Colorado Ski Country USA Announces Awards for Ski Industry Professionals

Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) announced the winners of its 2024-25 Double Diamond Awards in front of an audience of industry leaders and partners at its annual meeting held June 5^th at Infinity Park in Glendale, CO. The Double Diamond Awards, sponsored by Leitner-Poma, honor the men and women behind the snow, those who dedicate their seasons to making Colorado winter sports both safer and filled with fun.

"Colorado’s snowsports thrive because of the remarkable individuals we honor at our Double Diamond Awards,” said CSCUSA President and CEO Melanie Mills. “Along with our sponsor Leitner-Poma, we applaud the pros whose talent, creativity, and drive make every day on the hill special."

CSCUSA and its 21 member resorts are proud to present the winners of the Double Diamond Awards for the 2024-25 season:

Aspen Snowmass

Instructor of the Year: Jennifer Weier

A second-generation ski industry “brat”, Jenn grew up in Wisconsin, skiing Mt. Hardscrabble. When she journeys west each winter, Jenn pinches herself as she thinks about what her job is and where she works. A registered nurse, longtime PSIA National Team member, and Aspen’s Alpine Certification Training lead, Jenn brings empathy, clarity, and unmatched skills to her work, shaping not only great skiers but great teachers and teammates.

Copper Mountain

Groomer of the Year: James "Jim-Bob" Arnold

With a career that began at Copper in 1980, this year’s honoree has helped shape mountain operations across the country, from Killington to Stowe to Whitetail in Pennsylvania. After a brief run with his family’s telephone company, Jim-Bob returned to what he calls “the job I love most” at Copper. His engineering expertise, commitment to early season performance, and willingness to do the tough jobs first, make him a legend in grooming. Whether it’s snowcats, CDL hauls, or just lifting morale, he’s always all in.

Eldora Mountain Resort

Terrain Park Specialist of the Year: Cole Brantner

From childhood dreams of snowcats to building Eldora’s most impressive jump line yet, Cole has carved his own path in the world of terrain parks. A regular rider in the park he helps design and create, Cole loves his job because he understands just how much joy he can generate using his imagination, his tools, and his crew. With versatility, vision, and a team-first mindset, he’s shaping the next generation of riders and park builders.

Monarch Mountain

Food and Beverage Professional of the Year: Kristin Mueller

Ten years ago, Kristin traded a corporate career for what was supposed to be one short winter in Colorado and never looked back. She’s worked nearly every F&B role at Monarch, revamped the resort’s menu, and stepped into leadership with grace and grit during times of transition. Kristin loves her colleagues, she loves her customers, and she loves her mountain. Her warm hospitality, signature cocktails, and uncanny ability to remember guests by name have made the Monarch sidewinder Saloon a beloved gathering spot.

Purgatory Resort

Guest Services Professional of the Year: JR Spies

After a childhood spent skiing with his dad and 3 younger brothers and a brief stint slaloming between corporate gigs, JR returned to the mountains—this time to lead. Now the guest services manager at Purgatory, he rebuilt his department from the ground up, creating a development system that fosters excellence and elevates the guest experience—because JR knows that you never have a second chance to make a first impression. With warmth, wisdom, and the wherewithal to ensure that every visit is the best it can be, JR proves that every day at Purgatory is, indeed, a helluva good time.

Winter Park Resort

Patroller of the Year: Mike Cravens

From a childhood spent skiing Winter Park to managing the very patrol he once admired, Mike—whose father was a Winter Park ski instructor—embodies giving back to his home mountain. He brings calm to chaos and strength to his team, and his past stints as a summer lift operator and snowmaker give him insight from every corner of resort operations. His leadership during the season’s high-stake situations underscored how vital ski patrol is to a resort’s success.

Snowmaker of the Year: Pauly Borichevsky

Pauly has been making snow for nearly a decade, and he knows that snow is the lifeblood of any ski resort, it’s what brings guests in and keeps them coming back, year after year. This season, the Winter Park snowmaking team completed a massive, multi-year system upgrade, and Pauly brought all the grit, grace, and strategy he’s known for to the job. Although his work takes him to breathtakingly beautiful heights, for Pauly, the ultimate reward isn’t the spectacular views. It’s knowing that, thanks to him and his crew, the season started early and started strong.

President's Award: Jeff Hanle

The Colorado Ski Country USA President’s Award honors those whose work leaves a lasting mark on our association and the industry. This year’s recipient, the recently retired Jeff Hanle, has spent 25 years as Aspen Snowmass’s vice president of communications, turning every curveball—from wildfires to celebrity antics—into a story worth sharing. More than a spokesperson, he’s been a strategist, a collaborator, and a generous mentor to the next generation of PR pros, strengthening Colorado Ski Country USA’s collective voice along the way. As Hanle himself might say, “you can’t swing a dead cat around here” without meeting someone touched by his work.

Chair's Award: Scott Fitzwilliams

This year’s Chair’s Award goes to Scott Fitzwilliams, recently retired supervisor of the White River National Forest. For more than 15 years, Scott oversaw 2.3 million acres and 11 ski areas, balancing recreation, conservation, and community. His initiatives—from the Front Country Ranger Program to workforce-housing leases and wildfire recovery—set a new benchmark for collaborative stewardship. Colorado Ski Country USA is proud to honor his 34-year Forest Service career and the enduring bond he forged between Colorado’s people, its landscapes, and its ski culture.