Sun Valley Shines A Light On Women In Leadership

The ski resort industry has traditionally been a male-dominated space, but independently-owned Sun Valley Resort has bolstered its company culture to support leadership roles for women across all categories of the business. Exceptional women leaders are at the helm for several departments at Sun Valley Resort including guest engagement, marketing & PR, ticketing, lift operations, ski patrol and more. 

The following women have shaped Sun Valley’s culture and led their respective departments to success through the resort’s growth and evolution, paving the way for other women climbing through the ranks industry-wide. More information about their roles and contributions are in the addendum of my email. 

• Stacey Timmons Ehleringer, Executive Director of Guest Engagement

• Bridget Higgins, Director of Marketing & PR 

• Rachel Williams, Lift Operations Manager

• Tess Alphas, Assistant Director of Ski Patrol 

• Sarah Linville, head of the Ski Patrol avalanche dog program

Stacey Timmons Ehleringer, Executive Director of Guest Engagement 

This year Ehleringer was nominated by her peers and colleagues and recognized as a 2023 Ski Area Management Award Honoree for her ability to provide support and strategy to both leadership and for her team of more than 200. 

Bridget Higgins, Director of Marketing & PR 

Higgins leads all marketing and PR efforts for the resort and was responsible for securing Sun Valley’s inaugural #1 Ranking by SKI Magazine, now three years in a row, an incredibly rare feat. Under her leadership, Sun Valley’s Marketing team has supported the Resort’s highly coveted NSAA Safety Award (winter 20-21), and their marketing campaigns have been regarded as “best of the best” by SAM Magazine - winning two awards in 2023. 

Rachel Williams, Lift Operations Manager

Williams began her career at Sun Valley starting in Pete Lanes and is now the most senior woman in mountain lift operations industry-wide. She recently added to her role by becoming an event manager and has helped coordinate mountain involvement by extending award-winning experience for guests year-round.  

Tess Alphas, Assistant Director of Ski Patrol 

After graduating from the University of Denver, Tess was encouraged by friends to “spend a winter” in Sun Valley and joined Ski Patrol for the 2019-2020 season. This ended up being a one-way trip and Alphas has become an integral part of the patrol's leadership and culture. 

Sarah Linville, head of the SVSP's Avalanche Dog program

Sarah has grown her role as a junior patroller to now lead the Sun Valley K9 search team program. Her and her team have worked extremely hard to meet the standards Sun Valley’s community deserves from their rescue resources.