Squaw Promotes Dee Byrne & El Furtney
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows announced today that Dee Byrne has been promoted to the role of Vice President of Skier Services, overseeing Ski & Snowboard School, Ski Teams, Resort Activities Sales & Service (RASS), and Hosts. Elianne “El” Furtney has been promoted to Managing Director of the Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Ski & Snowboard School, handling all ski and snowboard school operations across both mountains, including Squaw and Alpine Kids and adult group, private and guided experiences.
Dee Byrne joined the Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows team in 2011 as Director of Snowsports and Race Program, and has worked in snowsports instruction and leadership at national and international resorts for 43 years, including service as Business Development Manager for Aspen/Snowmass Ski & Snowboard Schools and eight years as the Director of Vail Snowsports School.
“I am very proud of the foundation that Dee has built with our Teams and Ski & Ride School programs, and I have great confidence in what she will achieve overseeing our larger group of Skier Services,” said Andy Wirth, president and COO of Squaw Valley Ski Holdings. “Dee is wholly committed to the experience of the guest and is a key member of our executive team. She has a keen eye for the important details and has successfully positioned our snowsports programs as some of the best in North America.”
Originally from Spokane, WA, Byrne began skiing at age eight in Schweitzer Basin, ID and skied with her family every weekend from that point through High School. Byrne started teaching skiing at age 14 and has not stopped since. During her career, Byrne has worked for several major resorts including Coronet Peak (NZ), Beaver Creek, Vail and Aspen/Snowmass. Byrne’s industry credentials include a PSIA Level III Certification, two terms on the PSIA National Alpine Demonstration Team, and six years on the PSIA National Education Advisory Council.
Furtney has 28 years of experience with the Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Ski & Snowboard School and holds a Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) Level III certification. As an active examiner and clinician with PSIA’s Western Division, she trains and certifies instructors from across California and Nevada.
“El is a tremendously talented instructor and leader. I’m excited for her take on this role and continue to develop our team and our legacy of great teaching,” said Dee Byrne, vice president of skier services at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows. “She is a champion of our Ski & Ride School brand: offering products tailored to any skill or style, with North America’s best instructors and coaches using 6,000 acres of terrain as their teaching whiteboard. I look forward to working with El along with our Ski Teams, Hosts and Resort Activities Sales & Service to advance the resort experience here at Squaw Alpine.”
El Furtney grew up chasing her brother around the cold and icy slopes of Vermont before happily finding herself getting sunburned skiing in California. While she majored in Social Sciences at Cal Berkeley, Furtney spent much of her time with the university’s Ski Team. A job at Alpine Meadows teaching skiing “for just one season” illuminated her love for teaching and led to a lifelong career, where she equally loves skiing big mountain terrain and coaching other instructors to reach their potential. When not skiing secret stashes at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, you can find El on her mountain bike. El lives in Tahoe Vista, CA with her husband Rob.
