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Peter Rietz Teddy Schiavoni
President Chairman
Rietz Law Firm National Ski & Snowboard Retailers Assoc
Peter Rietz has successfully tried high Teddy Schiavoni entered the snowsports
exposure cases in state and federal court. industry in 1988, working in retail sales.
His practice emphasis is ski industry, Since then his roles in the industry have
water sports industry and sports-related included sales representative, product
litigation. He also handles commercial, development, go-to market strategist,
construction-related, transportation, and B2B and B2C development, ownership,
general negligence matters. Before starting the Rietz Law Firm in and service on numerous industry councils. Currently, Schiavoni
2000, he was a partner at White and Steele PC. He is a founding is the chairman of the board for NSSRA, holds a seat on the
board member of the Association of Ski Defense Attorneys, serving product council of SMC (Snowsports Merchandising Council), and
as president in 1990-91. He has also been involved in numerous serves as a voice for retailers on several SIA committees. His vast
legislative efforts on behalf of the sports industry. Rietz served for 13 experience throughout the wholesale and retail channels over the
years as special counsel for NSAA and has recently been appointed past 30 years make him a uniquely qualified and trusted advisor to
general counsel for the Water Sports Industry Association. His retailers, suppliers, and trade associations, globally.
consulting includes working with Colorado Ski Country USA; US Ski
& Snowboard Association; Professional Ski Instructors of America; Rick Schmitz
National Ski Patrol; Colorado River Outfitters Association; and the Partner
International Mountain Biking Association. Rietz is a founding board Schmitz Brothers Resorts, WI
member of the Sporting Goods Manufacturer’s legal committee. Rick Schmitz took his passion for skiing
and purchased Nordic Mountain Ski Area
Mike Russo in central Wisconsin in 2005 at the age of
Risk/Safety/Legal Senior Manager 22. He took the small struggling resort and
Copper Mountain Resort, CO transformed it into a successful operation.
Mike Russo has worked part-time and Building on that success, and with his
full-time in the ski industry for the past brothers joining the team, Schmitz re-opened Little Switzerland in
30 years. Now the senior risk manager 2012 and purchased Rock Snow Park in 2017, both in the Milwaukee
at Copper Mountain Resort, he has held metro area. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and
positions as both a patroller and as an two young children. His favorite family activity: skiing.
instructor. Originally from the Northeast,
his prior “real” job was as a medical researcher and litigation paralegal Chip Seamans
for a Boston law firm. Russo enjoys finding unique ways to keep the President/General Manager,
industry safe. During the summer he can be found pedaling throughout Windham Mountain Resort, NY
the Rocky Mountain dirt or twisting the throttle on long enduro moto Chip Seamans has been the president
rides. Future plans include keeping up with his two children. and general manager of Windham
Mountain Resort since September 2011.
Jay Scambio He began his ski industry career in 1987
President/General Manager as a ski patroller at Sunday River, Me.
Loon Mountain Resort, NH For the next 16 years his roles at Sunday
Jay Scambio has been working in the River included patrol director, vice president of mountain operations,
ski industry for nearly 20 years, starting and four years as the managing director. In 2003 he joined Willis/
as a snowboard instructor at Loon MountainGuard in Portsmouth, New Hamp., as vice president of claims
Mountain Resort, then moving on to and loss control. He moved with his family to California in 2006 as the
other operations at the resort, primarily GM/COO of Kirkwood. After five years of Tahoe powder, Seamans
focused on managing its world-class moved back east to Windham. Graduating from Allegheny College
terrain park program. Scambio most recently oversaw all terrain in 1980, he began his professional career with Pennzoil working
parks, snowsports, and adventure sport operations as the director nationwide in specialty petroleum products. He was also employed
of mountain sport development for Boyne Resorts before taking the in outdoor education and professional development with Hurricane
reins at Loon Mountain. In addition to his role within Boyne Resorts, Island Outward Bound School in remote areas of Maine. Seamans
he is an active member in NSAA, working intricately with several has served on the boards of the California Ski Areas Association and
committees and focus groups to improve terrain park, snowsports, Ski Areas of New York as well as on NSAA’s Education Committee.
and mountain bike operations at resorts nationwide. He spends as much time as possible outdoors with his wife, Wendy,
and his college age children, Mattie and Malcolm.

C30 | CONVENTION 2018 | NSAA JOURNAL