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SESSIONS 1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Climate Change Solutions:
Tuesday, April 30 We’re Gonna Need Them All
10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Join the Movement on Carbon Pricing
National Forest Management & the USFS / & Decarbonizing the Grid
Ski industry Partnership Moderated by Jim MacInnes, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer,
James Hubbard, Under Secretary for Natural Resources Crystal Mountain, MI
& Environment, USDA Mark Reynolds, Executive Director, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, CA
Overseeing the Forest Service and the 193 million acres it There’s no silver bullet when it comes to climate change solutions—
manages for the benefit of present and future generations, Jim we’re going to need them all. Here, Mark Reynolds will clarify how
Hubbard has a vision of how the agency will continue to sustain the bipartisan Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act works,
the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests. In why we need to support it, and the role this market-based solution
this session he will highlight the benefits anticipated from NEPA has in driving change toward a clean energy economy. Our specialist
and process streamlining for the recreation sector, the Farm Bill’s from the clean energy sector will speak to the seismic shift underway
Administrative Sites leasing authority, and the implementation of within the US electricity grid and opportunities areas have to partner
meaningful forms and forest management tools that will help us with their utilities. Jim MacInnes, former electrical power engineer
better maintain the national forests. Hubbard has developed an and Crystal Mountain CEO and co-owner, will moderate this session,
appreciation for the ski industry-USFS partnership, including its shaping the discussion towards practical actions resorts can take to
significance to rural communities and its role in shared steward- help green the grid and support the transformation of our nation’s
ship. All public land resort owners and operators should attend energy system. Ski area leaders and personnel can’t afford to miss
this informative session. this “dynamic trio” on climate change solutions.

Build Better Teams & Improve the Guest Experience The Intersection of Travel & Technology
by Overcoming Unconscious Bias Traci Mercer, Senior Vice President, Global Lodging,
Laura Moriarty, Principal, Tahoe Training Partners Ground & Sea, Sabre Travel Network
Is it possible that resort leaders and team members uncon- Technology has changed virtually every aspect of our lives—at work,
sciously demonstrate a preference for certain guest and at home, and on the road when we travel. From the 1950s when elec-
employee demographics, welcoming some and subtly or tronic storage for airline seat assignments came online to the launch
even overtly discouraging others? Unconscious bias affects of hotel websites in 1994, most of the so-called advances were oper-
activities from the marketing of our resorts to ensuring that ational or amenity based. With the start of Online Travel Agencies
team members are willing and able to deliver on the resort’s (OTAs) like Expedia and Travelocity in 1996, the travel space has
brand promise. This session will explore motivated reasoning been one of the breeding grounds for true innovation and spectac-
and how people make, and sometimes act on, snap judgments ular change in how people research, purchase, and share their travel
driven by social filters and hidden biases without any conscious experiences. Now, in 2019, no one is more at the forefront of where
intention. Learn how to assess your guest demographics and and how technology is driving current and future changes than
how you recruit, hire, train, and consider team members for Sable Travel Network. Traci Mercer will share insights, strategies, and
promotion. Also gain tools to uncover potential conscious or takeaways for you to better understand and take advantage of how
unconscious biases in your resort's public spaces that affect technology is impacting travel for guests of all ages and incomes.
harmony and inclusion.
3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Return to the Core Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires: A Guide to Ski
Danielle Kristmanson, Principal + Creative Director, Area Wildfire Planning & Mitigation
Origin Design + Communications Moderated by Heidi Ruckriegle, Senior Associate, Wilmer Hale
M-J Legault, Partner/Strategic Planning Director, Tim Hendrickson, Senior Vice President | Program Manager,
Origin Design + Communications MountainGuard
For years, our industry has been focused on attracting and retaining John Kelly, Director of Operations, Taos Ski Valley, NM
new skiers and riders, and taking the “edge” out of our marketing Annie Rosenfeld, Director of Risk Management & Real Property,
to present our sports as accessible to everyone. Has our pursuit Tahoe Donner, CA
of the masses alienated our core? Why do we think we can do In recent years, climate change has dramatically increased the
what no other industry would dare—fail to engage its most avid frequency and intensity of wildfires in the American west. This
customers? Hear tales from the trenches and learn why engaging uptick in fire activity comes as many ski areas have expanded
our most avid guests may be more important to our businesses their summer operations. That means that in addition to physical
than we think. damage inflicted by wildfires, ski areas have to worry about the

C16 | NSAA JOURNAL | CONVENTION 2019