SSWSC is pleased to announce that Samantha Bowen will join the organization as Director of Development beginning Monday, August 3.
Bowen succeeds Sr. Director of Development Ellen Campbell, who will retire from full-time employment at the conclusion of SSWSC’s fiscal year on April 30 after nearly a decade of service. Campbell will continue working alongside Bowen throughout the transition, providing her expertise and leadership to help ensure the continued success of SSWSC’s fundraising efforts.
“We’re excited to welcome Samantha to the SSWSC team,” said Executive Director Brian Krill. “Her personal connection to winter sports, combined with her professional experience in nonprofit development, makes her an outstanding fit for our organization. We’re also incredibly grateful that Ellen will continue to share her knowledge and leadership throughout this transition. There will be many opportunities in the months ahead to recognize Ellen’s remarkable contributions during her nearly ten years with SSWSC.”
Bowen brings a unique combination of firsthand experience in winter sports and a proven track record in nonprofit fundraising. She earned a Master of Science degree in Physical Activity in Public Health and was both a freestyle skier and coach at Gould Academy. Throughout her career, she has worked with nonprofit organizations dedicated to physical activity, healthy eating, and expanding access to healthy lifestyles. Most recently, she led resource development, donor stewardship, and fundraising events for Playworks in Denver, Colorado, a regional office of the national nonprofit organization.
“Samantha’s passion for youth development through sport aligns perfectly with our mission,” Krill said. “I look forward to seeing her build upon the strong relationships and fundraising foundation established by Ellen, our Board, and our supporters, while finding new ways to connect our community even more deeply with SSWSC’s athletes, programs, and mission.”
Bowen says joining SSWSC represents both a professional opportunity and a personal homecoming.
“I’m honored to join Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club as Director of Development and to become part of a community with such a rich history and deep commitment to winter sports,” Bowen said. “SSWSC represents so much of what I love about sports: the opportunity to build confidence, develop resilience, create lifelong friendships, and learn lessons that extend far beyond competition. I am excited to build relationships with the athletes, families, alumni, donors, coaches, and supporters who make the Steamboat community so special.”
Bowen grew up in Maine as a competitive freestyle skier with Gould Academy, where she credits many of her most formative experiences to being part of a team that emphasized hard work, connection, and community. She later coached with the Gould Academy Competition Program, gaining a deeper appreciation for the role coaches and mentors play in shaping young athletes both on and off the snow.
“This opportunity feels especially meaningful because it brings together the personal and professional experiences that have shaped who I am,” Bowen said. “Over the past 13 years, I’ve built my career leading fundraising efforts, developing community partnerships, and connecting donors with opportunities to create meaningful impact. Returning to the winter sports world feels like a full-circle moment, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to combine my professional experience with a mission that has been so meaningful in my own life.”
Outside of work, Bowen enjoys skiing, mountain biking, and exploring the mountains with her dog, Pete.
“I am excited to call Steamboat home and become part of the SSWSC community,” Bowen said. “I look forward to helping strengthen the philanthropic support that allows SSWSC athletes to pursue their goals and continue building a program that creates opportunities for generations to come. Most importantly, I look forward to learning from and working alongside this incredible community to ensure that future generations of athletes have access to the same life-changing opportunities that inspired my own journey.”
