LES OTTEN
For over four decades, Les has been a leader and entrepreneur in a wide range of pursuits including business, tourism, alternative energy, community development, and philanthropy. Creating business in the ski industry and sports world remains a steady passion for him even today. As influential as Les has been as a businessman, he has done even more for charities including founding two non-profit entities that focus on individuals with disabilities.
ALEX RITCHIE
With over a decade of experience in project development, including project execution, reporting, and management, Alex has played key roles in overseeing multiple large-scale project financings, in addition to cultivating relationships between project entities and local and state officials.
BURT MILLS
After a life-long career designing and constructing ski resorts throughout New England, Utah, California, and Montana, Burt brings a wealth of experience to mountain planning and operations. Born and raised in New England, he has intimate knowledge of the character and expectations of the marketplace.
ED BRISSON
With over 20 years of diverse real estate experience, Ed has played key roles managing the development of major projects including high-rise office buildings in San Diego, Chase Field (home of the Arizona Diamondbacks,) and The Village at Mammoth Lakes in California. A native New Englander, he returned home to lead the development of South Peak at Loon Mountain.
MARK J. MILLER
Mark has most recently consulted for the re-opening and restructuring of the Chukchansi Casino Resorts. He served as the COO, CFO, and Director of Full House Resorts Inc. an owner-operator of four regional casinos with significant management projects for the FireKeepers Development Authority and the Buffalo Thunder Development Authority. He was the COO and the CFO of American Skiing Company. Mark holds a Master’s Degree in Accountancy from Brigham Young University and is a CPA.
MATT YOUNG
Matt has over 30 years of construction and design management experience. He has been a leader in the utilization of construction technologies such as building information modeling (BIM) for over 15 years. His project experience spans the U.S., and his skills are in conceptual estimating, constructability reviews, and identifying best value for owners. Matt loves his wife and 5 kids, enjoys rock & ice climbing, cooking, art, ultra-marathons, camping, skiing (Nordic, alpine, and randonee), fly fishing, hunting, logging, and driving the tractor.
RICH MCGARRY
Rich brings more than 35 years of experience in the ski resort business to the Balsams Redevelopment, including senior leadership roles at Bear Mountain, CA, Sugarbush Resort VT, and Killington Resort VT. He was responsible for leading significant infrastructure improvement projects such as lifts, trails, snowmaking, lodges, and facilities from planning to construction and thorough his career has overseen more than $100MM of improvement projects to date.
MICHELE VARUOLO COLE
Michele began her career in the ski industry. She possesses over 20 years of experience in a diverse range of enterprises in the resort industry including recreation management, golf training equipment, real estate development, and alternative energy systems. Michele brings extensive expertise to The Balsams in form of the administration and set-up of new ventures. Michele is a University of Vermont graduate.
HANNAH CAMPBELL
Originally from Columbia, NH, Hannah graduated from the USAF Academy in 2012 and served overseas as a Logistics Readiness Officer in the USAF. After returning to the area in 2016, she joined The Balsams team in addition to giving her time to nonprofits to benefit Coos County. Hannah offers her logistics & management background and marketing & communications skills to the project. On quiet days, Hannah is often seen on property with her two mastiffs, Lucy and Marley.
CHARLIE SULLIVAN
Charlie brings more than 40 years of extensive hospitality and operational experience to The Balsams team; including senior leadership roles at Sunday River Ski Resort and the American Ski Company. Charlie has played major roles in the building and operational needs of numerous hotels and brings a wealth of experience in resort planning and operations to the Balsams. Charlie is responsible for leading significant projects within the Balsams renovation; being a part of the renovation team and rebirth of the Balsams is an exciting opportunity.
PHILIP GRANT
Philip brings real estate sales and marketing expertise to the Balsams Redevelopment, with more than two decades of proven success leading luxury resort sales programs at global destinations, including The World Residences at Sea and the Four Seasons Hotel & Private Residence in Bangalore, India. Domestic resort sales programs include Aspen, Seattle, Park City, La Quinta in California, The Canyons, Steamboat, Heavenly, and Tremblant in Quebec.
CORALIE STEPANIAN
Coralie oversees our Real Estate Sales Program bringing nearly 30 years of real estate sales experience to the Balsams Team. As a native and lifelong resident of Colebrook, and having worked at the former Balsams Resort as a teenager, she has a longstanding bond with the property and the local community. She is excited to apply her skills and knowledge in serving both. Coralie is a licensed member of the NH Association of Realtors as well as the National Association of Realtors. She joined the Balsams Team in 2015.
JOE CASEY
Joe joined The Balsams team over four years ago, after having spent over twenty years in Sales, Relationship Mgmt., and Account Mgmt. in various industries. Joe is a dedicated professional eager to share our Balsams vision with prospective real estate owners. He is a licensed NH Real Estate Agent, an avid four-season outdoorsman, and loves working and playing in Dixville Notch with his pup Squeeze.
CHRISTOPHER HOWARD, ESQ.
Partner at Pierce Atwood, LLP, Chris leads its Business Practice Group. Former COO at American Skiing Company, he has extensive experience in resort and hospitality development and in complex commercial transactions including capital markets access.
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