Win Smith

Handing Over the Reins

Win’s Word

When we announced the decision to sell Sugarbush to Alterra Mountain Company this past November, I said that I would continue as President and Chief Operating Officer for awhile in order to ensure a smooth transition and to make certain that the right successor was ready to take the reins. Now, nine months later, I believe that the time is right to step down, and I will be retiring from my enjoyable second career effective September 1.  I will, however, remain a senior advisor, acting as a resource for our leadership team as needed.

The transition to Alterra Mountain Company has gone well, and the advent of the COVID-19 crisis has reinforced my opinion that they are the right next owner for our resort. Working with the team in Denver and alongside the other resorts in their family has been extremely beneficial to us these past several months. I am convinced that we will weather this storm better than if we had gone at it alone.

I am delighted to announce that John Hammond will be stepping into the role of President and Chief Operating Officer effective September 1. Many of you are already well acquainted with John because he has been an integral member of our team over the years. John grew up in Middlebury, Vermont and attended the University of Vermont where he received a BS in Recreation Management. He first worked for Sugarbush in 1991 as a marketing intern while at UVM, later completing a mountain operations internship and eventually joining full time as a ski patroller after college. John’s role has evolved over time from Director of Patrol to his most recent role as Vice President of Mountain Operations and Recreational Services, a position he has held for nearly the past decade. He has held responsibility for our winter mountain operations, Ski & Ride School, daycare, rental and repair programs, and our summer mountain activities. John knows this mountain, its operations, and its guests through and through, and I could not be more excited for and confident in him moving forward.

I want to thank each and every one of you who helped us build Sugarbush Resort into what it is today. I hope that history will remember these past 19 years as having added to the great legacy of Sugarbush, and I am more hopeful that the next 19 years will be even better. John and the entire team at Sugarbush and Alterra Mountain Company will ensure that.

The past two decades here have been incredibly fun and rewarding, and my growing family and I look forward to remaining members of this very special community. We are not planning on leaving the Valley and I cannot wait to watch Sugarbush continue to grow into a better version of itself in the years ahead and for all of you to continue to work to Be Better Here.  

Thank you for the wonderful memories and see you on the mountain this winter.

Win