We are happy to see that Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has announced their selection of Dee Byrne as the new COO and President of SVAM. Byrne will replace the outgoing Ron Cohen, who has returned to Mammoth Mountain. Byrne served most recently as the Vice President of Skier Services at SVAM since 2017, having moved up from a leadership role in ski school and team programs.
It’s good to see that Alterra Mountain Company chose to promote from within, rather than bringing in an outsider. Byrne has a good knowledge of both mountains and their similarities and differences. She is also someone that has lived her life focused on skiing, rather than focused on real estate and “off the mountain” activities. In my experience, Byrne is a great listener and wants to know what people are thinking. She’s also a manager that prefers to be out on the mountain, and not hidden in an office.
Will there be any huge changes with Byrne at the helm? Probably not. The gondola project will not be cancelled. A new name will still be announced for the Valley With No Name, but hopefully not Alpine Meadows. From the skiers and snowboarder’s perspective, we should continue to expect that our mountains will operate as they have the last few years under Ron Cohen’s management. To me, that is the most important detail.
Hopefully, we will make it past the remainder of fire season without a major fire in the Tahoe region. It’s about 99 days until ski season…we look forward to seeing Dee out on the hill.
Would be great if she could tell KSL and Alterra that we don’t need a waterpark in Squaw Valley. But she joined Squaw in 2011, the same year that KSL bought Squaw so………..
#KeepSquawTrue #TahoeTruckeeTrue
Great choice. Solid all around person. Good luck Dee with all the passion surrounding these wonderful mountains.
Looking forward to skiing the big hill after years away
Alpine is the best mountain in Tahoe. And the folks on the hill are part of it too.
Go Dee!
Welcome back Dana!
Would be great if a woman could raise pay for patrolers
40 to 50 bucks an hour plus benefits . It is only 6 months a year.
Once the union process starts it is a you against them mentality and noone is happy.
Resorts have been lucky that such dedicated people try to live their dream as long as they can .Many cannot raise a family or live close to the resort so communiting is necessary.
Danger and physical harm is inevitable.
I read a long blah blah blah about your passion for the mts and your climb to your new position.
Not impressed. Many of us have worked hard and reached financial success.
Not one coo or ceo of a major resort has acknowledged the people on the mt who make it safe for the wealthier
To enjoy and spend to pay outrageous coo salaries.
Maybe a woman would have the brains to make her mt the most sought after not only to ski but to be associated with.
A 30 year lover of the terrain and as long a hater of the
The companie’s greed.