During routine pre-season maintenance activities at Eaglecrest Ski Area this week, it was discovered that the Black Bear Chairlift has significant mechanical damage that prohibits safe operation of the lift.

Given the age of Black Bear and the extent of the damage, at this time it appears that there is no immediate solution that will allow safe utilization of the lift at the planned opening of the season on December 7, 2024. Eaglecrest guests should plan for delays that could prohibit operation of Black Bear until the 2025/2026 ski season.

The Eaglecrest team, along with its maintenance and engineering contractors, North Country Alpine Services and Superior Tramway, will work to provide options to the Eaglecrest Board of Directors for addressing this issue and a path forward.

In the meantime, the Eaglecrest team will re-direct resources to ensure all pre-season maintenance work on the Ptarmigan, Hooter, and Porcupine lifts is completed to ensure safe operations and maximum availability for the 2024/2025 season.

The Eaglecrest management team and Board of Directors will share updates and details as they become available.

For questions, please contact [email protected].

The Eaglecrest Board of Directors is pleased to announce the selection of Craig Cimmons as the next General Manager of Eaglecrest Ski Area. Cimmons will formally be appointed to the role at a special Eaglecrest Board meeting on Thursday, August 15 at 5:30 pm.

“The Eaglecrest Board is very excited to welcome Craig to the position of General Manager,” said Mike Satre, Eaglecrest Board President. “We had two well qualified finalists for the position and the board feels that Craig will be a welcome addition to the ski area. We all look forward to the contributions Craig will bring to Eaglecrest and the community.”

Cimmons will take up his new role on September 30 to ensure a smooth and successful transition into his first winter season at Eaglecrest.

The General Manager is selected and supervised by the Eaglecrest Board. Following an initial applicant screening by the CBJ Human Resources Department, the Board Human Resources Committee interviewed candidates remotely before selecting two finalists for in-person interviews and assessments. As a finalist, Cimmons took part in a public interview with the full Eaglecrest Board—including a presentation on his view of Eaglecrest’s financial history—and a community meet and greet at the Eaglecrest Lodge. Cimmons will be paid an annual salary of $121,222.

Cimmons is currently employed as the Director of the Ski & Ride School and Community Engagement at Jay Peak Resort in Jay, VT, and he has served in that role since 2012. Additionally, Cimmons’ prior experience includes a variety of roles with ski and snowboarding education and other environmental education and adventure recreation. Cimmons holds a bachelor’s degree in Adventure Recreation from Green Mountain College.

Community is invited to observe and comment on selection process.

After completing a nationwide search, the Eaglecrest Board of Directors has narrowed the pool of candidates for the General Manager position to two finalists. The General Manager finalists will complete a selection process in Juneau on August 1-3, 2024.

The finalists are (in alphabetical order):

Craig Cimmons
Mr. Cimmons is currently employed as the Director of the Ski & Ride School at Jay Peak Resort in Jay, VT, and he has served in that role since 2012. Additionally, Mr. Cimmons’ prior experience includes a variety of roles with ski and snowboarding education and other environmental education and adventure recreation. Mr. Cimmons has a bachelor’s degree in Adventure Recreation from Green Mountain College.

Julie Jackson Piper
Ms. Piper is currently employed as the Recreation Manager for the City of Richland, WA, and she has served in that role since 2018. Additionally, her prior experience includes being the Aquatics Manager for the City and Borough of Juneau and Youth & Community Outreach Coordinator & Snowsports School Supervisor at Eaglecrest. Ms. Piper has a Bachelor of Science in Ski Area Business Management from Northern Michigan University.

The finalists for the Eaglecrest General Manager position will be in town for the Eaglecrest board meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 1^st at 5:30 at the Eaglecrest Lodge. On Friday August 2^nd, the public is invited to attend the interviews which will be held at 1:30pm and 3:30 pm in the Assembly Chambers.

There will be two interviews, each starting in open public session, approximately halfway through each interview, the Eaglecrest Board will recess into Executive Session for the remainder of the interview. The board will then return into open session for the next interview. Each interview process will begin with a 10-minute presentation on the finalist’s view of Eaglecrest financial history followed by a series of questions concluding with board/finalist interaction.

The public will have the opportunity to interact with the finalists on Saturday, August 3rd at a public meet and greet to be held at the Eaglecrest Lodge from 10 am to noon.  The public is encouraged to submit comments regarding the finalists to the board via email at [email protected]

The Eaglecrest Board will hold a special board meeting starting at 5:30 pm on August 5^th at the Eaglecrest Lodge and will go into executive session to consider finalists.

An announcement of the new general manager will occur once an offer has been made and accepted.

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CONTACT INFO: Dallas Hargrave, Human Resources/Risk Management Director, [email protected], 907-586-0225.