Winter has arrived at Solitude!
Temperatures have dropped, and snow has started to fall. Mother Nature has been joined by our snow guns which are working around the clock to help us kick start the season. As soon as conditions allow, lifts will start spinning!
It takes an exceptional group of people to operate a ski area. Guiding the way is our Senior Leadership Team. Take a peek behind the curtain and meet these talented individuals:
Dan Healy, Vice President of Recreational Services
Hailing from Massachusetts, Dan has been with Solitude for four years and brings 30 years of industry experience to the Senior Leadership Team. Among his many responsibilities, Dan helps develop the products that are offered through the Ski & Ride School. This year he is pleased to present the Women on Weekends program where female skiers and riders team up with top female instructors for adventure on the slopes and learning.
Dan’s favorite place at Solitude: Eagle. He loves the new six-pack chairlift and the varied terrain.
Scott Cherry, Vice President of Resort Operations
Scott started as a graveyard snowmaker in Keystone, Colorado 20 years ago and now oversees snowmaking and grooming at Solitude. Now in his second year, Scott has been working diligently to improve our snowmaking system, making sure our snow guns provide early season depth and coverage
Scott’s favorite place at Solitude: Dead Tree. Scott loves riding deep powder on the backside of Evergreen Peak.
Jack Harris, Senior Manager of Information Technology
Jack has been at Solitude for 10 years, overseeing IT operations both on and off the hill. He been part of the ski industry for 18 years, getting his start as an instructor at neighboring Brighton. Among his many responsibilities, Jack keeps our webcams working and our gates opening when you swipe your pass. Recently he has been replacing the 14-year-old RFID gates for five of our chairs.
Jack’s favorite place at Solitude: Anything off Summit.
Jeff Caroll, VP of Marketing and Guest Experience
Jeff has worked in the ski industry for 25 years, including 8 years at Solitude on the Senior Leadership Team. Jeff’s current projects include enhancing our parking reservation system. Last year’s system was a success, cutting down on canyon congestion and making the arrival experience much more pleasant. This year guests can expect an even better experience, with lower cost for weekday parking and a reduced threshold for free parking.
Jeff’s favorite place at Solitude: Milk Run, where you can find powder shots long after a storm has passed.
Marlen Stewart, Vice President of Lodging and Sales
Marlen has been at Solitude for 5 years and brings 18 years of industry experience to her role on the Senior Leadership Team. Recently she has been working with the Sales Team to improve Solitude’s wedding and events offerings, including holiday parties. Looking for a wonderful place to host your holiday bash? Solitude has excellent winter venues, including The Yurt and Last Chance Lodge.
Marlen’s favorite place at Solitude: Solitude’s Nordic and snowshoe trails. She loves the peaceful forest setting and meeting locals on the trail.
Wendy Rand, Vice President of Human Relations
Wendy starts her first year at Solitude this season, arriving with six years of industry experience, including previous work at Park City Mountain Resort. She is currently working on actionable ways to improve the employee and guest experience.
Wendy’s favorite place at Solitude: Diamond Lane. Wendy is a former racer and loves bombing down steep groomers.
Tara Gerome, Vice President of Food & Beverage
Tara started at Solitude 8 years ago, working in Honeycomb Grill en route to becoming a VP on the Senior Leadership Team. F&B has plenty of fun fare planned for guests this winter, including a live action salad station at Roundhouse, the result of guest feedback for more healthy options when dining on the hill.
Tara’s favorite place at Solitude: the path to The Yurt at night. She loves the magical views of the village and groomed slopes, especially when the night sky is clear.
Steve Holtey, Vice President of Resort Finance
A key player in the evolution of Solitude, Steve has been at the resort for 25 years and has worked in the hospitality industry for 35. This year’s big step: making Solitude cashless, improving the guest experience by expediting transaction times.
Steve’s favorite place at Solitude: Solitude Village, which has evolved from a few buildings and a “mud pit” parking lot to a mountain gem for dining and shopping.
Avery Graves, Executive Assistant
Avery is entering her second year at Solitude, which is also her second year in the ski industry, managing calendars, events, and other tasks. She recently helped with Solitude’s mental health program, putting together a robust collection of resources for employees to assist with suicide prevention and addiction recovery.
Avery’s favorite place at Solitude: the trail to Lake at Solitude at the end of summer when you can pick the wild raspberries.
Amber Broadaway, Resort President
As I start my fourth season at Solitude, and 11th season in the ski industry, I am once again looking forward to seeing you on the mountain! And I’m excited to see the initiatives of our Senior Leadership Team put into action this winter. Together we are working hard to provide you with a fun and fulfilling experience whenever you visit Solitude.
My favorite place at Solitude: Roller Coaster with its narrow double fall line and playful moguls.
Thank you for taking a few moments to learn about our hardworking leadership team. Our resort opening is just around the corner — see you on the snow!
To catch up on previous Amber’s Updates, visit https://blog.solitudemountain.com/category/ambers-updates/