Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Ski Areas Association(VSAA)announced today thatpresident Parker Riehleis steppingdowneffective November 10to open his own lobbying and public relations firm.The VSAA Board of Directors has begun the search for a successor to lead the association and the $1.6 billion ski and snowboardindustry in Vermont.
Parker Riehle
“The Board of Directors wantsto thank Parker for his many years of service as president and theleadership he provided to advancethe ski community in Vermont,” saidMichael Solimano, chair of the VSAA Board of Directors.
Riehlespent 19 years with theVermont Ski Areas Association, including the last 11 years as president.He joinedtheVSAA as director of government affairs starting in 1998 and laterservedas vice president and general counsel before becoming president in 2006.
Riehle made a positive impact for member ski areasinlegislative andregulatory issueswith state officials and in makingthe Vermont brandmore prominentworldwideto bring more skiers and riders tothestate.
“I’m eternally grateful for the incredible career I’ve had with Ski Vermont and for the tremendous support and understanding for my decision by the Board of Directors,” said Riehle.
This has been a tumultous two months for Riehle. On August 29 he was named the new president and CEO of the Colorado-based National Ski Areas Association. Riehle was to take over the position on January 1, 2018, replacing Michael Berry, who is retiring after 25 years. But on September 12, the NSAA announced that the search for a new president had resumed and Riehle would remain at Ski Vermont.Riehle said he had to decline the position for personal reasons.
The NSAA job then went to another Vermonter, Kelly Pawlak, who is vice president and general manager at Mount Snow Resort.
Ski Vermont (Vermont Ski Areas Association) is a private not-for-profit trade association founded in 1969 to help create a legislative, economic and social environment in which the state's ski industry can grow and prosper, addressing issues including environmental integrity, economic and social contributions to the state's welfare, and competitive positioning of the state as a destination for winter tourism. Ski Vermont serves its 20 Alpine and 30 Nordic member resorts in three major areas: Governmental Affairs, Marketing and Public Affairs.
Source: Ski Vermont 10.27.2017