{A] ski industry executive from Vermont has been named the new president and CEO of the National Ski Areas Association in Colorado.
Kelly Pawlak, the vice president and general manager at Mount Snow Resort, will take the job running the ski industry’s national trade group starting Jan. 1.
Pawlak was named president and CEO after Parker Riehle, the president of the Vermont Ski Areas Association, withdrew his acceptance of the position in September “for personal reasons.”
Pawlak’s new job involves representing more than 300 ski resorts in the United States and Canada. The biggest include Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia and Park City Mountain Resort in Utah, which recently merged with nearby Canyons Resort.
Pawlak has been with Mount Snow for more than 30 years, and has been the vice president and general manager for 12 years. She has held jobs in operations, human resources, marketing, and sales.
“I am honored and excited for this tremendous opportunity,” Pawlak said in a press release. “At Mount Snow my love of skiing quickly grew into a passion for the ski industry, and now I look forward to putting my experience to work on the national level.”
Tim Silva, the chair of the National Ski Area Association’s board of directors, said in a press release: “Finding someone with Kelly’s experience and knowledge of ski area operations as well as an appreciation of the challenges ahead will be a true benefit for the association and ski resort operators.”
Pawlak replaces current president and CEO Michael Berry, who agreed to stay in the job until a replacement was found.
