I hope everyone has been enjoying their summer so far and staying as cool as possible in the heat. I wanted to send an update on some organizational changes happening up at MHM as well as employee deals on the upcoming summer activities. There is a lot of info in this update but I wanted to keep you all informed, read at your leisure.
SUMMER CAMPS/UPHILL CHALLENGE
We are offering special employee rates on some of our upcoming summer activities. These are available to anyone who is a current employee or who was an employee during the 2014/15 season so please pass the word. I hope to see some of you up at MHM over the summer.
Kids Summer Camp
- JULY 27-31 | $225 Originally $390. Employees save $165!
- Camp includes transportation to and from Meadows each day. Plus hiking, swimming and whitewater rafting!
- Employees Register Here
2nd Annual Uphill Challenge
- AUGUST 22 | $10 Employees save $10!
- An uphill running or walking race beginning in the main parking lot and finishing at the top of the Stadium Chair!
- Employees Register Here
Spread the word and invite your friends to our summer events!
- Summer Camp www.SkiHood.com/SummerCamp
- Uphill Challenge www.SkiHood.com/Uphill
MHM ORG CHART UPDATE (From: Matthew Drake Chief Executive Officer)
I am excited to announce that, after concluding several years of planning work with our Board and a more recent selection process, we have filled the following senior leadership positions for our company from within our company. There will be a bit of a transition period between now and June 30, 2015 and these positions will be in full effect as of July 1, 2015:
Chief Operating Office: Jake Bolland
Vice President, Mountain Operations and Planning: Steve Warila
Vice President, Administrative Services: Matt Troskey
Vice President, Resort and Commercial Operations: Jeremy Riss
I am also excited to announce that Kent Fellows will be taking on more planning and development responsibilities. Accordingly, his title will become longer (and more challenging for a name tag) on July 1, 2015: Director, Facilities, Planning and Development.
I want to reiterate that our company’s greatest asset has always been its loyal and hardworking team members. This is even more evident to me during the poor weather season we continue to experience this year. I also want to assure that much time and effort was spent on selecting the senior leaders above and our selection process used rigorous scoring criteria that included important attributes such as leadership, accountability, creativity, innovation, financial management and analysis, curiosity, courage, temerity, ability to assimilate large amounts of information quickly and implement resulting ideas and concepts effectively, follow-through, respect, empathy, flexibility, and grace. In reality, this process did not yield “winners” and “losers”. Instead, it resulted in fulfilling the Board approved leadership structure for an established and proven team that will continue to work together effectively while having some fun.
SNOWSPORTS SERVICES
With my role changing to include oversight of Resort and Commercial Ops which will include Ski and Snowboard School, F&B, Retail, Rental, Daycare, Race and Competitions, Guest Services and Cooper Spur Mountain Resort, the Ski School and Guest Services will be reporting directly to Chris Kastner. Chris’s title will remain Director of Snowsports Services and the following areas of Resort Ops will report through him Ski & Snowboard School, Rental, Daycare, Race & Competitions and Guest Services as well as some involvement with Cooper Spur during winter operations. Chris is of course already intimately familiar with the Ski & Snowboard School Operation and has been working this spring/early summer to prepare for his oversight role of Guest Service. This another step forward in our work to create a seamless guest experience with our Snowsports Services departments alignment. I plan to continue my involvement with the Ski & Snowboards School teaching lessons and leading clinics as well as working with Chris, Mark, Lisa and the rest of the Ski & Snowboard School leadership team on strategic planning and operational issues.
RETAIL
We received many strong applicants to lead our retail department. After much consideration we have hired Bridgette Shipley as our new Director of Retail and Purchasing. Bridgette brings extensive retail experience to our team. Her most recent position was as Regional Merchandising Manager for Vail resorts and before that Director of Retail, Rentals, Uniforms and Purchasing for Squaw Valley. Previously Bridgette was a District Manager for Intrawest and General Manager / Buyer for Breeze Ski and Sport at Alpine Meadows. Bridgette has the experience we were looking for to help lead our retail department as we expand to our new Portland location and she will bring great perspective to our Director team with her industry experience.
She will join us full time starting in August after relocating from Truckee, CA but will assist us immediately and we plan for 2015/16 season.
COOPER SPUR
Cynthia Steele has resigned as General Manager of Cooper Spur Mountain Resort, her last day was 6/5. Instead of rehiring a GM to run Cooper we are going with a team approach where members of the Director team take responsibility for their areas down at Cooper Spur. See attached for the new Cooper Spur Org chart. Please note this org chart from the Director level up represents lines of communication and not a direct reporting relationship. The Directors on the org chart ultimately report to their VP/Exec on the Meadows Org chart but this outline serves to convey how communication will flow for Cooper Spur. The Cooper Spur Leadership team will be meeting weekly Tuesdays at 3pm through the summer as we go through this transition. Initially Kent and Mark will be getting much more involved in the operation followed by Chris and Tom as we get closer to winter.
Brad Van Natta has assumed many of Cynthia’s responsibilities in lodging operations at Cooper in addition to his current responsibilities as Construction & Off-site Project Manager. Brad’s new title will be CSMR Lodging and Construction Project Mgr. If anyone is looking for a great place to stay or eat I highly recommend checking out Cooper http://www.cooperspur.com/.
PSO RETAIL (ALTITUDE)
Some of you may be aware that we are building a retail operation out of our Portland Sales office. The new store will be called Altitude and we will be selling mainly lifestyle clothing/accessories and logo wear. We will also sell Custom Foot Beds, ability to purchase MHM products, make lesson/rental reservations and more. See attached altitude options.pdf the first page is what the new outside signage for the building will look like.
Opening of this new operation will be in early September and I will continue to keep everyone updated as plans get built out.
That’s all for this update, I hope to have dates our for our rafting and golf summer activities in the next few weeks.
Jeremy Riss
Vice President, Resort and Commercial Operations
Mt. Hood Meadows
P.(503)337-2222 ext. 1220
F.(503)337-2232
altitude-options.pdf