Eastern Board Awards Winners
Your Board of Directors recently decided to take a more active role in identifying and honoring members who have made significant contributions to our organization and industry. During the 23-24 season they formed a Nomination Committee and we began soliciting nominations. The following deserving individuals have been selected for awards.
Community Service
| 2025 | Joe Valley – Pats Peak, NH
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Joe is a 15-year member, with his Snowboard Level III, Freestyle Specialist 1, and CS1 credentials. As the Snowboard and Park Manager at Pats Peak he has been inspiring the regional snowboard community. Joe received several nominations highlighting his dedication to fostering a strong riding community through his weekly clinics, which are open to all instructors from any mountain. These clinics not only emphasize teaching and learning but also building relationships and promoting a positive, growth mindset. Joe’s tireless efforts have created a culture with strong roots, supporting riders and helping them achieve their goals. Joe’s impact goes beyond just teaching; he has brought countless riders into the AASI fold and supported many through the ranks of accreditation. His ability to coach the coaches and provide hands-on feedback is invaluable. Joe’s humility and continuous drive to challenge himself and those around him make him a true leader and an inspiration to all.
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| 2024 | Sandra Milroy – Cataloochee, NC
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Sandie is a 16-year member, with her Alpine Level II, CS2 credentials and she is working toward her Advanced Educator accreditation. As one nominator said:
“Sandie’s influence and impact of excellence and humility provides an ongoing source of inspiration for all who get to know her.” Sandie began her skiing career as an athletic college student in the 1970s, but her early skiing experiences were undisciplined and self-taught. Eventually she realized that professional coaching was a better approach. She moved to Mt. Cranmore where, under the direction of Hans Schneider, she went on to teach cross country, alpine, and even a bit of ski ballet at resorts in North Conway and Jackson, NH. Sandie moved to California during her family years and limited her ski trips to Big Bear. After retiring, Sandie and her husband moved to Maggie Valley, NC in 2006 where she returned to skiing in earnest by becoming a full-time alpine ski instructor at Cataloochee. Encouraged by mentors Katy Knew and Chip Coxe, she joined PSIA and earned her certifications. As one nominator said, “Her lasting impact is the mentoring and learning that flows from her out to our instructors. She bridges gaps between ski school and patrol, lifts and rentals. She has a gravitas that is enviable. It is not uncommon to hear the admiration for her and her enthusiasm for skiing reflected with this phrase, ‘When I am her age, I hope I can remember half of what she knows and have half the energy she does.’” |
| 2024 | Gail Setlock – Gore Mountain, NY
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Gail, a 44year member, is a member of the Eastern Education Staff. Most recently Gail served as the chair of the Eastern Snowsports Management Committee and holds a seat on the National Snowsports Management Committee. Gail began her career in the 1980s at Greek Peak along with many other great educators. As one nominator said, Gail is continually “looking to promote the wild world of snowsports to any and every one…. Gail’s ability to foster growth is unique and cool.” This past year Gail retired as the Snowsports Director at Gore Mountain, and she looks forward to having more time on the road working for PSIA-AASI.
Please be sure to extend hearty congratulations to these winners. And, to all the nominees, congratulations on your nominations and thank you for your dedication to PSIA-AASI. If you know a worthy candidate for one of these awards, visit easternsnowpros.org/eastern-award-nomination-and-selection-process for more information and to submit your nomination.
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Eastern Lifetime Membership
| 2025 | Dave Beckwith Sr. – Mount Southington, CT
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Dave, a 37-year Alpine Level III member, had also dedicated many years to the Eastern Region’s Board of Directors, actively serving as the Governance and Scholarship Committee chairs. A nominator shared, “Ask anybody who works at that mountain and they all respect him. They will all have their own stories about how he has helped them, taught them something or put them in a position to succeed at one point or another. He goes out of his way to be kind, generous, and giving to all the people around him even at an expense to himself. He celebrated his 50th year there last year.” Also sharing that “David was the single reason I was able to continue teaching skiing for the past three years and the reason that I joined the PSIA.” The Eastern Board highlighted his unwavering support for PSIA-AASI and its members through his active involvement on the Board of Directors, as well as his advocacy at his home hill and throughout the region. |
| 2024 | Glenn Cassis – Ski Sundown, CT & National Brotherhood of Snowsports
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Glenn has his Alpine Level 1 certification and is a 25-year member. A person who nominated Glenn shared, “He has expanded the amount of people of color who have been exposed to the sport and who will continue to ski in this region.” Glenn has been leading the Winter Sports Program at Ski Sundown for the past six years. The program is a partnership with the Double Diamond Ski Club, Ski Sundown, Legacy Foundation, YMCA and the Eastern region of the National Brotherhood of Snowsports. Each year the program guides youths, ages 6 – 19-from inner city Hartford County, to learn how to ski, to have discipline, to take responsibility, and how to challenge themselves. “The biggest thing is exposure to something they didn’t think they could do as a kid of color.” Glenn volunteers all his time, organizing the program, providing instruction, and handling issues with parents and partners. For more information about the program see: nbcconnecticut.com/community/ connecticut-in-color/connecticut-incolor-program-changing-the-faces-of-local-skiing-community/2731767 |
| 2024 | Lenny Hurrell – Mount Abram, ME
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Lenny is a 40-year member, an Alpine Level III instructor, and former PSIA Eastern Region Ed Staff employee. As a person who nominated Lenny noted, “Lenny has been a driving force in my own pursuit of education of skiing instruction as well as many others in and around the Mt. Abram community.” Lenny is always working with instructors in the area to learn and grow, then he incorporates that information into his toolbox to enable others to grow with him. The person added, “He is the reason I decided to start my journey in PSIA.”
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National Lifetime Membership
| 2025 | Mickey Sullivan – Hunt Hollow, NY
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Mickey, a dedicated 49-year, Alpine Level III, CS2 certified member, has significantly contributed to PSIA-AASI Eastern Region for over 28 years as a member of the Alpine Education staff. Additionally, he served as the Director of Education and Programs in the Eastern Office for at least 7 years. In his role, Mickey consistently collaborated with the National office to enhance our educational initiatives. Although the National Alignment project was not active during his tenure, Mickey played a pivotal role in fostering examiner exchanges and promoting inter-regional collaboration. His efforts were instrumental in advancing a more consistent and improved assessment process.
One of Mickey’s key accomplishments was his instrumental role in developing a program to increase the representation of Eastern members on the National Team. His vision and support were crucial in achieving this goal, leading to a greater impact on the Eastern staff and members throughout the country. These members have further extended their influence internationally through their efforts at Interski, showcasing Mickey’s lasting legacy in the snow sports community.
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Do you know a special person who has made significant contributions to snowsports instruction, the snowsports industry or to PSIA-AASI and the Eastern Region? Do you want to nominate a fellow member for Eastern or National Lifetime Membership? Here’s how you can do that!
Award Nomination and Selection Process
1. Nomination for all types of member recognition awards must be submitted through the Member Recognition Award Nomination Link.
2. The review committee for submitted nomination forms shall consist of the members of the Eastern Board of Directors (BOD). The committee will be responsible for validating the information on the nomination form. Reference letters will be submitted from nominators and include contact information. After the nominee has been confirmed as valid, the committee will propose the nominee to the BOD.
3. Any member can nominate a member for an award using the Member Recognition Award Nomination Link. Nomination forms and supporting letters of recommendation must be submitted online by February 28th for consideration during the current season. Nominations will be brought to the BOD at the March meeting and candidates will be notified of their award after the meeting.
Here are the criteria for each of the awards:
1. Award – National Life Membership
Criteria: This member must be Level 2 or 3 certified and a member of the organization for a minimum of 20 years. They must be known and respected throughout the Eastern Region and industry for their long-term contributions to education, publication, leadership or volunteerism. Examples would include but not be limited to national board or committee service, term(s) served on a national team or significant contributions to educational materials and publications on a national level. This nomination requires supporting documentation from a minimum of three sources (two of which should be outside their school). This nomination is for the candidate to be considered by the Eastern Region Board of Directors for nomination as the Eastern Region Candidate to be recognized by the PSIA-AASI National Board of Directors for National Lifetime Membership. Only one consideration is given and only one National Lifetime Membership is given each year. (For more information see https://www.thesnowpros.org/who-we-are/awards-recognition/#lifetime_members)
2. Award – Eastern Life Membership
Criteria: The member must have at least 10 consecutive years membership in PSIA-AASI Eastern Region. The nominee should be known and respected throughout the Eastern Region and industry for their long-term commitment to the Region and its members through their contributions to education, publication, leadership or volunteerism. This nomination requires supporting documentation from a minimum of three sources (two of which should be outside their school).
3. Award – Community Recognition Award
Criteria: Open to any certified member who has made a meaningful contribution to a particular region, discipline, community, or group and its members within the Eastern Region. This award recognizes their generosity to their peers and their community in a meaningful way. This includes giving of their time or knowledge. This nomination requires supporting documentation from a minimum of three sources (two of which should be outside their school). Each year, only one Community Recognition Award Recipient will be recognized per discipline and it is not a requirement for any Community Recognition Award Recipients to be chosen in any given year.
4. Award – Honorary Membership
Criteria: This award is intended for someone who is not and has never been a member of the organization but has made significant contributions to the industry or the profession of teaching. (Example would be a supportive area manager, manufacturer’s rep, inventor, author, etc.) This nomination requires supporting documentation from a minimum of three sources (two of which should be outside their school). A maximum of one award per year may be given, and it is not a requirement for Honorary Membership to be awarded in any given year.
To nominate a special person for one of these awards, please use this link:
Member Recognition Award Nomination Link