This story has been updated with additional information.
Two finalists to be the new general manager of Eaglecrest Ski Area are scheduled to be interviewed next week in a process that will be partially open to the public, the resort’s board of directors announced Thursday evening.
The finalists were selected after a nationwide search to replace Dave Scanlan, who resigned at the request of the board effective June 1 after serving in the position for seven years. His resignation resulted in protests by many employees and users of the city-owned ski area, as well as concerns turmoil at the top management level would disrupt preparations for the upcoming ski season and longer-term planning.
The finalists were announced at a Thursday meeting by Eaglecrest’s board members sitting as the Human Resources Committee.
“The position has been posted since the beginning of June,” Hannah Shively, a board member, said before the board went into executive session. “And we waited until the beginning of July to consider our applications. We were able to interview a number of applicants that we felt were most qualified. And that’s been taking place over the course of July and including interviewing new candidates as as they came.”
According to a statement read following the executive session and published online Friday morning, the two finalists are:
• Craig Cimmons: Currently the director of the Ski & Ride School at Jay Peak Resort in Jay, Vermont, where he has served in that role since 2012. His previous experience includes a variety of roles with ski and snowboarding education, and other environmental education and adventure recreation. He has a bachelor’s degree in adventure recreation from Green Mountain College.
• Julie Jackson Piper: Currently employed as the recreation manager for the City of Richland, Washington, and she has served in that role since 2018. Her prior experience includes being the aquatics manager for the City and Borough of Juneau, and youth and community outreach coordinator at Eaglecrest, and snowsports school supervisor at the ski resort. She has a Bachelor of Science in ski area business management from Northern Michigan University.
Interviews and meet-and-greets with the two candidates are scheduled Aug. 1-3, according to the board’s announcement. Both are scheduled to attend a meeting of the board of directors at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 1 at Eaglecrest Lodge. They will then be interviewed at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Aug. 2 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 statement published Friday notes. “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.”
A meet-and-greet with the finalists is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 3 at Eaglecrest Lodge.
“The Eaglecrest Board will hold a special board meeting starting at 5:30 pm on August 5th at the Eaglecrest Lodge and will go into executive session to consider finalists,” the announcement notes. It adds “an announcement of the new general manager will occur once an offer has been made and accepted.”
Public comments about the finalists can be submitted to the board via email at eaglecrestboard@juneau.gov.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
