Burlington, VT – Champlain College in Burlington recently named Sugarbush Resort owner and president Winthrop “Win” Smith the Champlain College 2012 Distinguished Citizen.
The honor stems from Smith’s and Sugarbush ski resort’s commitment to civic engagement and philanthropy in Vermont. Champlain has named a Distinguished Citizen annually for 51 years. Recent recipients have included former Bear Stearns executive Bruce M. Lisman and Deputy Commander of the U.S. Northern Command Michael Dubie.
Under Smith’s leadership, Sugarbush has provided support for a number of cultural and civic organizations including the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Burlington City Arts, the Vermont Foodbank, the Mad River Valley Rotary, Quench Art Space, the Mad Marathon, and the Green Mountain Opera Festival.
Smith and his wife Lili Ruane jump-started a donation campaign to the Mad River Valley Community Fund for Flood Relief in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene with a $100,000 donation. Smith also hosted a fundraising concert at Sugarbush Resort that raised over $250,000 for the fund. The campaign netted over $1 million for the fund that has helped alleviate the impact of the storm for Valley residents.
“It’s a privilege and honor to be recognized by Champlain College,” said Smith. “I am also happy to have been able to address the incoming Class of 2016 at their Convocation.”
Smith was born in New York City where he attended the Buckley School in Manhattan before attending Deerfield Academy for his high school years. He received his BA in Political Science from Amherst College, where he was also an accomplished equestrian, soccer, and rugby player. While at Amherst, he discovered a love for skiing at the Mad River Valley with college friends. Smith purchased Sugarbush Resort in 2001 and is its principal owner and president.
Smith earned his MBA in Finance from Wharton University and enjoyed a 28-year career in investment banking at Merrill Lynch, spent traveling to over 80 countries. As Chairman of Merrill Lynch International for 10 years, Smith led one of Merrill Lynch & Co.’s four business units with 90,000 employees, over $2 billion in revenues and client assets of $180 billion. He retired from Merrill Lynch in January 2002.
Smith is a member of Champlain College’s Bring Your Own Business (BYOBiz) Executive Advisory Board , is the Chairman of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of several other boards including the Vermont Ski Areas Association, the Vermont Business Roundtable, and the National Ski Areas Association.
Smith has four children, four stepdaughters, and four grandchildren. All but the youngest are passionate skiers or snowboarders and the youngest will soon be.