This is a developing story.
Eaglecrest Ski Area General Manager Dave Scanlan has resigned at the request of the board of directors following his annual performance evaluation that was completed this week, the board’s president said Thursday.
The reason Scanlan was asked to resign is confidential due to rules about personnel, said Eaglecrest Board Chair Mike Satre.
“At the meeting yesterday Dave was asked for and submitted his resignation, and we’re working on the transition going forward,” Satre said.
Scanlan, in an interview Thursday morning, said the request “came as a complete shock to me.” He said his resignation after seven years as the ski area’s general manager is effective June 3.
“When I applied to take on the general manager position the board was looking for a hands-on working manager with the vision to expand into summer operations, and ensure the reliability of winter operations in the face of ongoing climate change and variable weather patterns,” he said, reading from a statement he prepared. “Over the last seven years I have dedicated my life to this mission and I believe I have accomplished exactly this.
“The current board has a desire to find a more office-process, paper-oriented general manager to lead the mountain through this next period. It has been a complete honor to lead the great team at Eaglecrest and provide consistent operations for the passionate users of Eaglecrest.”
Scanlan, who is now considering his long-term options, said that by resigning he will be eligible to return to lead or assist training at the resort for its snowmaking operations during the next winter season.
“I hope this offer will help Eaglecrest users have confidence that there’ll be snow on the mountain, which will sustain season pass sales while Eaglecrest goes through this transitionary period,” he said. “My wife and I have fallen deeply in love with Juneau and Eaglecrest ski area, and I feel I feel this will be one way I can continue to show the community and the users that my dedication to Eaglecrest has not wavered.”
Erin Lupro, Eaglecrest’s director of snowsports school, rental, retail and repair, has been appointed interim general manager, according to a press released issued by Eaglecrest’s board on Thursday.
“Erin is, I believe, our most senior staff member on the senior management team and it’s just natural that she would be the interim,” Satre said, adding the board hopes to select a new permanent general manager before the winter ski season.
Scanlan was hired in 2017 to manage the ski area owned by the City and Borough of Juneau, after working as the general manager of Mt. Abram in Maine since 2013.
According to a news release at the time of Scanlan’s hiring, before moving to Main he lived in Hope, Alaska, where he owned and operated Glacier Dyeworks, a company specializing in tie-dye clothing. He also co-founded Mountain Rider’s Alliance, an organization that is focused on supporting small and community ski areas.
Eaglecrest is going through a significant transition to expand its summer operations, including plans to open a gondola by the summer of 2026.
“The Eaglecrest board is 100% committed to ensuring that we have the ability to provide recreational opportunities, both winter and summer for our residents primarily, as well as our visitors,” Satre said. “We’re committed to the vision of summer operations and looking forward to working with our partners to get the gondola project finished and up and running in the next few years. And that’s our main goal.”
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
