PodSAM

Ski area leaders juggle two demanding roles: developing people and delivering projects. This session with the Class of 2025-26 Summit Series cohort dives into how mentors strike that balance — keeping teams motivated while hitting deadlines, shaping culture while driving results, and navigating the constant pull between personalities and priorities. 

Mentors:

• John Melcher, CEO, Crystal Mountain, Mich.
• Jean Mikulas, President and GM, Red Lodge Mountain, Mont.
• Lori Phillips, GM, Ski Big Bear, Pa.
• Hugh Reynolds, Partner and CMO, SNOW Partners, N.J.
• Ryan Schramm, GM, Powderhorn Mountain Resort, Colo.

Mentees: 

• Chris Adams, VP of Mountain Experience, Boyne Mountain Resort, Mich. 
• Beck Badger, Lead Marketing Coordinator, Gunstock Mountain Resort, N.H
• Drew Brewer, Director of Mountain Experience, Alyeska Resort, Alaska
• Sam Burns, Snowmaking Supervisor, Arizona Snowbowl, Ariz. 
• Julie Bush, Marketing Specialist, Wisp Resort, Md. 
• Teagan Knudson, Front Desk & Guest Services and Ski Patrol Manager, Snowriver Mountain Resort, Mich.
• Ryan Leclerc, Location Manager, Adult & Private Lesson Programs, Beaver Creek, Colo.
• Rebecca Repp, Director of Food & Beverage, Brundage Mountain Resort, Idaho
• Shayna Silverman, Communications Manager, Arapahoe Basin, Colo.
• Gabriel Sudermann, Manager of Mountain Operations, Camp Fortune, Que. 

Leadership Coach:

• Lex Curtis, Founder, Field of Play Consulting

Thank you to our sponsor, MountainGuard, for their support of this program. 

In this episode, we explore how ski areas are using artificial intelligence to better understand performance, streamline reporting, and make more informed decisions across their operations.

This conversation comes from SAM and Eternity’s Ski Resort AI Bootcamp session held in October 2025, where industry leaders gathered to share practical examples of how AI is being applied across resort operations.

As resorts collect more data than ever—from ticketing and marketing to weather and staffing—the challenge has shifted from access to insight. AI is opening new possibilities, but it also raises important questions about data governance, security, and responsible use.

In this conversation, SAM publisher Olivia Rowan is joined by three industry leaders to discuss how they’re applying AI in practical, meaningful ways:

• Dave Amirault, Chief Innovation Officer, SNOW Partners
• Michael Anselmi, Vice President, Revenue Strategy and Business Development, Boyne Resorts
• Matt Peterson, Vice President of Marketing, Palisades Tahoe, Calif.

They share real-world examples of how better data structure leads to faster decision-making, where AI is already delivering value, and what resorts should be thinking about as these tools continue to evolve.

In this episode, we head to northern Michigan, where a late-season storm left one of the Midwest’s largest ski resorts encased in ice.

The Highlands, part of Boyne Resorts, took the brunt of a March 2025 weather event so severe it shattered tree limbs like matchsticks, buried trails, and left parts of the property without power for weeks. What followed was a massive recovery effort—bolstered by grit, camaraderie, and a whole lot of chainsaws.

SAM’s senior editor Katie Brinton and publisher Olivia Rowan sat down with The Highlands general manager Mike Chumbler, resort services director Mari Kissinger, area manager Robby Ortlieb, and Boyne Resorts vice president of mountain sports development Jeremy Cooper to hear how the team navigated danger in the immediate aftermath, rallied help from across the Boyne network, and turned a crisis into an opportunity to strengthen community and prepare for the future.

Read "After the Ice" in the September 2025 issue of SAM.

Our recent SAM Huddle, Thinking Clearly in Uncertain Times, was recorded on April 21, 2025. With tensions around trade and cross-border relations rising, this conversation brought together industry and policy perspectives to delve into how these developments are reshaping the landscape for travel and resort operations throughout North America. This is episode two of our two-part series covering this conversation. 

The J-1 visa program is facing potential cuts, prompting resorts to diversify recruitment strategies. While the program currently remains viable for the upcoming season, H-2B visas are being considered as a more stable—albeit costlier—alternative. Many resorts are preparing to use both to cover seasonal staffing needs. 

Plus, efforts to streamline the National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA process are also underway, with more responsibility placed on project sponsors to prepare documentation. Staffing shortages at the federal level are causing some delays, leading to increased use of third-party contractors. But, projects that can align with forest health and wildfire mitigation goals may gain added momentum.

Speakers:

• Dave Byrd, Director of Risk and Regulatory Affairs, NSAA
• Scott Prior, Senior Associate, Environmental and Permitting, SE Group
• Nate Riccardi, Pabian Law

Listen to part 1 of the conversation here.

Our recent SAM Huddle, Thinking Clearly in Uncertain Times, was recorded on April 21, 2025. The conversation brought ski industry leaders and policy experts together to unpack how current political dynamics—particularly U.S.–Canada relations and trade tensions—are affecting travel, tourism, and mountain resort operations across North America. This is episode one of our two-part series covering this conversation.

Shifting global sentiment, a steep drop in international bookings, and growing uncertainty at border-area resorts are reshaping travel behavior and forcing North American ski destinations to adapt quickly with localized marketing, flexible policies, and a greater reliance on domestic travelers.

On the other side of the business, industry suppliers are bracing for potential tariffs. While some are expediting production and shipping, others are leveraging domestic manufacturing to avoid price increases. Industry-wide, concerns are growing about tariffs as high as 160% on products tied to Chinese supply chains.

Speakers:

• Daren Cole, President & CEO, Leitner Poma of America
• Tom Foley, SVP, Business Intelligence, Inntopia
• MJ Legault, Partner/Managing Director, MMGY Origin
• Charles Santry, President, HKD Snowmakers
• Chris Steinkamp, Head of Advocacy, SIA
• Steve Wright, President, Jay Peak Resort, Vt.

View MJ Legault's slideshow here and Tom Foley's slideshow here.

Listen to part 2 of the conversation here.

Feeling overwhelmed and underprepared can create self-limiting thoughts, low-performance, unmet expectations, higher stress, dissatisfaction, and even disillusionment. During this conversation from the fall with the Class of 2024-25 mentors and mentees, we dove into how to strengthen your own mental toughness and mindset to draw out higher performance from others.

Looking for more? Read "Mastering Your Mindset" in the May 2025 issue of SAM.

Mentors:

• Ross Boisvert, President and General Manager, McIntyre Ski Area, Manchester, N.H. 
• Shannon Buhler, Vice President and General Manager, Keystone Resort, Colo.
• Rich Burkley, CEO, Lake Louise Ski Resort & Summer Gondola, Lake Louise, Alberta
• Ken Rider, General Manager, Brundage Mountain, Idaho

Mentees:

• Josiah Akin, Maintenance and Rental Manager, Mt. Hood Ski Bowl, Ore.
• Christie Barbour, Lift Operations Manager, Whistler Blackcomb, BC
• Rob Hallowell, Innovative Environments Manager, Boreal Mountain Resort, Woodward Tahoe, Soda Springs, Calif.
• Ella Klott, Sales Manager, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyo.
• Sarah Nutt, Assistant Patrol Director, Sunday River Resort, Maine
• Loryn Roberson, Director of Marketing and Communications, Loveland Ski Area, Colo.
• Tim Shannon, Director of Skier Services, The Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain, Vt.
• Jenny Weaver, Health and Safety Manager, Mammoth Mountain and June Mountain, Calif.
• Jeremy Wildgoose, Director of Lodging, Schweitzer, Idaho
• Kyle Wilson, Snow Sports Director, Nordic Mountain, Wis.
• Rachel Wyckoff, Marketing Director, Shawnee Mountain, Pa.

Expert Voices:

• Paul Thallner, Founder, High Peaks Group
• Stu Singer, CEO and Founder, WellPerformance

Thank you to our premiere sponsor, MountainGuard, for their support of this program. 

When change seems to be all we do, how do we manage it to our advantage? Listen in to a conversation from the fall with the Class of 2024-25 mentors and mentees.

Looking for more? Read "Change Management" from the January 2025 issue of SAM. 

Mentors:

• Kim Jones, Vice President and General Counsel, WinSport Olympic Park, Calgary, Alberta
• Karl Kapucinski, Chief Executive Officer, California Mountain Resort Company
• JR Murray, Chief Planning Officer, Mountain Capital Partners
• Karyn Thorr, Chief Operating Officer, Crystal Mountain, Mich.
• Brent Tregaskis, President & General Manager, Eldora Mountain Resort, Colo.
• Mike Unruh, Senior Vice President of Mountain Operations, Boyne Resorts

Mentees:

• Josiah Akin, Maintenance and Rental Manager, Mt. Hood Ski Bowl, Ore.
• Christie Barbour, Lift Operations Manager, Whistler Blackcomb, BC
• Rob Hallowell, Innovative Environments Manager, Boreal Mountain Resort, Woodward Tahoe, Soda Springs, Calif.
• Ella Klott, Sales Manager, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyo.
• Sarah Nutt, Assistant Patrol Director, Sunday River Resort, Maine
• Loryn Roberson, Director of Marketing and Communications, Loveland Ski Area, Colo.
• Tim Shannon, Director of Skier Services, The Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain, Vt.
• Jenny Weaver, Health and Safety Manager, Mammoth Mountain and June Mountain, Calif.
• Jeremy Wildgoose, Director of Lodging, Schweitzer, Idaho
• Kyle Wilson, Snow Sports Director, Nordic Mountain, Wis.
• Rachel Wyckoff, Marketing Director, Shawnee Mountain, Pa.

Expert Voice:

• Paul Thallner, Founder, High Peaks Group

Thank you to our premiere sponsor, MountainGuard, for their support of this program. 

SAM sat down with the new National Ski Areas Association president and CEO, Mike Reitzell. This extended cut interview expands upon the "Meet Mike" article in SAM's January 2025 issue. 

During the 6th annual Summit Series leadership development program, six of our mentors and an expert voice discuss what it takes to balance the weight of the workforce and workplace on your shoulders, while striking a balance within yourself and your team.

As we welcome mentee nominations for this year's Summit Series, we will be sharing those conversations on PodSAM. 

Learn more about the Summit Series at saminfo.com. 

During the 6th annual Summit Series leadership development program, six of our mentors and an expert voice discuss how to build trust, communicate, and problem solve with your teams, with our group of mentees. 

As we welcome mentee nominations for this year's Summit Series, we will be sharing those conversations on PodSAM. You can also find a recap in the pages of SAM Magazine's March 2024 issue.

Learn more about the Summit Series at saminfo.com.