Editor’s note: This article is by Amy Ash Nixon of The Caledonian Record, in which it was first published Jan. 23, 2014.
BURKE — Burke Mountain Academy is in the world’s limelight as the Winter Olympics are about to get underway and BMA graduates, such as Mikaela Shiffrin, take center stage.
Shiffrin is a 2013 BMA graduate, the youngest American skier to be a World Cup champion, and a member of the U.S. Olympic Ski Team.
While a student at BMA, Shiffrin trained on the slopes of Burke Mountain, just as generations of BMA students before her did.
The relationship between the private high school that focuses on competitive ski racing and the resort has been critical and longstanding.
But that long, important relationship was somewhat strained recently when Ariel Quiros, one of the new owners at the resort (renamed QBurke Mountain Resort for the Quiros family name) told online news outlet Vermont Digger that the resort suffered financially in the hands of past owners. His comments included a reference to Don Graham, a longtime Burke Mountain Academy benefactor.
At one juncture in the history of Burke Mountain’s shaky financial past, Graham stepped in and helped BMA to buy the resort. Burke Mountain had been scooped up at foreclosure by an investor and was headed for closure, which would have been a blow to the region’s economy and BMA.
In a lengthy article about the history of Burke Mountain and its new owners’ plans, Ariel Quiros (whose son, Ary, is the CEO and president of the resort), made several remarks about past owners including Graham. The comments prompted a lengthy defense of Mr. Graham’s history with the mountain from BMA Headmaster Kirk Dwyer.
In the original online report, Ariel Quiros openly questioned why well-heeled past owners, including Graham, allowed the resort to veer into bankruptcy and “to go into shambles.”
Quiros and Bill Stenger are at the helm of the much-anticipated Northeast Kingdom Initiative, which has a multi-year investment strategy to infuse the NEK with foreign investment through the EB-5 program.
The long-awaited build-out and development of Burke Mountain is one piece of those plans.
Stenger, on Wednesday, said that Burke deeply regrets the characterizations of past ownership in the article, especially the reference to Mr. Graham’s involvement with the resort.
This week, Dwyer, in an interview, said he has not spoken directly with the elder Mr. Quiros, but had a positive conversation with Ary, his son, as well as with Bill Stenger, to clear things up. Both were apologetic for the characterization of the history between BMA and the mountain, especially Mr. Graham’s role, Dwyer said.
“I spoke to his [Ariel Quiros’] son Ary Jr. today and I had a really nice conversation with him and he said that his father was sincerely apologetic and was very respectful after learning more about Don Graham’s involvement in Burke Mountain,” said Dwyer.
Dwyer said he felt the need to set the record straight about Graham’s role in the history of the two organizations, adding, “I have a very positive relationship with Ary Jr. We have agreed to work together and to cooperate, and part of why Ariel Sr. was interested in Burke Mountain was because of Burke Mountain Academy, so I know that they feel BMA is very much a positive,” said Dwyer.
“They are very supportive of our needs,” Dwyer said of QBurke and the school’s working relationship.
Dwyer said, “BMA would not be here if Burke Mountain ski area was not operating, so it’s important for us that they are successful and we want them to be successful.”
“Obviously with Bill Stenger and Jay Peak they have a great track record, and Bill’s involvement in QBurke is something we are very excited about because of his history,” Dwyer continued. He said at auction in 2000 of Burke Mountain, Bill Stenger “stepped forward and was very helpful to us… he’s long been a friend of the ski area.”
When Dwyer came in as headmaster in 2000, the ski area was bankrupt and efforts to sell the resort were not successful and an auction ensued; it was sold off piecemeal.
Dwyer recalled, “The ski portion was bought by someone who was the representative for an investor and when they looked closely, they decided not to run the ski area, and sell it in parts and just rent tents out of the lower base lodge.”
“So that’s when with the support of the Graham family, we purchased the ski area,” Dwyer said of the years during which BMA owned and operated the mountain.
Dwyer said Graham keeps a low profile.
“All his efforts have been so well-meaning,” said Dwyer.
Graham’s five children attended BMA in the 1970s and he’s had a number of grandchildren come through BMA, Dwyer said.
Stenger said Wednesday that QBurke is sending letters of apology to Don Graham and to VTDigger.
Graham could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
Stenger said many years ago, when Burke was on the auction block, he and Graham sat beside one another trying to figure out how to save Burke Mountain.
He said Jay Peak, which he has headed for some years, stepped in and offered to honor Burke Mountain season passes at Jay for no cost to support the mountain when Burke Mountain Academy bought the resort and operated it. Jay honored Burke’s passes for five years, and didn’t ask a cent in return, because Jay wanted to see Burke survive and succeed, said Stenger. He said he has the utmost respect for both Mr. Graham and BMA.
“The relationship between the mountain and the academy is an excellent one, and it’s based on respect, respect for what the school has meant for the last 40 something years, and also the school’s respect for the mountain and the fact that it’s one of the greatest training hills in the country. As operators of the resort, we are dedicated to that concept and what BMA represents,” said Stenger. “It’s a great partnership and we value and cherish that relationship.”
“So now that we’re directly involved in the day-to-day operation and ownership of the resort, our appreciation for the school is as great or greater than ever, and this mis-characterization (by Ariel Quiros in the VTDigger piece) is regrettable and not obviously at all the way we look at it,” said Stenger. “Don Graham has been just a tremendous, tremendous support for both the school and the mountain.”
