Supporting and promoting the industry's emerging leaders has always been a top priority at SAM magazine whether that be in the pages of the magazine, on our podcast channel, or through our programs like the 10 Under 30 and the SAM Summit Series. We've compiled these resources in one convenient place so you always know where to go when looking for inspiration on your career journey.
AWARDS AND CONTESTS
The Summit Series
SAM's Summit Series leadership development platform offers mountain resort professionals at all levels the opportunity to learn from industry leaders, peers, and experts, and gain tangible takeaways to apply to their careers, operations, and teams. Learn more.
SAMMYs
The SAMMYs highlight innovative, inspiring, courageous, and passionate leaders who are making a difference in the industry locally or nationally. Nominations open in January. Check out last year's winners and learn more.
10 Under 30
SAM Magazine is always looking for a few talented, young men and women for our annual "10 Under 30" feature, which profiles up-and-coming employees in their 20s who are rapidly making an impact in our industry. Thank you for your help in identifying these bright and industrious rising stars with the passion and fire that will ensure the success of mountain resorts across North America for years to come. View this year's 10 under 30 class and learn more. Nominations open at the end of April.
I AM a Snowmaker
The I AM a Snowmaker contest—sponsored by HKD Snowmakers—highlights the hard work, determination, and camaraderie of snowmakers, and recognizes their critical contributions to the alpine, Nordic, snowboard, and winter tubing industry. I AM a Snowmaker was launched in 2013, and has highlighted the expertise and character of a wide variety of snowmaking teams across North America. Learn more.
Rise Up Challenge
A good lift mechanic is hard to find. Leitner-Poma of America wants to help the industry rise up to the challenge of supporting the next generation of lift mechanics, with the annual Rise Up Challenge. Six chosen resorts will create videos showcasing the rising stars on their lift maintenance crews, alongside mentors and teammates. Learn more.
PodSAM
Tune in to PodSAM, the podcast channel for SAM Magazine. These podcasts include interviews with industry professionals, session discussions from industry events, and conversations from our Summit Series program.
LEADERSHIP ARTICLES
View the most recent articles on Leadership Development from SAM magazine.
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May 2025Letter to the Editors :: May 2025
Thanks for the mentoring I wanted to take a moment to thank SAM, MountainGuard, and High Peaks Group for pairing me with Brundage Mountain (Idaho) GM Ken Rider as my mentor in the Summit Series program! Ken and I had two amazing Zoom calls. Our topics ranged from career paths and book clubs Thanks for the mentoring I wanted to take a moment to thank SAM, MountainGuard, and High Peaks...
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May 2025Mastering Your Mindset
Mindset is a leadership tool that sets the tone for your whole team. Mindset is a powerful thing. It influences our behavior, decision-making, communication, and confidence. It can be the key to our success, or our primary limiting factor. And it doesn’t just affect us as individuals—those per Mindset is a leadership tool that sets the tone for your whole team.
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January 2025Change Management
When change seems to be all we do, how do we manage it to our advantage? Bob Dylan once said, “There is nothing so stable as change,” meaning that everything changes at some point, or change is constant, which is true. Also true is that foregoing what is firmly established, i.e., stable, in When change seems to be all we do, how do we manage it to our advantage?
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January 2025Meet Mike
SAM sat down with the new National Ski Areas Association president and CEO, Mike Reitzell. In September, the National Ski Areas Association named Mike Reitzell as its new president and CEO. Unlike his predecessors, Reitzell doesn’t come to the job with a background in resort operations. Rather, SAM sat down with the new National Ski Areas Association president and CEO, Mike Reitzell.
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September 2024Words To Live By
“Culture statements” form the backbone of a strong company culture and talent development strategy at Arizona Snowbowl. The difficulties facing those who enter mountain resort life are well documented: long hours (and, ironically, little ski/board time), high cost of living, high expectations, “Culture statements” form the backbone of a strong company culture and talent development strategy at...
View all leadership development articles.
NEWS
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Faces and Places
Amanda Buswell Promoted to Regional GM of Hoyt Family Businesses
SAM Magazine—Madison, N.H., June 26, 2025—Longtime team member 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 strateg SAM Magazine—Madison, N.H., June 26, 2025—Longtime team member Amanda Buswell has been promoted by the Hoyt family—owners of King Pine Ski Area,...
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Faces and Places
PGR Names New GMs at Wintergreen and Mount Washington (B.C.)
SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, June 24, 2025—Pacific Group Resorts (PGR) has promoted Zach Marlowe and Mike Manara to serve as general managers of Wintergreen, Va., and Mount Washington, British Columbia, respectively, effective July 1.Zach Marlowe and Mike Manara “These internal promotions SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, June 24, 2025—Pacific Group Resorts (PGR) has promoted Zach Marlowe and Mike Manara to serve as general managers of...
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Faces and Places
Taos Ski Valley Promotes John Kelly to CEO, Norden to Become Board Chair
SAM Magazine—Taos Ski Valley, N.M., June 20, 2025—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.John Kelly and David Norden “Since the resort was SAM Magazine—Taos Ski Valley, N.M., June 20, 2025—Taos Ski Valley named longtime executive John Kelly as its new chief executive officer, with...
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Faces and Places
Indy Pass, Entabeni Expand Executive Team
SAM Magazine—Granby, Colo., June 19, 2025—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 ne SAM Magazine—Granby, Colo., June 19, 2025—Indy Pass and Entabeni Systems have hired four senior executives to their C-suite: Alex Lahood as chief...
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Faces and Places
Hermitage Club Names Josh DeBottis as Bill Benneyan’s Successor
SAM Magazine—Wilmington, Vt., June 18, 2025—The Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain has appointed Joshua DeBottis as its incoming executive director and general manager, effective August 2025. DeBottis will succeed Bill Benneyan, who joined The Hermitage Club in 2020 and oversaw its successful SAM Magazine—Wilmington, Vt., June 18, 2025—The Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain has appointed Joshua DeBottis as its incoming executive director and...
