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION

Golden Wrench Award (Operations, Maintenance, Safety & Equipment): Steve Parker, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyo.

Golden Wrench Award (Lift Maintenance): Bill Cheney, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyo.

Outstanding Contribution Awards: Tim Hendrickson, MountainGuard; and (posthumously) Wayne Ragland, Park West Ski Resort, Utah.

Pioneer Award: Paul Etcheverry, Pine Creek Ski Resort, Wyo.


FAR WEST SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION

Dave Tragethon was honored with the Far West Ski Association’s Jordan-Reily Award, recognizing exceptional volunteer leadership and service to skiing and snowboarding across the western United States.


OBITUARIES 


Graham AndersonGRAHAM ANDERSON

Graham Anderson died June 2. His decades of service to U.S. Ski & Snowboard and the International Ski Federation helped shape the sport, most notably through the advancement of super-G and improved race safety standards. Anderson was a recipient of the Julius Blegen Award, a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame inductee, and was inducted into the Sun Valley Ski Hall of Fame in 2020.