Board of Directors

The member representatives who set Eastern’s direction and oversee its finances.

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Governance

Meet the Eastern Board

Our Board of Directors governs PSIA-AASI Eastern using a Policy Governance® model, setting organizational policies and strategic direction and providing oversight of the CEO. Use the menu below to view the Board and its committees.

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Marc Angelillo

Eastern Board At Large

Home Resort or School Sugarbush & Stowe VT MA work

About Me | Show Notes

About Me

I’m a 40 year veteran / member with PSIA / AASI in addition to have been a seasoned Sales Rep in the Ski industry for 25 yrs. and I’m currently a Surf Industry Sales Rep throughout New England.

I love teaching, coaching, running camps, inspiring and working with all guest and my private clients in all disciplines too.

I am a PSIA/AASI Alpine L3, children’s specialist L2, freestyle specialist L1 and Snowboard specialist L1 and thoroughly enjoy spreading positive energy while training other instructors too.

I am excited to be working in the Ski & Snowboard staff at both Sugarbush & Stowe, Vt

Notes

Do you have any skills or talents that most people don’t know about?	I Ski and Surf about the same number of days or sessions a year ie) 100-150 for the last decade 😉
What was your first job in the snowsports industry?	Working retail sales during high school in a ski shop 2–3 days a week

Kathleen Brennan

PSIA-AASI Eastern CEO PSIA-AASI Eastern Office

Resort Address Waterville Valley NH postal

About Me | Show Notes

About Me

In October 2021 I stepped into my dream job as CEO of PSIA-AASI Eastern Region. The culmination of a life-long passion for snowsports, an early career in financial services and consulting, and a later career in seasonal business, this job was tailormade for me, and I’m loving every minute of it. I hope to connect with you as I travel around to understand how we may better serve our membership.

Notes

Where is the first place you participated in snowsports?	Blandford Ski Area
What was your first job in the snowsports industry?	Ski Instructor
What is a valuable lesson you learned in your snowsports career?	People skills developed as a snowsports instructor are vital to success no matter where your career takes you.
What activities do you enjoy, when you’re not out on the snow?	Golf, cycling, and gardening.
What would be your personal motto?	If a task is once begun never leave it ’til it’s done. Be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all.

Katie Brinton

Alpine Examiner Eastern Board Chair/President

Home Resort or School Okemo VT work

About Me | Show Notes

About Me

Katie is an alpine examiner and Eastern Board Chair of the PSIA-AASI-East board of directors based in southern Vermont.

Notes

What is an interesting fact about you?	I’m a proud theatre geek. My undergraduate degree is in Joint Honours Drama and English, and I once played Hamlet in a production of Hamlet at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
What jobs do you do – within and outside the snowsports industry, both winter & summer?	I’m an editor at Ski Area Management magazine and its sister publication, Adventure Park Insider. In the winter, I am also a staff trainer and instructor at Okemo Mountain.
Where is the first place you participated in snowsports?	Okemo—so things have come rather full circle from that first day on the Ski-Wee slope.
What was your first job in the snowsports industry?	Like many before me, I started as a children’s instructor (ages 3-6). Those first seasons involved a lot of hard work and hot cocoa, but there is nothing like ripping glades with a pack of 5 year olds.
What activities do you enjoy, when you’re not out on the snow?	Reading, mountain biking, dog walking, hiking, swimming, water skiing, writing, crosswords, Jeopardy.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grow up?	Veterinarian, actress, astronaut, singer, zoo keeper. I ran the gamut of childhood aspirations.

Julianna Collins

Eastern Board Member

Home Resort or School Wachusett Mountain MA work

Show Notes

Notes

What jobs do you do – within and outside the snowsports industry, both winter & summer?	During the winter, I am a part-time snowboard instructor and staff trainer at Wachusett Mountain. I do also work full time in Medical Imaging, Clinical Trial services. I’ve been working in both professions since 2009.
Where is the first place you participated in snowsports?	My first exposure to snowsports was at Ski Ward in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. I was about 6 or 7 years old and my Dad woke me up earlier than normal to play “hookie” from school. I took my first ski lesson and skied through high school.
What was your first job in the snowsports industry?	Working behind the ski school desk on college winter break. I did that for 2 years and learned how to snowboard during that time.
Where is your favorite place to ski or ride?	Jay Peak
What goal would you like to accomplish in the next year?	Being closer to attaining my level 3 AASI certification
What goal would you like to accomplish in the next five years?	Attaining my level 3

Benjamin DeBenedictis

Alpine Examiner Eastern Board Member

About Me

Being a snow sports instructor is a way of life that I have deeply enjoy. I feel most at home when I am in the mountains of New England. Honing skills and learning alongside the PSIA always keeps me motivated.

Landon Figg

Eastern Board Secretary

Home Resort or School Wintergreen VA work

Show Notes

Notes

What is an interesting fact about you?	I’ve been swimming in the Gulf of Finland – a very, very brief swim!
What jobs do you do – within and outside the snowsports industry, both winter & summer?	I’m a health coach with jecoaching.com where we help women learn to live happy, lean and free over 40. I also have a landscape design company.
Where is the first place you participated in snowsports?	The Homestead Resort in Virginia under the famous Austrian Sepp Kober.
What was your first job in the snowsports industry?	Teaching kiddos on the rope tow! Went through a lot of gloves!
Where is your favorite place to ski or ride?	Telluride! It’s on my license plate 🙂
What activities do you enjoy, when you’re not out on the snow?	Camping with my family in new places, traveling, creating healthy recipes from old family favorites
What would be your personal motto?	Just keep going!

Stephen Gover

Eastern Board Vice Chair NextCore Action Committee

Home Resort or School Okemo Mountain Resort PA work

Show Notes

Notes

What was your first job in the snowsports industry?	Snowboard Instructor at Tussey Mountain, in PA
What is your favorite memory from your snowsports career so far?	Passing my Level 2 snowboard exam in 2020
Where is your favorite place to ski or ride?	Jay Peak
If you could give a younger person snowsports/career advice, what would it be?	Be self-aware, but never undersell yourself; look for mentorship everywhere.

Peter Howard

Alpine Examiner Past Board ChairAlpine Steering Committee

Home Resort or School Sugarloaf ME work

About Me | Show Notes

About Me

There is always someone better at it ( what ever it is) than you. To be included in this is a fortunate privilege that only a tiny slice of humanity gets to experience. I hope helping people ski better contributes to their enjoyment of life.

Notes

What is an interesting fact about you?	Learned to water ski in the Ohio river.
Do you have any skills or talents that most people don’t know about?	USCG boat captain, bad blues guitarist, aerial lift operator, commercial truck driver, stone/brick mason
What jobs do you do – within and outside the snowsports industry, both winter & summer?	Sugarloaf staff trainer, guest teacher/coach.
Where is the first place you participated in snowsports?	East Vasselborough Maine. Back yard hill
What was your first job in the snowsports industry?	Line instructor/snow maker
What is a valuable lesson you learned in your snowsports career?	Fitness and visual performance make the talk believable
What is your favorite memory from your snowsports career so far?	Fore running downhill
Where is your favorite place to ski or ride?	Crans Montana Switzerland
If you could give a younger person snowsports/career advice, what would it be?	Real estate Charlie Brown
What activities do you enjoy, when you’re not out on the snow?	Sailing, road biking, building things
What would be your personal motto?	No one walks alone, lone walkers know no one.
Name three words that describe you.	Tenacious, prepared, wordsmith
Who is someone you admire, and why?	Margaret Thatcher and Pope Francis. ” Who am I to judge” “Consensus is the absence of leadership”
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grow up?	No idea
What goal would you like to accomplish in the next year?	Write a book
What goal would you like to accomplish in the next five years?	Write a book

Not Available

Eric Jordan

Alpine Examiner Eastern PSIA-AASI Board Rep

Shannon Rucker

Eastern Board Treasurer & Audit/Investment Chair NextCore Action Committee

Home Resort or School Liberty/Mount Snow PA/VT work

About Me

Shannon is a multi discipline instructor of 14+ years. Hailing from the Mid Atlantic as a part time instructor, Shannon believes the passion of our Organization’s members is the tie that binds. When she’s not sliding or teaching Shannon is up for everything else: traveling, mountain biking, playing rugby, family, shooting, skateboarding, or hiking.

Not Available

Aleks Smith

Alpine Examiner Eastern Board Member

Emily Spiker

Scholarship Committee Eastern Board Member

Home Resort or School Whitetail Resort VA work

About Me

I have been involved in snow sports for 25 years. Growing up in Virginia I never imagined this would become a passion. As a former teacher I have loved learning and challenging myself to continue to grow in this sport The greatest gift of this sport is the friendships you meet along this journey. Being able to share your passion with like minded instructors has opened my world to so many opportunities.