Big Burke announcement

[from_the_NEK]

FTN,

You weren't the one I was thinking of. You are an optimist, for sure, but you engage in actual discussion, rather than just shooting the messenger.

FWIW, my optimism has SERIOUSLY faded over the last several months. You can count me in the boat of being seriously worried about the future of the mountain. Hopefully, the boat can be small and not become a fleet of life rafts.

 

[Edd]

Oldtimer,

There are people on this forum who just stick their nose in the air and accuse posts like yours of "Burke bashing." Don't let them discourage you from sharing your feelings. You are not alone in your thoughts.

You kind of just made his post about you. I think this is a fairly safe environment to call out Burke's problems.

 

[VTKilarney]

I think this is a fairly safe environment to call out Burke's problems.

It hasn't been for me at least. No big deal, but a spade is a spade. Heck, my most vocal critic never even skied Burke this year. But he felt entitled to lay into me for discussing problems with my home mountain - problems that proved to be very real.

 

[from_the_NEK]

The worst part about Ary is that I'm not even sure he realizes he is lying. He is the purest form of narcissistic management.

From Wikipedia:

[h=4]Narcissism in the workplace[edit][/h]Main article: Narcissism in the workplace
Narcissism as a personality trait, generally assessed with the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, is related to behavior in the workplace. For example, individuals high on narcissism are more likely to engage in counterproductive work behavior (CWB, behavior that harms organizations or other people in the workplace).[SUP][55][/SUP] Although individuals high on narcissism might engage in more aggressive (and counterproductive) behaviors, they mainly do so when their self-esteem is threatened.[SUP][56][/SUP] Thus narcissistic employees are more likely to engage in CWB when they feel threatened.[SUP][57][/SUP] Individuals high in narcissism have fragile self-esteem and are easily threatened. One study found that employees who are high on narcissism are more likely to perceive the behaviors of others in the workplace as abusive and threatening than individuals who are low on narcissism.[SUP][58][/SUP]
The narcissistic manager will have two main sources of narcissistic supply: inanimate - status symbols like cars, gadgets or office views; and animate - flattery and attention from colleagues and subordinates.[SUP][59][/SUP] Teammates may find everyday offers of support swiftly turn them into enabling sources of permanent supply, unless they are very careful to maintain proper boundaries.[SUP][60][/SUP] The need to protect such supply networks will prevent the narcissistic managers from taking objective decisions;[SUP][61][/SUP] while long-term strategies will be evaluated according to their potential for attention-gaining for the manager themself.[SUP][62][/SUP]
Organizational psychologist Alan Downs wrote a book in 1997 describing corporate narcissism.[SUP][63][/SUP] He explores high-profile corporate leaders (such as Al Dunlap and Robert Allen) who, he suggests, literally have only one thing on their minds: profits. According to Downs, such narrow focus actually may yield positive short-term benefits, but ultimately it drags down individual employees as well as entire companies. Alternative thinking is proposed, and some firms now utilizing these options are examined. Downs' theories are relevant to those suggested by Victor Hill in his book, Corporate Narcissism in Accounting Firms Australia.[SUP][64][/SUP]

His self esteem is so low that he feels it is everyone else's fault for what is happening. What the hell is going on? Why is Sr. allowing this to sink so far? None of us understands the thought process that is killing Burke Mountain.

 

[Edd]

It would be surreal to read an internet thread with a bunch of strangers ripping apart my job performance. I think of that often, reading this thread. But, when your actions affect so many people and livelihoods, you should bring your A game.

I'm sure this has been mentioned, but does anyone think he is NOT reading this thread? To ignore it would be mind-blowing to me.

 

[VTKilarney]

I've never thought that he reads this, at least not in a long time. I don't think that he gives a rat's ass what people here think. And maybe he shouldn't. I'll be the first to admit that I'm an amateur when it comes to ski area management.

 

[from_the_NEK]

He's too busy making videos with his phone to post up to Facebook to be concerned with this forum.

 

[from_the_NEK]

It would be surreal to read an internet thread with a bunch of strangers ripping apart my job performance. I think of that often, reading this thread. But, when your actions affect so many people and livelihoods, you should bring your A game.

I'm sure this has been mentioned, but does anyone think he is NOT reading this thread? To ignore it would be mind-blowing to me.

If he does read it, it is just more ammunition to prove that everyone is against him and that he has to double down on his strategy in order to prove them wrong.

 

[Brad J]

I have skied Burke Mt twice in the past two years, although there are many problems that have been exposed in these posts, and I for one have had very positive feelings about the Mt. Not sure about how the future will play out but Its a fun mountain to ski, has great lifts and the vibe on the hill was good. My wife and I love the place!! I really feel for the people who have skied their for years and call it their home mountain. Even with the worst snow in years the day I went there the mountain skied great (3/6), easily the beat groomed conditions I have skied this year here in the east. I hope and Pray that some lightning will strike and the management will wake up and give the attention the place needs and deserves.

 

[from_the_NEK]

No doubt that it is a great mountain. That is why we are all so passionate about it and want to see it succeed. On the surface a day at Burke to an outsider might appear things are okay, but once you pull back the curtain, even just a little bit, you can see that things are going horribly wrong. And like we have all been saying, it starts and ends with the guy running the place.

I fear Burke is going to end up like Ascutney. Even if a local conglomerate of interested parties wanted to save it. I'm afraid the financial mess will be so great that the mountain assets will be tied up for years until it is all sorted out.
Now I'm starting to sound like VTK :wink:

 

[halfpintvt]

Burke is a great mountain but as long as the Chief Egomaniacs Offspring remains in charge it will never prosper. Ary has respect for no one but demands respect from all. He does not value other peoples wisdom and experience and acts as if he is the only one with a brain. If this were true I wouldn't mind but almost 3 years into this project he continues to make the same mistakes and his scorched earth management style has done nothing to improve the mountain. A shiny new hotel will not fix this problem. Ary needs to go but I don't think that will happen. These people (Big A and Little A) feel that they bought this mountain and they can do what ever they want with it. If that means running it into the ground, that's what they'll do and then write off the loss. I feel sorry for Bill Stenger , they have seriously tarnished his brand and made it very hard for him to get the rest of the $$ he needs to complete this project.

 

[the original trailboss]

I have used the term "unsustainable" several times since this thread began and old timer pretty well summed up why in that post. I am amazed at the level of dislike, distrust, disrepect, and general anger that Ary has created at every level within and without his organization and, today, I see total failure as the only way to stop it. Bring Back Burke !

 

[MEtoVTSkier]

I'm thinking VTK wanted this here...

According to the Caledonian Record, 45 of the layoffs are full time, year round positions. The majority of the positions are hotel staff. There are a total of 180 layoffs.

 

[VTKilarney]

I'm thinking VTK wanted this here...

Yup. Thanks for that!

 

[mbedle]

I'm surprised that a resort the size of Q Burke actually has more than 45 full-time staff. Not being confrontational here, but blaming Ary for the downfall of this place is a little short sighted. It is also unfair to blame Ary for anything to do with the Hotel. The failure of this resort and the hotel falls solely on the owners. They ultimately have watched and allowed their company to be mismanaged. Of course, firing your son is no easy task.

 

[jimmywilson69]

Stenger has to be regretting bringing the Qidiots into the fold. there is no way he thinks otherwise. He may never say it publicly, but clearly this plan has 100% backfired...

 

[tumbler]

My only peeve with oldtimes very good post is the last line "he's not from here" Many people that own businesses in VT are not from there. I have always had an issue with the "you're not from here" but the person is running a successful business that is employing people that for "from here" Not referring to Q. An example of someone making it work is Win Smith who embraced the MRV community and slowly eroded years of discontent with Sugarbush.

 

[tumbler]

Anyone know if Mile's Electric was the electrical contractor for the hotel? Web page shows a lot of work at Jay...

 

[VTKilarney]

My only peeve with oldtimes very good post is the last line "he's not from here" Many people that own businesses in VT are not from there.

100% agree.

 

[VTKilarney]

Anyone know if Mile's Electric was the electrical contractor for the hotel? Web page shows a lot of work at Jay...

I believe that their Facebook page said that they did work on the Q Burke hotel.