Squaw Valley, CA – Squaw Valley ski resort at Lake Tahoe, Calif., announced a trio of staffing changes on Thursday. Michael DeGroff will serve as the resort’s new vice president of resort services, while Todd Kelly has been brought on board as the resort’s newly appointed ski and snowboard team program director. Gretchen Kielas has been positioned as the resort’s director of retail operations
DeGroff is the newest addition to Squaw Valley’s executive leadership team. With more than three decades of experience in the mountain resort industry, DeGroff joins the team from Steamboat Ski Resort, where he served as the vice president of resort services. DeGroff’s appointment will be effective on September 26, 2011.
“We are delighted to bring Mike on board,” said Andy Wirth, Squaw Valley’s president and CEO. “With his extensive experience in culinary services, including oversight of two fine dining establishments, retail and ski rental operations and his proven track record, DeGroff will be instrumental in helping to significantly raise the Squaw Valley guest experience.”
DeGroff will oversee several of the resort’s key operational departments, including culinary services, retail operations, and ski and snowboard rental and demo departments.
“My older brothers and sister’s passion for skiing was sparked while watching the first televised Olympics in Squaw Valley,” said DeGroff. “They passed their love of skiing on to me, and my passion grew greatly during my tenure in Steamboat. It will be an honor to be a part of the renaissance at Squaw Valley.”
Todd Kelly will join Squaw Valley’s Ski Team with over 25 years in the ski racing industry, moving through the ranks as an international competitor to an esteemed coach, and ultimately a program director of two award-winning race programs. Kelly will be returning to Squaw Valley to lead the same program that began his ski racing career more than 30 years ago.
“We are thrilled to welcome Todd home to Squaw Valley,” said Dee Byrne, Squaw Valley’s director of snowsports school and team programs. “With both his depth of knowledge, proven track record and unyielding passion for the sport, Todd has the skills and experience to lead us to accomplish our goal—to be irrefutably the best program in the United States.”
Kelly grew up ski racing at Squaw Valley, beginning with the resort’s Mighty Mites program at the age of seven. By high school, Kelly was recruited by the U.S. Ski Team, and he started his professional ski racing career at age 15. Kelly competed on the US Ski Team from 1986 to 1994, including three years racing on the World Cup circuit, during which he was ranked as the #1 U.S. Super G skier. In college, Kelly went on to be ranked the NCASA national champion in Giant Slalom in 1994.
Kelly got his start in coaching as an FIS coach on the Squaw Valley Ski Team from 1998 to 2002. In 2002, Kelly moved to coach for the Auburn Ski Club in Soda Springs, Calif., working as head J3 coach, head FIS coach, race department director, and finally as ski team program director in 2004. In 2008, Kelly took a position to lead Northstar-at-Tahoe’s race program, serving as the ski team program director and race department director from 2008 to 2011. Kelly currently lives in Truckee, Calif. with his wife Alexis and three children, all of whom love ski racing.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be coming back to Squaw Valley,” said Kelly. “Squaw is where I learned to ski and where I got my start in racing. Since then, I have been in charge of two organizations with two completely different demographics, experience which I can now bring back to my home mountain as we work to substantially elevate the program experience for our athletes and parents.”
Squaw Valley’s current ski team program director, Mark “Sully” Sullivan, will stay on as the resort’s program director for the 2011-12 winter season, while Kelly assumes the position’s responsibilities. Sullivan will mentor and advise Kelly, as well as get back to his roots of coaching. Sullivan will continue with the team in future winter seasons.
“We are so thankful and fortunate that Sully will continue to be part of the team, sharing his wisdom and experience with both coaches and athletes alike for years to come,” said Byrne.
Additionally, Squaw Valley on Thursday announced the appointment of Gretchen Kielas to the position of director of retail operations. Prior to joining the retail department, Kielas had over 19 years of retail buying and visual merchandising experience, with six of those years in ski resort retail. Kielas has a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art from the University of Oregon and has extensive experience in retail strategic planning, formulating, layout and design.