Boyne Resorts Names Leadership Of Newly Defined Regions
Boyne Resorts announced executives selected to lead operations for its geographically diverse portfolio of North American resorts and attractions. Rick Kelley, previously senior vice president of mountain operations, has been appointed chief operating officer of eastern and Michigan mountain resorts, to serve alongside John McGregor, chief operating officer of western ski areas and Tennessee attractions. Additionally, Barb Rooney, senior vice president of lodging, spa and owner services, expands her oversight to include the company's lakeside resort operations in Bay Harbor, Michigan.
"As we prepare for future growth and opportunities, having the right people in the right seat is critical and these organizational changes are a big step forward in that process," said Stephen Kircher, Boyne Resorts president and chief executive officer. "These folks represent one of our core values--developing great people. The expertise accumulated between Barb, John and Rick through their years in the industry and with Boyne Resorts is a true testament to that value at work. We are fortunate to have their expertise and commitment to excellence guiding the operations of these resort properties. These moves give me even greater confidence that we will continue to elevate our delivery of memorable experiences to our guests."
- Kelley has more than 40 years of experience in the ski and mountain resort industries, entering in 1977 as a snowmaker at Loon Mountain Resort in New Hampshire. He advanced through various roles at Loon to be named the resort's general manager in 1998 and served in that role for nearly twenty years. Kelley joined the Boyne Resorts team in 2007 when the company acquired operations at Loon from Booth Creek Ski Holdings. Distinguished by his widely-respected leadership style, he was promoted to Boyne Resorts' senior vice president of mountain operations in July of 2017. Throughout his career, he has served as a board member of multiple industry and community organizations including National Ski Areas Association, Ski New Hampshire, SnoCountry, and Lincoln Planning Board, and was a member of American National Standards Institute's B77.1 committee. As chief operating officer of Eastern/Michigan mountain resorts, Kelley's oversight includes operations at Boyne Highlands Resort and Boyne Mountain Resort in Michigan, Loon Mountain Resort, and Sugarloaf and Sunday River Resort in Maine.
- McGregor has amassed deep knowledge of ski area operations from a career with Boyne Resorts that spans 40+ years. After graduation from Michigan State with a degree in engineering, he began his career in mountain operations at Boyne Highlands Resort in Michigan and also took on responsibilities with various projects in the company's operations throughout Michigan and in Montana and Utah. He earned broad experience through several management positions and was promoted to the Boyne Highlands' general manager role in 1986. McGregor led the resort's growth for 20 years and in 2006 was named Boyne Resorts' senior vice president of mountain operations. Serving as chief operating officer of the company's day ski areas since July 2017, his oversight now focuses on western ski areas including Brighton Resort in Utah, Cypress Mountain in Vancouver, B.C., and The Summit at Snoqualmie in Washington. He will continue overseeing ski operations and related capital investment projects at Big Sky Resort in Montana and the rapidly expanding operations at Gatlinburg SkyLift in Tennessee where SkyBridge—North America's longest pedestrian suspension bridge opens this fall.
- Rooney, a 26-year veteran of the resort lodging industry, launched her career when joining the reservations team at Big Sky Resort in 1991, after working summers there while earning her marketing management degree from University of St. Thomas - Minnesota. Her promotion to hotel manager in 1996 allowed her the invaluable experience of helping open the resort's Summit Hotel in 2000 and positioned her to be named Boyne Resorts' senior vice president of lodging, spa and owner services in 2015. Rooney's range of knowledge equips her to expand her role, adding oversight of operations in Bay Harbor, Michigan including Inn at Bay Harbor – Autograph Collection, an award-winning lakeside resort, plus nearby Bay Harbor and Crooked Tree golf clubs.
Big Sky Resort's overall operations remain the responsibility of Taylor Middleton, longtime resort president and general manager, with oversight from Stephen Kircher.
McGregor and Rooney will remain based in Montana, Kelley in New Hampshire, and all three begin immediately in their new roles.
