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Connect with Your Staff through Engaging

Orientation and Onboarding Techniques

BY KELLY PAWLAK , NSAA PRESIDENT

hen I was working at Mount Snow, VT, me, “Orientation is a fun time of year because I like to
I always looked forward to orientation. connect with staff and it is Stowe’s opportunity to set
I especially liked seeing the return- the tone. We like to share who we are as a company.”
Wing staff; it’s kind of like homecoming To better understand how ski areas are approaching
week. Orientation was one of the most important things orientation and onboarding of staff, I talked to several
I participated in, and is one of the most crucial parts industry leaders from all regions of the country. Most
to having a successful season. For the purpose of this resorts are very similar in their approach, but I also
article, we will focus on orientation for the winter sea- discovered that while some ski areas have a lot of expe-
son, the function of which usually involves onboarding rience with orientations, others are just getting started
a large group of employees from multiple departments. or have recently refreshed their orientation process.
Orientation is a vitally important process for any ski In this article, and on the NSAA website, you’ll find
area. As Bobby Murphy, Vice President and General a collection of tactics and best practices to help you
Manager at Stowe Mountain Resort, VT, shared with design a successful orientation for all of your staff.

52 | NSAA JOURNAL | SUMMER 2019