I like to think that after 3 and a half years of writing blogs for Sugarbush, we (you readers and myself) have formed some kind of connection. As someone who prefers to fly below the radar, after being recognized in public because of my name being tied to the blogs (true story), the thought of, “wow people might actually know who I am” finally started to click. I’ve had the pleasure of working in Sugarbush’s Marketing Department with PR expert John Bleh as my guide (aka manager). I came to this team with an eclectic background of creative skills that you can present as marketing knowledge. Truthfully, I came here with a Fine Art degree, blog writing experience and photography skills and that’s it. For some reason they thought, yeah, you’ll do.
My biggest secret
The biggest secret I have kept from you all, which was no secret to the marketing team, is that I don’t ski. Cue shock and judgement. Just kidding. But it’s almost always a surprise to people that I, 1) live in Vermont and don’t ski and 2) work at a freaking ski resort and still don’t ski. Especially as someone who willingly moved knowing that winter is ~the~ thing here. But it’s true. I actually learned how to ski at Mountain Creek Resort in New Jersey. I probably spent more time getting my hair braided by the instructors than actually skiing, but somehow it stuck. So I can ski, I just don’t do it very much.
I wish I could say keeping that secret was hard, but my writing skills are much greater than my skiing skills. So, I was tasked with coming to the blog week after week and filling you all in on the amazing conditions, killer après, and full informational explanations of our mountain products and convince you to buy them. And, not to toot my own horn, but I think I did a pretty okay job of just that.
Me, pretending to be a skier for a ski and tee photoshoot. Definitely not my skis, or my golf club, or even my jacket.
My non-blog writing contributions to Sugarbush
Besides blog writing, you can find my photos all over the blogs, the Sugarbush website, and more. It was my secret weapon. I could take photos of absolutely anything on the mountain, except the much needed on-hill photos. So if you come across photos of hotel rooms, food, fireworks, events, or anything besides skiing, that was probably me. Here, I learned how to improve my photography, write marketing emails, navigate new design platforms to create things like the Be Better Here Report, and more.
This is all to say, my time at Sugarbush has come to a close. My beloved readers, I’m sorry to say that I’m moving onto a new journey as many late-twenty-somethings do. It’s a bittersweet ending. What more do you take from a job than all of the skills you’ve learned along the way? Friendships, new found confidence, the ability to experience things you would’ve never been able to otherwise. Working in marketing at a ski resort presents opportunities for memories that will last a lifetime. The first time I rode on a snowmobile, getting a buggy ride to the summit to photograph a helicopter delivering lift construction materials, cheersing unopened beers in the pool for a photoshoot with your boss (lol yes), and so much more.
A sincere thank you
As my time wraps up at my desk in Lower Admin, I’m here to say thank you. To the entire Sugarbush community. For reading what I have to say. For letting me photograph your memories. For emailing the communications inbox (yes, people read those). For most importantly, welcoming a non-skier into this mountain community. As someone who grew up in a resort town, and subsequently moved to one later in life, I love these types of communities. And while I’m not an official Valley resident anymore, I’ll only be one mountain pass away, visiting whenever I can.
This is not goodbye, it’s see you later. Don’t forget to make John Bleh write more blogs. And shameless plug because after all this, I know you’re wondering…don’t forget to hire me as your wedding photographer!
To following your passion,
Corinne