VAIL SUCKS

[AdironRider]

The GM manages people, not individual tasks for operations, even at small ski areas. A good manager of people crosses industries with zero issues.

For example, Jackson Hole is run by a former VP at Nike and Disney, Mary Kate Buckley, with absolutely zero industry experience. Yet, despite this, I doubt anyone here knew that because the mountain is running fine, including multiple lift complicated lift installs on top of day to day operations running smoothly. You can nit pick specific decisions, all ski bums do, but you cannot argue objectively the business is being poorly run overall.

Now, that all said, I'm not sure this Mount Snow GM is quite the same caliber. Vail does have a system and is going to run a mountain a certain way, regardless of the GM, so that certainly helps, but it will be interesting to see how she works out.

 

[deadheadskier]

Frankly I couldn't hire a hygenist, unless they had graduated from a hygiene program, had passed their proper radiology and certification exams and had their state license. I have hired many assistants and office staff people over the years that had no in the field experience, but had certain qualities that I read as a strong work ethic at their interview, that have worked out well.

One other thing, across most industries, how often do you hear that employers often seek out retired military and military officers to work for their company? Quite often in my experience and often because employers know that their years in military service often instill in them a solid sense of leadership, personal accountability and the ability to work with a team. In many industries that day to day nuances of the business can be taught/learned much easier and quicker than developing the leadership skills that years in the military very often provides.

The GM position at Mount Snow involves year round management of various teams across a wide range of jobs, where the GM is overseeing all of those teams. This is different than say a small resort, which is mainly just a seasonal ski area, where the GM may from time to time have to pick up a shift in a cat, or make snow, etc. I suspect that just has been the case for as long as I can remember at Mount Snow, that we'll see her out scanning passes or interacting with the parents and instructors/coaches of the seasonal youth programs, or around the Mount Snow Golf Club in the Summer, or walking around and interacting with staff and guests at the various festivals the mountain hosts thoughout the year

I put in the caveat about licensure for a hygienist.

I work in an industry that is loaded with ex-military on the service side of our company and in the industry in general. Biomedical / Clinical Engineers for companies like mine and hospitals themselves have military backgrounds more than any other past professional experience.

That said, none of them are getting a management job , especially a Senior leadership level position without a Bachelor's if not Masters degree in that field plus having at least a decade of industry experience.

I'm sure this Lea is very talented, but no one in their right mind should look at her resume and think, she has a great background for being a ski resort GM. Take all of the day to day out of it. You're right, a GM at a Mount Snow doesn't need to know all that and will never have to perform those duties. But they do have to manage people and the P&L component of the business. Where on her resume is any of that? Maybe a little people management, but she literally has no business experience at all. You don't find that odd?

 

[tumbler]

It is interesting that she would be looking to enter the ski business with her background. Speculating, I wonder if Vail wants her in Broomfield eventually and put her at Mt Snow to learn the business.

 

[jimmywilson69]

It is interesting that she would be looking to enter the ski business with her background. Speculating, I wonder if Vail wants her in Broomfield eventually and put her at Mt Snow to learn the business.

likely theory

 

[jaytrem]

Apparently Olympic and Ledge are open. She already found the thin cover signs that went missing last year, she's okay with me.

 

[drjeff]

Vail Resorts Taps Career Military and Government Leader Lea Gabrielle

SAM Magazine—West Dover, Vt., Dec. 4, 2024—Lea Gabrielle Potts is the new vice president and general manager of Mount Snow, Vt., effective Dec. 19. A newco

www.saminfo.com

The official industry press release

 

[drjeff]

Apparently Olympic and Ledge are open. She already found the thin cover signs that went missing last year, she's okay with me.

Olympic was skiing quite well this morning per a text group of my Mount Snow friends, some of whom are up there today. And snowmaking should come back online later today when the winds shift back to the North and West after they started blowing out of the South yesterday which is a direction that causes blow back frezing up challenges with many of the guns on the main face and Carinthia

 

[BenedictGomez]

You are the most optimistic Mt snow homer ever.
So as far as I can see a GM is useless with the hiring they have been making.
Pretty much like most middle management.

Yeah, I mean, Vail hiring all these people with absolutely no ski industry experience has lowered my opinion of the necessity of "ski industry experience" for these jobs. Unless Vail's HR are just complete idiots. We are talking about a company that literally admits, brags, and publicly updates that it preference hires with a substantial look towards a person's sex/gender/sexuality etc.... beyond what I think is objectively normal even by modern corporate standards. But I agree her background is extremely impressive. I guess the attitude here is if you do succeed as a fighter pilot you can succeed at anything.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I wonder if Vail wants her in Broomfield eventually and put her at Mt Snow to learn the business.

She would have lots of government connections & likely met "everyone important" while at Fox News. I think you make an excellent point, and it does make one wonder if she gets this job if a certain election that took place a month ago went the other direction.

 

[SenorQuesadilla]

Her Wikipedia page mentions she messed up an F18 and wasn’t allowed to fly anymore

 

[BenedictGomez]

Her Wikipedia page mentions she messed up an F18 and wasn’t allowed to fly anymore

More than once apparently, which got her kicked out of the FA-18 fighter program for multiple near accidents.

There's gotta' be a great Vail Resorts joke to tie-into that. LOL

 

[jimmywilson69]

well maybe she can't operate a fan gun then...

 

[NYDB]

I applaud her choice in ski outfits. And she Kites.


Off her public IG (sorry single ski bums, looks like she got hitched a year or 2 ago)

 

[2Planker]

She must have the necessary Food & Bev experience....
I'll see her as "One and done"

 

[ctdubl07]

My opinion is that MS is in a big effort/project lull....she'll come in and continue to apply company metrics and practices where possible.
I respect her credentials and do see applicability. She has no industry experience or Vail Corp experience so her tendency will be to hue Very close to Corp ideology and practices. She'll be early to every standing mgmt webex.

Near term Mgmt efforts are going to be customer experience focused and finetuning of services like the constant shuffle of how they organize ski school experience or maybe the implementation of new PoS, RFId, etc. She'll be focused on the Epic Gear program metrics for sure. And the never ending saga of a horrible main base lodge F&B experience.

DJs right, the place has good functional mgrs who will continue to execute while she focusses on continued corp practice integration. THats what shes there for. Pining for the old days when the Peaks GM bussed tables, and thinking thats leadership, are over.

There wont be a dime spent at the place anytime soon so the big ticket project mgmt stuff is over for awhile: water, Lifts, traffic flow and Carinthia are done so shes not in a weak position not having construction project mgmt..... (I only wish theyd execute some RE deal to finish Peaks vision for dev of carinthia)

A plus i see in her background is having worked within a hugely buearocratic and inefficient organization.....government. I suspect much of her time over next 8-14 months are going to be behind scenes dealing with Snowlake project. Staffing costs, internationals and housing will be a focus. Her tactical and critical thinking background in plan implementation and resolution is well suited for that.

 

[jimmywilson69]

Potts is the seventh new GM at a North American Vail Resorts property since September.

The turnover is so bizarre and telling for this corporation...

 

[2Planker]

The turnover is so bizarre and telling for this corporation...

That's why JD turned them down twice.....

 

[SLyardsale]

Apparently Olympic and Ledge are open. She already found the thin cover signs that went missing last year, she's okay with me.

they didn't need the thin cover signs.... for today at least

remember last year, OMT didn't open

 

[catskillman]

Yeah, I mean, Vail hiring all these people with absolutely no ski industry experience has lowered my opinion of the necessity of "ski industry experience" for these jobs. Unless Vail's HR are just complete idiots. We are talking about a company that literally admits, brags, and publicly updates that it preference hires with a substantial look towards a person's sex/gender/sexuality etc.... beyond what I think is objectively normal even by modern corporate standards. But I agree her background is extremely impressive. I guess the attitude here is if you do succeed as a fighter pilot you can succeed at anything.

OR - possibly nepotism ???

 

[MidnightJester]

On Monday, alongside its earnings, Vail Resorts announced a $254 million upgrades and improvements capital investment plan for the 2025 calendar year, focusing on enhancing its ski resorts across the United States, Australia, and Switzerland.

Vail Resorts Announces $254 Million of Resort Improvements and Upgrades for 2025 - SnowBrains

On Monday, alongside its earnings, Vail Resorts announced a $254 million upgrades and improvements capital investment plan for 2025

snowbrains.com