Podsam

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

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

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

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, Assi

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.   

During our 6th annual Summit Series leadership development program, four of our mentors and an expert voice discuss a wide range of topics around leadership, like leadership styles, delegating, prioritizing tasks and more, 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 recaps in the pages of SAM Magazine's January 2024 issue.  Learn more about the Summit Series at saminfo.com. 

Mary Walsh, writer, announcer, and longtime Snowboarder Magazine staff editor, will pair with Parker Bohon, host of The Blade Dive Podcast, to lead a discussion with industry icons looking at how far we’ve come in the last 20 years and what’s next for the freestyle terrain park world. Topics to be covered include: - Where We’ve Come From: Origins and History of the Terrain Park; Evolution of the Park Department - Technology, Trends, and Getting a Seat at the Table - Where We’re Going and What the Future Holds Explicit Sponsored by Prinoth.

Just as the menu of summer activities, programs and events varies between operations, so do the goals and metrics that measure success. Being profitable is an important metric but it creates complexities. Listen on as we learn how 10 resorts across North America define what success looks like. This podcast is from a session presented at SAM's Summer Ops Camp, September 11, 2023.

Steve Nilsen, more commonly known as Stix, is a legendary brand marketer, having worked with brands such as PBR, Red Bull, and now he serves as the VP of Cult Indoctrination at Liquid Death Mountain Water. If you're not familiar with Liquid Death, they've taken water to a whole new level with an insanely creative approach to their brand. In May of 2023, Stix joined the SAM team at Timberline, Mt. Hood, Ore., at Cutter's Camp, to share his insight into building powerful brand culture in the park and on the mountain. WARNING: this podcast contains a few swears.

This two-part discussion will cover how organizations move beyond setbacks to grow through challenges and how to be a place where people thrive. Let's face it, we are all a bit stressed and burnt out after a couple of years of facing serious challenges, both professionally and personally.  Part 2: Finding courage, confidence, and scaling resilience to be sustainable for individuals, teams, and organizations.

This two-part discussion covers how organizations move beyond setbacks to grow through challenges and how to be a place where people thrive. Part one defines resilience, what we're doing wrong, and stress triggers.   Learn more about SAM's Summit Series at www.saminfo.com/the-summit-series  

Sustainability encompasses so much more than going “green.” The growth of sustainability specialist positions at mountain resorts and beyond has us asking, “What does it really mean to be a sustainable business?” We’ve gathered a group of sustainability leaders to hear about how they approach sustainability, the results of their current efforts, and future plans. Join us as we share stories and actionable takeaways for resorts big and small. Mike Nathan, Sustainability Manager, Arapahoe Basin, Colo. Amy Fonte, Sustainability Specialist, Big Sky, Mont., and Mari Kissinger, Director of Skier Services and Sustainability, The Highlands, Mich. Dawn Boulware, Vice President of Environmental and Social Responsibility, Taos Ski Valley, N.M. Bonnie Hickey, Sustainability Director, Bridger Bowl, Mont. Christian Knapp, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Pacific Group Resorts, Inc., and Tommy Royther, Sustainability Coordinator, Wisp Resort, Md. Co-host: Erika Kazi, Vice President of Social Impact and Sustainabi

This PodSAM is a must-listen for any leader or future leader in the industry. Tune in to the second topic in our Summit Series Leadership forum where we gather top industry leaders and 10 emerging leaders to discuss approaches to "Values-Driven Leadership." "We can't operate without the team. We can't accomplish any of our business goals or initiatives without the team in place to do it. And so, in a values-driven organization, I've also found that you have to accept the values of others, right? And it creates a really dynamic conversation. And that's the way you get people on board, is really by having the conversation instead of telling them, these are our values. —Dee Byrne, President and COO, Palisades Tahoe, California The mentors on this episode are: David Norden, CEO of Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico Tim Foster, Chief of Mountain Operations at Sun Peaks, British Columbia Dee Byrne, President and COO, Palisades Tahoe, California Tara Schoedinger, Vice President and General Manager of Crested Butte Mountain

SAM sat down with Sierra-at-Tahoe GM John Rice to reflect on the remediation and reopening process after the Caldor Fire blazed through 16 months ago. While the work is far from done, Sierra-at-Tahoe’s recovery efforts offer valuable lessons in environmental and social resilience.

This PodSAM is a must listen for any leader or future leader in the industry. Tune in to the first topic in our Summit Series Leadership forum where we gather top industry leaders and 10 emerging leaders to discuss approaches to "Community Relations and Key Stakeholder Engagement." "It's now the highest priority of our organization" -David Norden, CEO Taos Ski Valley, NM "I don't think you can be anymore focused on community relationships, it's the #1 priority for us."  -Tim Foster, Chief of Mountain Operations, Sun Peaks, B.C.   The mentors on this episode are: David Norden, CEO of Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico Tim Foster, Chief of Mountain Operations at Sun Peaks, British Columbia John Hammond, President of Sugarbush Resort, Vermont Tara Schoedinger, Vice President and General Manager of Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Colorado Charles Skinner, Owner and President of Midwest Family Ski Resorts Facilitator: Dr. Natalie Ooi, Associate Professor for the Masters of the Outdoor Recreation Economy at CU

When Mountain High and Dodge Ridge owner, Karl Kapuscinski purchased China Peak Mountain Resort from owner Tim Cohee on Dec. 8, 2022, it brought together two industry innovators, each with 40 years of experience, and the promise of a new small-scale resort group eager to carve out its own niche in the Epic and Ikon dominated California market. Listen up to hear what they have planned.  

A ski area general manager, a mid-level manager, a ski patroller, and an industry newcomer walk into...a room full of 450 people. Origin stories unfold. SAM editor Dave Meeker leads this panel discussion at the 2022 PNSAA Mountain Works Conference with Greg Pack, Cody Howe, Hannah Besso, and Megan Keating, who talk about their career paths in the U.S. ski industry. Enjoy this collaboration episode with the Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Associations's podcast, Mountain Works.