The busy (never say frantic or scrambling) lead-up to opening day is an exciting and magical time—projects are nearing completion, the population on site grows as new and returning seasonal staff members appear, and the air starts to smell like winter. There’s energy and excitement combined with stress and strain.
Experienced ski area leaders know this feeling well, and it’s their job to be both the motivating force and the calming presence to help ready their crews and keep them sharp as the season unfolds.
So, how to get everyone pulling the same end of the rope for a strong start to the season? What’s the message? We wanted to know, so we asked a handful of past SAMMY Leadership Award honorees these very questions and more.
On the Right (or Correct) Foot
“The team feeds off leadership’s energy,” says Schmitz Brothers Resorts chief Rick Schmitz, head of Wisconsin’s Little Switzerland, Nordic Mountain, and Crystal Ridge. “Everyone is scrambling in the fall (he said it, we didn’t). The attitude portrayed from senior leadership trickles down through every layer of the company.”
With this in mind, “I always try to portray a positive, calm attitude and a belief that we can and will get everything done,” he says with a confident smile as staff members working on Nordic’s new base lodge curiously look up from their work (wink wink).
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, Nev., GM Greg Gavrilets sees it more broadly as a time to start getting into the winter swing of things. “Naturally, preparing the mountain for opening day is a monumental effort every year,” he says. “Starting off on the right (correct) foot and settling into a consistent routine is incredibly important and sets the stage for a successful season.”
Berkshire East, Mass., general manager Melissa Roberts agrees that, while pre-season can be a scramble (there’s that word again), “It’s important to start the season with energy and positivity as it sets the tone for the team.”
Hiram Towle sets the tone at Bridger Bowl, Mont., by communicating that it’s more important to be ready for a strong opening day than push to open before all cylinders are firing. “Don’t rush,” he advises his team, while (we suspect) raising an eyebrow at the to-do list. Seriously, though: If an early opening can happen, great, but “make sure the experience will be awesome for both staff and guests.”
“I try to bring them along for the ride with complete buy-in and readiness,” Towle adds. “It’s a long season, and they will have plenty of character-building challenges ahead as the skiers and weather show up. I see no reason to burn them out before they get their first paycheck.”
The Message
Preparing a team for the winter ahead starts with communicating what’s important, even while everyone is scrambling (to quote Schmitz) to get ready. “For me, it’s about clarity,” says Amy Ohran, president and COO of Palisades Tahoe, Calif., who each season focuses her team on two or three key priorities that make the most impact. “When distractions inevitably arise, clarity becomes our anchor—it keeps us moving in rhythm and aligned with purpose. We love to say, ‘the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.’”
Stevens Pass, Wash., VP and general manager Ellen Galbraith says, “My focus is to unite our team around the shared goals of safety and service. Great service starts with how employees see and treat each other, which then translates to how staff engage with guests. Same goes for safety—we have to look out for ourselves, each other, and our guests in support of everyone having a great time on the mountain all season long.”
Some leaders develop a theme or a mantra for the season ahead. Mont-Gleason, Que., CEO Nadia Pepin introduces hers during the November all-staff training and orientation. “There’s always a theme that guides the day and it carries through the entire season,” she says. “This year, our theme is ‘Pride,’ one of Gleason’s core values.”
What message do leaders most want their teams to hear? Ohran and Towle have similar answers.
“This winter, I want our team to remember the impact we have—we create connection and joy and provide experiences people need now more than ever,” says Ohran. “In a world that feels increasingly fast and fragmented, the mountains give people space to breathe, to play, and to reconnect. That’s powerful. Our job isn’t just to run a resort—it’s to make that feeling possible.”
“Every single person with a nametag has the opportunity to change lives and make memories,” echoes Towle. “Bridger is a local’s mountain, so I try to ensure that our crew understands the unique superpower they have working at a locally focused nonprofit ski area. They bring our community together in a time when togetherness matters more than ever.”
Stay Cool
As for the cool, calm, and never scrambled Schmitz, his message is one of optimism: “I’m approaching this season like I do every season: It’s going to be our best one yet,” he says, kicking his feet up on his desk (we kid, we kid). “As our teams buy into my belief and energy, we will overcome any obstacles thrown our way and truly will have our best season...
again.”
