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our business through our guest’s eyes and anticipate and ful-
fill our guest’s needs before the need even arises, keeping
in mind the guest is not always right—but they are always
our guest. A few guiding principles that worked pretty
Bob well during my time at Deer Valley: never compromising

our values and ethics, recognizing we can never be all
Wheaton things to all people, and being proud of the resort experi-
ence we offer.
Bob’s favorite band/musician: “George Strait, if I had
to just pick one. Guess it kinda fits with the whole ranch,
horse, cowboy stuff….”

Some people are known for their service and involvement
in a variety of roles and causes, and Bob Wheaton is one
of them.
Originally from Michigan, Wheaton is a graduate of Tim
Macomb College and has been a certified ski instructor since
1976. He joined Deer Valley in 1981 and has held a variety
of positions with the resort, being appointed general manager Mueller
in 1988, vice president of operations in 1989, and president
in 1997.
In addition to his responsibilities at the resort, Wheaton
is very active in community organizations, including being
a past member and president of the board of directors for
the Park City Chamber and Visitor’s Bureau; president of Tim and Diane Mueller started out as the “young new
the Intermountain Ski Areas Association Board of Directors; owners of Okemo” and 36 years later are the proverbial
and member of the Executive Committee and two-time past ski industry power couple. The Muellers successfully built
president of the Utah Ski Association. He also has served on a premier Northeastern ski destination, then added sev-
the Board of Governors for the Salt Lake Area Chamber of eral other resorts to build their company, Triple Peaks.
Commerce and the Utah Symphony and Opera. They did this while raising their two children, Ethan and
Erica, whose level of passion for the ski business matches
“I have been very fortunate to be involved their own.
The Muellers weren’t seasoned ski area operators when
with a team of people that consistently they purchased the controlling interest of Okemo, a com-
munity-owned ski area in Ludlow back in 1982. Together,
perform at the highest level” —BOB WHEATON they developed Okemo Mountain into a premier four-season

resort and purchased Sapphire Beach Resort, in the Virgin
Wheaton received the Outstanding Contribution Award Islands, in 1987. Subsequently, they also brought Mount
from the Intermountain Ski Areas Association and was Sunapee Resort into the family in 1998 and Crested Butte
awarded Park City Rotary Club’s Professional Citizen of the Mountain Resort in 2004.
Year. In 2011, he was inducted into the Utah Tourism Hall Tim’s memberships and affiliations include serving as
of Fame and also serves on the Olympic Legacy Board. In chairman of the Vermont Business Roundtable and as a
January 2019, Wheaton became the senior strategic advisor member of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Vermont
for the Alterra Mountain Company. Electric Consumers Coalition, and NSAA. He was also chair
Bob’s words of wisdom: “Over the years, I have been of the Vermont Ski Areas Association and served on the
very fortunate to be involved with a team of people that board of Colorado Ski Country.
consistently perform at the highest level, and it’s always Diane was the chair of the Vermont State Board of
been my charge to respect that, guide gently, and con- Education and a trustee at Champlain College in Burlington.
gratulate good performance. We have tried to look at She founded the Okemo Community Challenge, which

34 | NSAA JOURNAL | CONVENTION 2019