LAKEWOOD, Colorado – The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) has appointed longtime Ski California President Mike Reitzell as their new President and Chief Executive Officer. Reitzell has been in the ski industry for over 20 years, nine of which were spent as President of Ski California.
“Mike’s passion for the ski industry and his impressive achievements on behalf of Ski California make him the perfect fit for this role. Mike has consistently demonstrated his commitment to the industry through innovative programs and a collaborative approach, which have elevated Ski California to new heights. We look forward to the positive impact he will have on the national stage as he brings his strategic vision and leadership to NSAA.” – Chip Seamans, NSAA Board Chair and Hiring Committee Leader.
Reitzell will be responsible for government relations, lobbying activities, public relations, research, financial management, member education, administration and more as the new President and CEO.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to be the next leader of NSAA and also incredibly excited about the future and what the NSAA team and our member resorts will be able to accomplish together. It has been my honor to lead Ski California, and I’m immensely proud of what our member resorts in California and Nevada have accomplished.” – Mike Reitzell
Reitzell was an attorney for 14 years in San Francisco and Lake Tahoe before becoming President of Ski California. He grew up skiing, starting when he was five, and serving as the captain of his ski team for USC. His start date will be determined based on transition time to bring in a new leader to Ski California.
Ski California Statment:
“Although we’re sad to see Mike leave Ski California, our board and 36 member resorts are exceedingly proud that his departure is only coming because he’s been elevated into an even bigger role that supports our entire industry. During his tenure, Mike has made an indelible impact on our organization. He is directly responsible for guiding the development of our award-winning Mountain Safety Guide and making it easy for all of us to share a universal safety message with our guests, advancing continuing education efforts for our teams with the Lift Maintenance and Operations Education (LMOE) Conference, and supporting our industry through advocacy at all levels of government. While we’ll miss Mike, we are excited that we still get to work with him at NSAA. Our board will soon begin the search process to identify the next person to lead Ski California. Until that person is in place, Mike will continue to lead the organization through this transition.” – Tom Fortune, Ski California board chair and former Vail Resorts VP and COO Heavenly and Tahoe Region