Rusty Gregory
Chief Executive Officer, Alterra Mountain Company
A longtime ski industry leader who served in executive and ownership roles at California’s Mammoth Mountain, Gregory was a lead architect behind the scenes in the formation of Alterra Mountain Company. He brings extensive on-the-snow experience as a resort operator at one of the nation’s largest areas, formally joining the new Alterra team as CEO in January 2018.
Joe Hession
Chief Executive Officer, Snow Operating
Working at a New Jersey ski area, Hession saw a better way to teach newcomers, forming his own company, Snow Operating, in 2012. His innovative Terrain Based Learning Program is a highly acclaimed teaching tool, having been used at 55 resorts nationwide. This past December, he opened America’s only year-round indoor ski area at a New Jersey mall.
Rob Katz
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, Vail Resorts
Since taking over as CEO in 2006, Katz has revolutionized the entire industry’s business model, growing Vail Resorts to become the world’s largest ski resort company. Overseeing acquisitions plus growth through vertical integration, Katz has been responsible for building Vail Resorts to 37 resorts in three countries and a market cap of over $10 billion.
Kirsten Lynch
Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Vail Resorts
A veteran consumer brand marketer with the Quaker division of PepsiCo, Lynch joined Vail Resorts in 2011. She has been largely responsible for engineering a data-based approach to marketing and enhanced guest experience that has driven both her company and the entire ski industry to new heights.
Jon Rucker
President, USA Winter Sports, Head/Tyrolia
In a decade with the Austrian Head/Tyrolia, company, Rucker doubled U.S. sales and market share, emerging as a new generational leader and an advocate of programs to grow the sport. He enjoys wide acclaim across both the equipment and resort industry, and is the first to sit on both the SnowSports Industries America and National Ski Areas Association’s boards. He joined Head/Tyrolia in 2009 and was named president for USA winter sports in January 2019.
