Vermont Business Magazine Erin Fernandez, executive director of Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, recently named Norm Staunton as the new director of technical operations and advancement, and Felicia Fowler as a program coordinator, based out of Sugarbush Resort. “The quality of our programming has made Vermont Adaptive a nationally recognized organization that empowers people of all abilities,” Fernandez said. “Bringing Felicia and Norm to join our team full-time furthers our ability to bring the best programming to our athletes.”
Staunton has been a coach and volunteer instructor at Vermont Adaptive since 2008, and was a consultant for the organization’s Home Sweet Home permanent homes capital campaign beginning in 2014. As director of technical operations and advancement, he will oversee formal and informal training programs, equipment management and maintenance, collaborating with program coordinators, and strengthening competitive programs. Staunton will continue to spearhead the efforts to build the new adaptive sports facility in Burlington, which is part of the permanent homes campaign.
Fowler takes the helm as program coordinator for winter sports at Mt. Ellen at Sugarbush and summer sports in the Waterbury/Montpelier areas. Fowler will oversee outreach, management and coordination of the day-to-day operations of programs and activities at Sugarbush, in the Mad River Valley and beyond.
Both new staffers come to Vermont Adaptive experienced in the fields of adaptive sports and non-profit management. Staunton holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Vermont, where he focused on sustainability and nonprofit management. He has 20 years of non-profit and adventure industry experience and is a member of the PSIA/AASI Eastern Division Adaptive Development Team. He holds instructor certifications in skiing, telemark, paddling, surfing, and sailing.
Prior to joining Vermont Adaptive, Fowler coached the Men’s & Women’s Rowing team at the University of New Hampshire (UNH)and worked for a youth program at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. She is a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS) and holds a Master’s in Therapeutic Recreation Administration from UNH as well as a Bachelor’s in Recreation Management and Policy. Prior to completing her master’s degree, she interned with the Adaptive Sports Center in Crested Butte, Colo. Her areas of expertise include adaptive sports and recreation, youth programming, camp programming, and event planning.
Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sportsis a nationally recognized organization that empowers people of all abilities through inclusive sports and recreational programming regardless of ability to pay. In addition to sports, year round programming options integrate environmental, holistic wellness, and competitive training philosophies for people of all ages with cognitive, developmental, physical and emotional behavioral disabilities. Vermont Adaptive promotes independence and furthers equality through access and instruction to sports and recreational opportunities including alpine skiing, snowboarding, andother winter sports; kayaking, canoeing, sailing, cycling, hiking, rock climbing, tennis, horseback riding, and more. More than 400 volunteers serve clients of all abilities with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities from all over the world in three winter programming locations in Vermont - Pico Mountain at Killington; Sugarbush Resort in Warren; and Bolton Valley Resort in Bolton. Summer programs are provided state-wide.
Source: KILLINGTON, Vt. (Dec. 17, 2018) — www.vermontadaptive.org.