Boards of Directors

Raised in Steamboat, David is a graduate of Dartmouth College with degrees in English and Environmental Studies. He is a Real Estate Broker and Co-Owner of Steamboat Sotheby’s International Realty. As a Million Dollar Guild Member of the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, he has been a top performer in the sales of major developments, including residential, condominium and commercial ventures for over 20 years. He also holds a Certificate from the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. David’s many successes include being instrumental in the sell-out of the exclusive Catamount Ranch and Club. As a former alpine ski racer and coach of future Olympic stars, David is a passionate supporter of all disciplines and has been a member of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club for over 40 years. Since 2005, Dave has been a Founding Board Member and is current Co-Chair of the Ski Base Area Urban Renewal Authority (URAAC). He served on the Steamboat Pilot & Today Editorial Board, is a past President and Board Member of the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association, served eight years on the Steamboat Springs Planning Commission, and is a Board Member on the Yampa Valley Construction Trades Association. David is proud to have been honored with the Navigator Award as Steamboat’s 2007 Business Leader of the Year.

Blaise was President of Vail Resorts from September 2008 until August 1, 2015 with oversight of all of the company’s mountain resort operations, mountain resort capital projects, budgeting and strategic planning. Blaise helped orchestrate and implement the company’s mountain resort acquisition strategy whereby the company grew from five resorts to twelve from 2010 to 2015. Upon his retirement in August 2015, Blaise took on the role of Senior Advisor and worked primarily on resort acquisitions, new resort integration, capital planning and management, leadership mentoring and oversight of the company’s lift maintenance program. During that period the company acquired an additional five resorts.

Blaise was Vail Resorts Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Heavenly Mountain Resort until January 2008 and prior to that had served as Senior Vice President since 2002. From 1997-2002, he was the President and Managing Director for The Canyons in Park City, Utah. Prior to 1997, Blaise served as the Managing Director of the Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont where he had been since 1976 in a variety of positions from Ski Patrol to President.

Blaise most recently served as chairman of the National Ski Areas Association. In the past he has served as chairman of Vermont Ski Areas Association, Ski Utah, and the California Ski Area Association. He has also served on the boards of the National Forest Foundation, the Mad River Chamber of Commerce, the Park City Chamber of Commerce, the Tahoe-Baikal Institute, the Nevada Commission on Tourism, and the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. He was a founding member of Conserve Our Open Lands, now known as the Summit Land Conservancy.

In May 2019 Blaise was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Ski Areas Association.

Amy has been a director of the SSWSC since October 2017. Amy is a trial lawyer with offices in Steamboat Springs and Denver who focuses her practice on the defense of physicians and healthcare corporations along with the representation of national corporations in complex and class action litigation concerning health care and business disputes. She has tried over 50 cases to verdict in her career and has an AV Preeminent® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards. She has been recognized on three occasions as a Top 50 Women Lawyer in Colorado. Amy is a managing member of Cooper Rice & Olson, LLC and is admitted to practice in both Colorado and Illinois. She is admitted before the United States District Court for the District of Colorado and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Amy is a member of the American Bar Association, the Colorado Bar Association, and the Colorado Defense Lawyers Association. Amy and her husband Jeffrey Olson, MD have longstanding ties to the Yampa Valley and were married in Steamboat Springs in 1999. Their three children are all SSWSC athletes who started out on the Nordic jumps at a very young age and are now competitive alpine ski racers. The kids enjoy their summers biking with the SSWSC Mountain Bike Program and their oldest son earned his first paycheck working at the SSWSC Alpine Slide.

As a resident of Steamboat Springs for nearly 50 years, Lara is grateful for the unique opportunities and support she has experienced in this amazing community. As a parent, an educator, and an ardent advocate for kids, Lara is dedicated to giving back to her hometown by supporting excellence in education, in the arts, and in sports programs that also encourage and sustain kids’ healthy lifestyle choices. She has a deep interest in the culture and the history of Steamboat Springs and has supported the organizations that promote a sense of place and encourage the emotional, intellectual, and physical growth of children throughout the community. Serving on the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission, the Youth Advocacy Project, and Grand Futures Prevention Coalition, she has a pulse on the wider community. She currently serves as Board Chair of the Steamboat Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the Steamboat Springs School District Board of Education.

Retiring from teaching in 2019 with 25 years of teaching experience at Steamboat Springs Middle School, her passion for kids continues. Lara and her husband Brad raised their children in Steamboat Springs, but their kids grew up at the Winter Sports Club. As a parent of two former SSWSC athletes (Jack – Freestyle; Emily – Alpine), she and her husband have supported the club’s vision for the last 20+ years. Although both of her children have graduated from high school and are finding their way at college and in the world, Lara cannot imagine a time in their lives when they weren’t volunteering at Howelsen Hill, traveling the distances for a ski race or competition, and cheering for our athletes on the side of a ski slope. If it takes a village to raise a child, then the Winter Sports Club was integral to her children’s upbringing. Now that both children are off creating their own journeys, she devotes her time and expertise to the growth of current and future students and SSWSC athletes on and off the slopes.

Ashley Deibold is a lifelong winter sports enthusiast and native Coloradan. A previous Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club athlete and coach, she currently works for U.S. Ski & Snowboard as the Director of Development for the Snowboard and Freeski programs, where she specializes in high-performance Olympic sport development and management. Her engagement and impact span the broad range of stakeholders that are necessary for a sports program to function and thrive. Ashley sits on multiple committees for the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), including the Subcommittee for Park and Pipe, the Subcommittee for Snowboard Cross, the Subcommittee for Youth and Children, and the Rules Advisory Group. Ashley is also an MBA Graduate from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado at Boulder, class of 2015.

Todd joined the SSWSC Board of Directors in October 2019. Todd has worked for Smartwool since 2012, where he started out managing sales of distressed goods, online policy, and inter-corporate sales. Quickly, he progressed into roles in Sales Management and won the Pinnacle Award. Today, he is the Regional Sales Manager covering 4 territories including the Rockies, Great Lakes, and the East Coast from Maine to Florida. He has worked in the Ski and Outdoor industries since 1997, for retailers and brands including Ski Haus (Steamboat Springs), Buckman’s Ski Shops (Philadelphia), Boeri Helmets, and Swix. Todd graduated from Colorado Mountain College with an associate degree in Ski Business and Drexel University with a B.A. in Marketing.

Todd and his wife Alison, are proud to be raising their son, Theo in Ski Town USA. Alison works at SSWSC, as an admin and coach with the Youth Development program. Theo is a SSWSC athlete, exploring multiple disciplines at a young age. Todd enjoys being outside with his family snowboarding, mountain biking, camping, hiking, rafting, sailing, and being a part of the Steamboat Springs community.

Travis moved to Steamboat in 1997 to attend the Lowell Whiteman School (now Steamboat Mountain School) and to train with the SSWSC mogul team. He later had an eight year career on the US Ski Team and represented the USA at two Olympic Games. His athletic career culminated with a silver medal at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. While an athlete, Travis also served as the FIS Freestyle athlete representative.

After retiring from competitive sport, Mayer finished school then held a variety of positions at Intrawest, the then parent company of Steamboat Ski Resort. He started his business career as a financial analyst and eventually ascended to serve as the Chief Financial Officer for his last three years at the company. After leading the company’s I.P.O. and subsequent sale to KSL Capital, he moved back to Steamboat with his family. Travis and his wife Lis have two young children, Sage and Johnny, who both enjoy winter sports.

Mayer holds a B.S. in Applied Economics from Cornell University, summa cum laude, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Travis was appointed President and Chairman of the Board in October 2021.

“I am excited to be involved with the club again,” Travis says. “The SSWSC is an immensely important institution for the community—not only to help our kids learn how to ski and compete, but also to continue Steamboat’s Olympic heritage of raising some of the best skiers in the world. We wouldn’t be Ski Town USA without the club.”

Rob Mitchell has over 30 years of experience as a senior leader in the Active Lifestyle industry with market-leading brands, including Eagle Creek, Hydro Flask, POC, Moots Cycles, Smartwool, Nike, IMG, and Mossimo. His roles have ranged from President/CEO, VP to Director level, where he was responsible for leading teams, developing talent, building inspiring and functional work environments, and driving market share growth and company profitability. Through this experience, Rob acquired a deep understanding of all aspects of an organization and the dynamics that exist between groups/functions within a company. He also has extensive experience in leading strategic planning and budgeting processes as well as brand foundation development processes. Currently, Rob is a Board member, CEO Adviser, Executive Coach and strategy consultant in the Active Lifestyle space.

Born in France, Thomas OWinter quickly found his way to the United States. He lived briefly in New York and Chicago before finding his way to Steamboat Springs in 1990. As a new 5th grader at the time, he quickly found his way into the Winter Sports Club and participated as an athlete in both the freestyle and racing programs.

After high school, he attended Colorado State University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in communications. He then began to work at Christy Sports in 2002. Alongside his newfound career, Thomas decided to seek his MBA at CU Denver.

Marrying a Steamboat native, Emily Schwall, they had always envisioned life in the mountains. There was always a relentless draw to the small town mountain community.

Putting his degree to use, he climbed the ladder at Christy Sports and became part of the lead team as a VP of Merchandise for the organization until 2023. Yes, he was there for 21 years!

Thomas and Emily moved back to town in early 2020, along with their now-8-year-old son, Easton, and 11-year-old daughter, Peri, who are both in winter sports club programs and avid skiers.

In 2023, he and his wife Emily decided to open a new business, and that’s when Steamboat Lockers was born.

Thomas enjoys all the things Steamboat has to offer, basically the stamp of what the active person does here in town, mountain biking, rafting, skiing (on any kind of ski) and sledding fast.

Having a well-rounded business background and long ties to the community, and understanding what it means to be part of the winter sports club, is what makes Thomas a great addition to the board.

Heidi’s family moved to Steamboat in 2000, and she and her three sisters all grew up as SSWSC athletes across varying disciplines. Her father, John Hillenbrand, also served on the SSWSC Board for many years. The club has been a central part of Heidi’s life and is something her family cares deeply about. Heidi raced Alpine for SSWSC from 2000 to 2006 before going on to ski Division I at the University of Colorado Boulder.

After nearly two decades away, Heidi returned to Steamboat in 2023 with her husband, Chris, and their sons, Colin and Henry. Colin is now a U6 Meister athlete, and two-year-old Henry is already on skis, getting ready to become an SSWSC athlete in the coming years.

Professionally, Heidi is the Senior Director of Customer Experience Strategy at Ogilvy, where she brings nearly 15 years of expertise in strategy, operations, and data-driven decision making. She helps organizations put their customer at the center of every decision, streamlining operations, aligning stakeholders, and creating governance systems that balance strategic vision with execution. In 2022, she led the digital strategy and website redesign for Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest nonprofit evaluator, enhancing donor trust and engagement while deepening her experience in nonprofit governance.

Willis Wodnik relocated to Steamboat in 2003 to be closer to mountain biking and snowboarding hobbies. Today, he and his wife, Torey, are proud owners of several small businesses in the valley, are actively involved with non-profit organizations, and are raising two children. Since 2013, Colorado Event Rentals has been a dedicated supporter of Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. Collectively, their businesses employ nearly 100 individuals in the Yampa Valley. In addition to the long-standing support for SSWSC, the Wodniks contribute to various Routt County youth-focused non-profits through volunteer work and donations.

Willis and Torey have two children, Sasha and Robbie, who have been members of SSWSC since they were three. Having two children with different goals gives Willis valuable insight into the diverse needs and aspirations of families within the club. He is dedicated to ensuring every child finds a welcoming and fulfilling place within the Winter Sports Club, regardless of their competitive desires.

Raised in Steamboat, David is a graduate of Dartmouth College with degrees in English and Environmental Studies. He is a Real Estate Broker and Co-Owner of Steamboat Sotheby’s International Realty. As a Million Dollar Guild Member of the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, he has been a top performer in the sales of major developments, including residential, condominium and commercial ventures for over 20 years. He also holds a Certificate from the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. David’s many successes include being instrumental in the sell-out of the exclusive Catamount Ranch and Club. As a former alpine ski racer and coach of future Olympic stars, David is a passionate supporter of all disciplines and has been a member of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club for over 40 years. Since 2005, Dave has been a Founding Board Member and is current Co-Chair of the Ski Base Area Urban Renewal Authority (URAAC). He served on the Steamboat Pilot & Today Editorial Board, is a past President and Board Member of the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association, served eight years on the Steamboat Springs Planning Commission, and is a Board Member on the Yampa Valley Construction Trades Association. David is proud to have been honored with the Navigator Award as Steamboat’s 2007 Business Leader of the Year.

Hans has lived in Steamboat Springs for 33 years. Originally from Chicago, he is grateful to have raised his family in an amazing mountain community like Steamboat Springs. He and his wife Heidi have two grown children; Ben and Sabina. Heidi is a Family Counselor in town. Ben is partnered with Cam Boyd, on the Boyd Team at Sotheby’s Realty in Steamboat Springs. Sabina graduated from CU Boulder Environmental Design School, and is now engaged in product design for Restoration Hardware at their Corporate Headquarters in the Bay Area.

Berend holds a Bachelors Degree in Liberal Arts, Colorado College and is the owner and CEO of Gerber Berend Design Build. He has been a board member for USA Nordic for 5 years and also ran Wednesday Night Jump for three years with his wife, Heidi.

“Every time I go down to Howelsen, I get pangs of joy, just remembering the days and nights spent down at the venue with Heidi and our kids. Watching young families with the kids on tiny skis….navigating the slopes…..it just makes me feel alive. I really see this Club and this Town as a driving force in my life.”

Ben Berend is a proud alumnus of SSWSC and Olympian. SSWSC played an integral role in his development both as an athlete and as an individual. The values, sense of community, and opportunities he experienced through SSWSC helped shape not only his athletic career but also his lasting commitment to Steamboat Springs.

His motivation for joining the Board stems from a desire to strengthen SSWSC’s connection with its alumni community. He believes there is significant untapped potential in more actively engaging and growing this network. Alumni share a unique bond and enduring pride in the organization, and that connection can be a powerful asset to the Club through mentorship, increased community awareness, financial support, and a stronger presence at SSWSC events.

Ben hopes to contribute by supporting the development of intentional alumni programming, helping to re-establish alumni engagement around major events, and creating meaningful pathways for former athletes to remain involved beyond their competitive careers.

More broadly, he values the Foundation Board’s role in advancing the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club’s mission of creating champions on and off the mountain, preserving its legacy, and ensuring its continued leadership in youth sports and character development. He would be honored to bring his experience, energy, and perspective to the Board and sincerely appreciates your consideration.

Jim recently served on the SSWSC Board of Directors and stepped down in October 2023 and on the SSWSC Foundation Board of Directors. Since 2018, Jim has been the President and Treasurer of Weitz Investment Management, Inc. and Vice President of the Weitz Funds based in Omaha, Nebraska. Before Weitz Investments, Jim was the Executive Director of the SSWSC from 2013 until 2018. Prior to joining the SSWSC, Jim spent more than 20 years in the investment management industry, serving as President and Chief Operating Officer of Calamos Asset Management, Inc., an investment management firm based in Naperville, Illinois. He also previously served as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for McDonnell Investment Management, where he was responsible for the company’s businesses and operations, and also was Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Van Kampen Investments. Jim began his career as an attorney with the law firm of Jenner & Block in Chicago, IL. Since 2017, Jim is an independent director of Kennedy Capital Management, Inc., an investment management firm based in St. Louis, MO. He earned a law degree from Illinois Institute of Technology’s Chicago-Kent College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Northern Illinois University. Jim and his wife, Leagh, have four children and split their time between Steamboat Springs and Omaha, NE.

Adam Brady is a Senior Vice President, Group Manager for Fidelity Investments. He currently serves on Fidelity’s Workplace Investing Select Market Leadership Team. Adam leads a team of Managing Directors to serve some of Fidelity’s largest multi-product corporate clients. Adam also serves on Fidelity’s Regional Leadership Team for the Covington, KY campus, which employs approximately 5,000 Fidelity associates.

Prior to this role, Adam led new business development for Fidelity’s Large/Select Market prospective corporate clients in the Midwest. He specialized in helping corporate executives, plan sponsors, consultants & advisors analyze and evaluate Defined Contribution, Defined Benefit, Equity Compensation, Nonqualified, and Health & Welfare plans for increased efficiencies, reduced costs, and improved optimization. He has worked for Fidelity Investments for nearly 24 years in variety of roles.

Prior to Fidelity, Adam spent 4 years working for Landor Associates consulting for Procter & Gamble for brand consultation on a variety of global brands.

Adam holds an MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business focusing in Finance and Strategic Management. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Design from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning. He holds various FINRA and SEC licenses for Fidelity Investments. Adam has been recognized by the Cincinnati Business Courier as a top 40 business professional under 40.

Adam and his wife split time between Cincinnati, OH and Steamboat Springs, CO. He has two sons. His youngest son is a competitive high school soccer player with aspirations to play in college. His oldest son participated in the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club Alpine Ski Racing Team. He graduated from Steamboat Mountain School and is currently attending the University of Notre Dame – Mendoza College of Business.

Scott Engelman is the President of SEAdvisors LLC, a hospitality advisory company specializing in operational and strategic consulting for hotel and restaurant entities. SEAdvisors also provides business development strategy for companies wishing to penetrate or fortify their exposure and positioning in the hospitality industry. SEAdvisors holds an equity position in two restaurant entities in Steamboat Springs, Colorado…Truffle Pig and Carl’s Tavern.

Scott Engelman received his Executive MBA (2011) and BSBA(1991) in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of Denver. He also studied Tourism Management at The University of Hawaii. Scott moved to Steamboat in June of 2010 and lives in the South Valley with his wife, Liz and sons Barret, Owen and Elshu. He is an avid “Alpine” skier, golfer and trailblazer.

John Hayden retired from the Midland Company (NASDAQ “MLAN”) in October, 2010 after nearly 30 years of service, the last 13 as the company’s President & CEO. He held the same positions in the Company’s wholly-owned specialty property/casualty insurance company, American Modern Insurance Group. Midland achieved unprecedented success under Mr. Hayden’s leadership. The company’s market capitalization grew from $180 million to $1.35 billion, a compound annual rate of 22%. The company’s revenues expanded from $375 million to $1.2 billion, its assets grew from $760 million to $1.7 billion and its pretax profits grew from $35 million to $120 million. Mr. Hayden serves five for-profit corporate boards and is active in the pursuit of cancer cures nationwide.

The Hayden’s have three married children and six grandchildren.

Alexander (Alex) Kislia joined the Foundation Board in 2024. He has 17+ years of project/program management, operations management, and building client relationships in the high-tech consulting services industry. Alex currently works in ranch management, agriculture, and real estate investment. Alex was interested in becoming involved with the board and SSWSC because of his lifelong passion for winter sports, and three young children who also love skiing. “I believe SSWSC is one of the things that really makes Steamboat special, and I want to give back wherever I can. In my free time, I love skiing, snowmobiling, mountain biking, playing hockey, riding horses, and hunting/fishing in the mountains.”

David Lamb was born and raised in Steamboat, where he actively participated in the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (SSWSC) throughout his entire junior career as a ski racer. He is now a Certified Financial Planner with Edward Jones. He attended the University of Denver (DU), graduating cum laude in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in finance and a minor in economics. During his scholarship career at DU, he earned two Division I NCAA titles, became a four-time Division I All-American, and received four Division I All-Academic honors.

Giving back to the Steamboat community is important to David, and he currently serves on the SSWSC Foundation Board as a member of the finance committee, where he is in his first year of service. He and his family are committed to volunteering and contributing to their community each year in a variety of ways.

David is married to Jamie Lamb, and they have two daughters, Ashtyn and Andee. After traveling and living in many places as a member of the U.S. Ski Team, he always considered Steamboat home. Today, he is proud to raise his family there and honored to once again play an active role within the SSWSC community.

Ed graduated from CSU in 1979 and came to Steamboat Springs with his wife June. Since those early years, Native Excavating has grown into one of the biggest construction companies in Steamboat. Native Excavating, has donated equipment, time and money to projects like the Alpine slide, the Winter Sports Club’s weight room, the water ramps east of Steamboat and the new Nordic jump facility at Howelsen Hill.

Charlie MacArthur has been the President of Native Excavating since 2018. As a Steamboat native, MacArthur has built solid relationships and connections within our community. He has been married to his wife Rebecca for 13 years, raising three young children in the Yampa Valley. For seven years, MacArthur was a Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club athlete and was also a coach for two years of the Freeskiing team.

MacArthur graduated from CU in 2007 with a Business Management degree. He served on the Steamboat Springs Planning Commission for five years and was on the Steamboat Institute Board of Directors for four years.

MacArthur says, “I credit the SSWSC for providing me with many of the life skills I rely on today. The SSWSC shaped who I am and provided the confidence for me to tackle bigger challenges beyond the world of snow sports.”

Aaron Roth is the founding equity partner of Shorewood Development Group, LLC, a commercial development firm out of Buffalo Grove, IL which specializes in tenant driven retail developments since 2008. Before Aaron’s involvement with Shorewood, he spent 10 years trading futures electronically for Geneva Trading and on his own.

Aaron and his wife Nikki are both originally from the suburbs of Minneapolis, MN where they met in high school then followed each other to the University of Kansas before getting married and moving to Chicago, IL. 20 years and 5 kids (2 dogs) later they decided to move the family to Steamboat Springs in the summer of 2020. Finally following Warren Miller’s advice …… “If you don’t do it this year, you will be one year older when you do.”

The Roth’s have been enjoying all the activities Steamboat has to offer and their 5 kids (ages 5-17) utilize many of the amazing SSWSC programs while attending the public schools. They are a very active family enjoying ski racing, soccer, wake surfing, mountain biking, hiking, etc……and always looking for the next adventure.

“We feel very blessed to be a part of the community here in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and finally found a place we can call home.”

Melinda Sherman received her law degree from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law in 1992, was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1992 and the Colorado bar in 1993. Melinda has practiced law in Steamboat Springs for over 32 years, focusing in the areas of real property, business, banking, special district, zoning, municipal, homeowner associations, estate planning, and water law. She currently serves as a board member on the Board of The Foundation, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. She has two children, both of whom participated in Alpine Ski Racing with the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. Melinda was appointed by Governor Jared Polis to the 14th District Judicial Nominating Commission for a term expiring at the end of 2029.

Ron is a nationally renowned trial lawyer who has prosecuted thousands of food poisoning cases for victims across the United States. His work has resulted in numerous upgrades to food safety procedures in Fortune 500 companies and in legislation designed to protect consumers from dangerous food-borne pathogens.

Ron and his clients have been featured on NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX and virtually all other major television networks and print media. He regularly publishes articles about food safety and litigation which are read by viewers in over 180 countries. Through litigation, media commentary, and his food poisoning publications, Ron relentlessly challenges food companies to do a better job in making our food safe.

Ron was raised in Baytown, Texas. He attended the University of Texas in Austin, where he received his bachelor’s degree in the Civil Engineering Honors Program in 1990, and his law degree in 1993. He has been married to his college sweetheart, Sarah, for 29 years. They have three children – Jessica, Ashley, and Jordan.

The Simons moved to Steamboat Springs from Houston, Texas in 2012, and now enjoy fly fishing, snow skiing, horseback riding, golf, and mountain biking as a regular part of their daily routine. Jordan is an alumni of the SSWSC alpine program and now skies for Dartmouth.

Jeff is a director of the SSWSC Foundation. Jeff is also a principal at Momentum Development, LLC, which develops multi-family housing and self storage projects in the front range of Colorado. As President of Storm Mountain Ranch, Jeff along with his brother Jamie, developed Storm Mountain Ranch in 2000 in Steamboat. Storm Mountain won the Smart Growth award from the Governor of Colorado. As Managing Partner for Elk River Partners, Jeff planned and built Marabou in 2005 in Steamboat. Jeff’s father founded the Steamboat Ski Area in 1959. Jeff co-founded Spyder Skiwear in 1977 and ran the company from 1977 -1993. Jeff started skiing in the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, was a four time member of the NCAA Championship C.U. Ski Team, and was named All American in 1976. Jeff turned pro after his college racing career and won the Sierra Blanca Pro Cup and Coors Light Cup in Steamboat, both in 1977. Jeff lives with his wife Kim, and has two sons, Parker and Brandon, who both skied in the SSWSC.

Larry Thuet and his wife have been dedicated supporters of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club for many years and are eager to deepen their commitment by contributing at the governance level. They have owned a home in Steamboat Springs for 18 years and have been full-time residents for the past four. During that time, Larry has witnessed firsthand the profound impact SSWSC has on the community, fostering athletic excellence, building character in young athletes, and strengthening the fabric of life in the Yampa Valley. SSWSC’s mission resonates deeply with him, and he is continually inspired by its role in preserving Steamboat’s legacy as Ski Town USA®.

In addition to his personal connection to SSWSC, Larry brings valuable experience in nonprofit leadership. He currently serves on the Advisory Board for the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business, where he contributes to shaping strategic initiatives and supporting the next generation of business leaders. He is also actively involved with the Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing full college scholarships to deserving caddies—work that aligns closely with the SSWSC’s emphasis on opportunity and youth development.

Serving on the SSWSC Foundation Board allows Larry to combine his passion for the Club with a strong desire to give back to the community that has meant so much to him and his family. He is particularly interested in supporting sustainable growth, expanding program accessibility, and ensuring the continued excellence of SSWSC’s competitive and recreational offerings.

In January of 2000, Pam purchased Prudential Trimontane Real Estate with another top agent, Cameron Boyd, to create the now formidable real estate firm of Steamboat Sotheby’s International Realty. The company has grown tremendously since 2000, and is home to 60 full-time agents and is the number one real estate office in North West Colorado. In 2010, Steamboat Sotheby’s International Realty (formerly Prudential Steamboat Realty) was chosen by Steamboat locals as the “Best Real Estate Agency” in the Best of the Boat poll. For the past 15 years, Pam has been in the top 1% of Prudential agents nationwide.

For Pam, living in Steamboat is sheer heaven. She acknowledges every day how lucky she and her associates are to be able to enjoy such beauty in such a close-knit community. Pam married Steamboat native Lonny Vanatta in 1996, a former U.S. Ski Team member and world champion ski racer. Pam’s work might be focused on premier real estate, but her involvement in the Steamboat community is exemplary.

Eric and his wife Robin Schepper and moved their family to Steamboat Springs ten years ago to take advantage of the SSWSC and its programs so that their boys; Marat, 20 and Shokhan, 16, could learn skiing and pursue their dreams of racing, especially Marat who is a Division 1 collegiate ski racer at Bates College. Washburn lived outside Phippsburg and attended SOROCO in the late 1970s, and moved his family to Steamboat from Washington DC in the summer of 2012.

Washburn is the sole proprietor of Windward Strategies, LLC, a natural resource consulting firm. For the past few years he has raised money for USA Nordic and worked pro-bono as a lobbyist to promote enactment of federal legislation to reform Olympic sport governance to prevent sexual abuse of athletes and to raise funds for amateur sport athletes, coaches, clubs and National Governing Bodies.

Prior to becoming a consultant, he co-founded the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, a coalition of over 50 national hunting and fishing and land conservation organizations working together to promote natural resource conservation policy.

For ten years, Washburn worked in various policymaking and management capacities in the United States Senate. He was a Senior Policy Advisor to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Thomas A. Daschle, where he oversaw the development and U.S. Senate passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2002. Prior to that, he worked for Senator Harry Reid as the Democratic Staff Director for the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee. Before joining the EPW Committee, he was the Legislative Director for U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Thomas A. Daschle for four years. Washburn’s initial service in Congress was as Legislative Assistant to Senator Daschle, where he led the development of Senate Democratic Caucus strategy on a range of environment and energy issues, including federal lands management, clean air and water, endangered species protection, and global climate change.

Washburn has been a Bullard Fellow at Harvard University Forest, and holds an MFS from Yale University, and an AB from Bowdoin College. He sits on the Boards of the Boulder Open Space Conservancy.

“I have been helping to raise money for Nordic Combined and working in Congress to raise money for Olympic athletes generally, and look forward to connect those efforts of the SSWSC. We recognize how impressive the club’s legacy is for ski racing – both Nordic and Alpine – and want to do what we can to support it and ensure that it has a strong future.”

Steve York and his wife relocated to Steamboat Springs in 2024 and have embraced the opportunity to become part of their new community. Through connections with local leaders, including Brian Krill, Steve has developed a strong appreciation for the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and the important role it plays in the Steamboat and Yampa Valley communities.

Prior to moving, Steve was deeply involved in nonprofit leadership and volunteerism in San Antonio, Texas. Most recently, he served as Immediate Past Chair of Respite Care of San Antonio, a highly regarded organization dedicated to supporting families and children with special needs and complex medical conditions. Following his move to Steamboat, Steve was asked to continue his involvement and now serves on the Respite Care Foundation Board, ensuring long-term support for the organization’s mission.

Steve’s professional career spans more than 40 years in community banking. He most recently served as the leader of commercial banking and a member of the executive team at Broadway Bank in San Antonio. Throughout his career, he has been actively engaged in the communities he has served, contributing to numerous boards, committees, chambers of commerce, and civic initiatives. He views community involvement as an essential part of leadership in banking and a meaningful way to give back.

Steve and his wife raised two sons who were actively involved in a wide range of sports, and he spent many years coaching and supporting their athletic pursuits. Their family’s involvement in high school athletics and booster programs provided firsthand insight into the dedication of coaches and administrators and reinforced Steve’s passion for helping young athletes achieve their goals while developing important life skills.

With a strong background in nonprofit governance, community leadership, and youth athletics, Steve is drawn to the mission of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. He believes deeply in its commitment to developing champions both on and off the mountain and would welcome the opportunity to support the organization and serve the community through the SSWSC Foundation.

Kathi retired and moved to Steamboat in 1996. She had two passions: local government and the SSWSC. During the last 30 years, she served 15 years on the City Planning Commission and 6 years on City Council. During that time, Kathi and her husband became involved in the Club through volunteer opportunities including the Organizing Committee for Nordic Combined World Cups, and co-chairing many World Cup B’s, National Championships, and Continental Cups. In February 2002, as a FIS official, she led a team of 35 volunteers from Steamboat who participated in the Salt Lake Olympics in Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping. Twenty years ago, she was a founding Board member of the Yampa Valley Housing Authority and currently serves on the board.

Kathi was born and raised in the Chicago area and graduated from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, with a degree in business. Prior to moving to Steamboat, she had a successful career in institutional financial management, working for notable companies including US Bank, GE Capital, and Southern California Savings. Her last position was Senior Vice President of Mortgage Banking and Secondary Marketing, overseeing 125 employees and personally executing over $2 billion annually.