Wrightwood, CA – Karl Kapuscinski, President and CEO of Mountain High Resort in California and Stevens Pass Mountain Resort in Washington, this week announced a new management structure for both ski and snowboard resorts.  Sharing both personnel and best practices to develop synergies will help to establish both resorts as leaders in their respective markets, Kapuscinski says.

“I am excited about the management team we have assembled,” said Kupuscinski. “They bring a lot of industry experience, passion, and leadership to their respective positions.  I consider this team to be one of the most diverse and talented in the industry.”

Michele Roy has assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for the two ski areas.  Prior to taking on Stevens Pass, Roy held senior management positions at both Mountain High and Snow Valley, Calif.  With more than 17 years of experience, Roy has been instrumental in creating industry-based financial systems that have increased efficiencies and profitability at the resorts.  Her contributions were critical to the sale and financial restructuring of Stevens Pass, which was acquired by CNL Lifestyle Properties in 2011, a real estate investment trust (REIT) and leased to Stevens Pass Mountain Resort, LLC, owned by Kapuscinski.

Paul Bauer has taken the position of Chief Operating Officer overseeing all operations and environmental affairs at both Mountain High and Stevens Pass.  Prior to this Bauer served for 11 years as the Vice President of Environmental Affairs at Mountain High and 12 years as the Vice President of Mountain Operations at Snow Valley.

John McColly has been named Chief Marketing Officer and will oversee the sales, marketing, and business development for the two companies.  McColly is a six-time Marketing Award winner with more than 20 years of experience and moves from Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Mountain High to take this role.

Bill Bourton has been officially named General Manager of Stevens Pass Mountain Resort.  Bourton has been serving as interim General Manager since John Gifford stepped down in April of this year to head the Pacific Northwest Ski Area Association.  Bourton served in successful coaching stints with the University of Colorado and U.S. Women’s National and Olympic Ski Teams.  In his first seven years at Stevens Pass, Bourton held the position of Director of Financial and Human services.  During that time he developed and implemented a forecasting tool allowing for proactive adjustment to staffing and operating levels based on anticipated visits that lead to reduced expenses and increased profitability.

Chris Danforth has accepted the position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing.  Danforth comes from Killington Resort in Vermont where he spent the last six years as Brand Marketing Manager.  Prior to Killington, Danforth spent five years with Intrawest Colorado in various marketing-based roles.  He grew up in Washington state and learned to ski on the slopes of the Cascades.

Joel Martinez is the newly appointed Vice President of Operations for Stevens Pass. Martinez started in the ski industry as a teen in the Tahoe area and has worked in parking, grooming, lifts, and human resources.  He has overseen mountain operations including risk management for the last four years and is a driving force behind the new Stevens Pass Mountain Bike Park.  This is Martinez’s 12th year at Stevens Pass.

Sarah Larson has taken the role of Vice President of Resort Services at Stevens Pass.  She has been with the resort for 13 years as Director of Food and Beverage and recently Director of Restaurant and Resort Services adding rentals, ski school, and retail to her responsibilities.

Matt Troskey was recently named Stevens Pass’ Vice President of Human Resources.  His promotion comes after working in employee communications, training, and recruitment. Troskey has also been with Stevens Pass for 13 years.

At Mountain High, Ben Smith has moved up from Vice President of Resort Operations to General Manager and now oversees all day to day operations of the resort.  Smith has been with the company since 1992 in many positions ranging from Lift Mechanic to Mountain Manager.

Robert Chacon has taken on the role of Mountain High’s Vice President of Mountain Operations and is now responsible for all on-hill operations including grooming, snowmaking, lift maintenance/operations, vehicle maintenance and terrain parks.  Chacon has been in the resort industry since 1997, serving his full tenure at Mountain High and working his way up from introductory patroller.  In July 2011 he graced the cover of Ski Area Management where he was named one of the industry’s “brightest young stars under 30.”