Biz to biz

Longtime Copper employees Chris Colman, Bruce Hodson take promotions at resort

Copper Mountain recently announced that Chris Colman has accepted the new position of director of operations and Bruce Hodson has accepted the new position of director of slopes and maintenance.  

Colman will oversee all of the guest-related operations at the resort, including ski patrol, lift operations, transportation, parking and base operations. Colman has been with Copper Mountain since the resort opened in 1972. Most recently, Colman has been serving as the director of village operations. 

Hodson will oversee all of the maintenance functions on the mountain and base area, including slopes and snowmaking, park and pipe, lift and electrical maintenance, vehicle maintenance and the warehouse. He brings 28 years of experience at Copper Mountain, primarily in slope maintenance and base operations. For the past eight years, he has been serving as the manager of slope maintenance and snowmaking. 

Speed networking event comes to Avon Wednesday

The Vail Valley Partnership and Comfort Inn in Avon present Success in 60 Seconds, a speed networking event for busy professionals. Those who attend will meet and exchange business cards with 19 other professionals.

The event is Wednesday from 7 to 9 a.m. The event is free to partners, $25 for non-partners. A continental breakfast will be provided.

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For more information, call Cameron Lowe, 477-4001 or e-mail clowe@visitvailvalley.com.  

Wine-cellar-management company now open in Vail

Jones Wine Cellar Management, LLC is now open for business to sell residential wine cellar technology packages and services to Colorado wine enthusiasts.

Based in Vail, Jones Wine Cellar Management claims to be the first company of its kind in Colorado. Using the latest in home cellar technology, Jones Wine Cellar Management will customize a specific plan for each homeowner’s wine cellar. Additional services include maintenance, collection appraisals, wine advising and other related services, as requested.

Owner Lucas Jones has extensive technology experience in several industries and has recently completed sommelier courses at the International Wine Guild and the International Wine Academy of Rome. For more information, visit www.joneswcm.com or call 688-1886.

Summit Chamber adds Wendy Fellner to office staff

The Summit County Chamber of Commerce recently added Wendy Fellner to its team. Fellner is the new executive office assistant and will be in the reception area Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fellner comes from Green Bay, Wis., where she has spent the past 15 years. She has a strong background in marketing and communications. Fellner and her husband, Tom, moved to Summit County in September. Tom Fellner owns a graphic-design business, Imagine That Design in Frisco.

Eagle Valley Rotary Club hosts career fair Oct. 17

Eagle Valley Rotary Club is hosting its eighth annual career fair in partnership with the Eagle County School District on Oct. 17, at Battle Mountain High School from about 8 to 11 a.m.

The career fair will expose high school students to job opportunities that await them in the real world. Organizers expect the event to bring out more than 600 sophomores, juniors and seniors from Vail Mountain School, Eagle Valley High School and Battle Mountain High School.

Brett Howard becomes new marketing director at the Breckenridge Ski Resort

Breckenridge Ski Resort announced that Brett Howard is the new marketing director. Howard will oversee the resort’s national marketing strategy and business development including national advertising campaigns, sales, online branding and advertising efforts and the resort’s nationally recognized events. As the resort’s senior marketing manager, Howard already is familiar with Breckenridge.

“Brett has performed exceptionally well in his role as senior marketing manager for the past four years,” said Lucy Kay, chief operating officer for Breckenridge Ski Resort. “Brett had been a huge part of our success over the last four years and has what we need to keep moving the business forward.”

Starting in the industry at the age of 14, Howard brings extensive industry knowledge to his new job. In addition to marketing, Howard’s industry background includes retail, purchasing and merchandising experience at Specialty Sports Ventures. As a senior marketing manager for Breckenridge Ski Resort for the past four years, Howard has been responsible for the national advertising campaign, serving as a community liaison and working to develop new initiatives and programs. In addition, he has built an online presence for Breckenridge Ski Resort. He also led the rebranding of the Breckenridge’s Ski & Ride School.

Colorado Ski Country USA hires Kemp as the new communications director

Colorado Ski Country USA, the nonprofit trade association representing 26 Colorado ski and snowboard resorts, announced the appointment of Amy Kemp as communications director.

 With more than 10 years of public relations, marketing and events experience, Kemp joins an experienced team that is focused on sustaining Colorado’s 12-million-skier-visit benchmark achieved in the past two ski and snowboard seasons.

 “The Colorado Ski Country USA team and its 26 member resorts have been instrumental in building a tremendous amount of momentum for the Colorado brand right now,” said organization president and Chief Executive Officer Rob Perlman. “With the addition of Amy to the team, we feel as if we have the right players in place to continue our past success.”

Summit Business Forum now accepting new members

A new business-leads group to be called the Summit Business Forum is forming.

The purpose of the group is to give local businesses an opportunity to highlight their companies and offer their products or services to fellow members. Each member must agree to provide at least one lead to someone else in the group or bring a guest to each meeting.

The Summit Business Forum will meet once a month, and only one member will be allowed in each business category. For information, call Katie Novak during business hours at 970-668-3811. Membership is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Bennett Wetch comes to Active Communications

Bennett Wetch recently joined the staff at the Active Communications store in Dillon. To learn more, call 262-3700.

Nominations now open for Vail Valley Success Awards

Nominations are open for the Vail Valley Success Awards (formerly the Success Connection Awards), to be presented Jan. 25 at the Vail Valley Partnership’s fifth annual Gala at the Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch. The awards recognize best business practices in the Vail Valley for 2007. The deadline for nominations is Monday at 5 p.m.

Completed nomination forms can be returned to the Vail Valley Partnership’s office at 101 Fawcett Road, Suite 240, in Avon’s Traer Creek Plaza. Mailed nomination should be sent to P.O. Box 1130, Vail, CO 81658. E-mail nominations can be sent to sriddleberger@visitvailvalley.com.

Lodging quality program hosts seminar today

The Vail Valley Partnership is holding a seminar today to about the Lodging Quality Assurance program.

The seminar will review how the program’s inspection process works, how to join and what information property managers and homeowners need.

The seminar will run from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Vail Valley Partnership’s office in the Traer Creek Plaza in Avon.

To learn more, call 477-4010.

Gemini Group to hold health care seminar Oct. 17

Does the topic of healthcare give you a headache? The Gemini Group, Inc. will be conducting a workshop to explain current trends in health care and what could work best for your business.

The workshop is set for Oct. 17 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at Vail Valley Partnership office in Traer Creek Plaza in Avon.

For more information, call Cameron Lowe at 477-4001 or send an e-mail to clowe@visitvailvalley.com.

Sales start off strong at the Four Seasons

Sales have started strong at the Four Seasons Resort Vail.

Black Diamond Resorts — Vail LLC, the developers of Four Seasons Residence Club Vail, recently put up for sale a few fractional ownership opportunities. Through this initial release, Four Seasons Residence Club Vail sold approximately 83 percent of the available early release interests, including two-, three- and four-bedroom units, in a matter of weeks. A total of 228 fractional interests will be sold in several limited offerings during construction.

Construction on Four Seasons Resort Vail is underway; demolition and site preparation, including underground utility work, shoring and excavation, are complete. A building permit was recently awarded, enabling the contractor to pour the foundation and begin concrete work.