Annual Meeting sessions

Home 2026 Annual Meeting Sessions

The Colorado Ski Country USA Annual Meeting & Double Diamond Awards has been bringing together industry professionals, business leaders, community partners, stakeholders, and decision-makers for over 60 years.

Join us for exceptional education and expanded networking opportunities—and, this year, an opportunity to hear from the top candidates for Colorado governor before the June primary.

This page is updated regularly. Come back soon!

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9:00–9:15 | Welcome + Year-in-Review

9:15–10:00 | Keynote Address

Perseverance, Perspective & the Season That Tested Us
Michael Steger, Founding Director, Center for Meaning & Purpose, CSU

Michael Steger’s research on how people flourish through building meaning, purpose, and integrating wellbeing across human and organizational systems has made him a leading global authority in the field.

This session is sponsored by Get Ski Bots.

10:00–10:15 | General Business Meeting

10:30–1:00 | Meet the 2026 Gubernatorial Candidates

Size up the top candidates from each party before the June primary. Each candidate will be allotted 30 minutes.

1:00–1:45 | Lunch

1:45–2:45 | Breakout Session I

Signal, Story, Scale: How to Amplify What’s Working in MarComms
featuring Chris Raulf & Daniel Burns, Boulder SEO Marketing

AI is changing how people discover, remember, and repeat information about ski areas, including narratives that are outdated, incomplete, or no longer true. Attendees will get a practical look at how resort teams can use AI, earned media, and owned channels to strengthen visibility, refresh stale storylines, and move into next season with a clearer, more current message.

NEPA: Navigating Major Changes to Process
featuring Dale Ratliff, Williams Weese Pepple & Ferguson

3:00–4:00 | Breakout Session II

Workforce Optimization: Lessons from the Field
featuring Josh Benson & Julian DePasquale, Purgatory Resort; Malcom Seamans, Snow Operating; Kelly Renoux, Copper Mountain; and Ben Cairns, Colorado Mountain College

Hear real-world perspectives on staffing, scheduling, employee experience, and long-term workforce development, along with practical ideas resorts can use to build stronger teams and improve day-to-day operations.

Workforce Safety: Understanding Today’s OSHA Priorities
moderated by Dave Byrd, NSAA, and featuring Bec Bale, Copper Mountain; Covey Morris, POWDR; Joshua Klevans, Safehold SPORTS; and Rob Goodell, Loveland Ski Area

Please note that this session is by invitation only.

This session is sponsored by Safehold SPORTS.

4:15–5:15 | General Session

Shifting Appetites: Trends Reshaping Resort F&B
featuring Matt Gacioch, Brewers Association & Liz Moskow, Bread & Circus Future Food Advisory

Guests are thinking differently about what they eat and drink on the mountain. This panel will explore the food and beverage trends ski areas should be watching, the behaviors behind them, and what they may mean for resort F&B.

5:30–7:00 PM | Double Diamond Awards & Reception

Please follow this walking map to Rooftop1630, located at 1630 Welton Street, where we’ll celebrate this season’s superstars!