Snowbird Appoints Dave Fields As New President And General Manager

Snowbird, North America’s most accessible alpine resort destination, announced today the Oct. 26, 2018 retirement of Bob Bonar, Snowbird’s President and CEO, Tom Jones, Senior Vice President/CFO and Jerry Giles, Director of Village Operations, and the appointment of Dave Fields as President and General Manager.

Bonar, who has served as Snowbird’s President and General Manager since 1997, started at Snowbird in 1971 and is Snowbird’s longest-serving General Manager. Under his leadership, Snowbird expanded into Mineral Basin, offered a lift-served connection to Alta, built North America’s first skier tunnel, received two Golden Eagle Awards, became the first resort to partner with the National Forest Foundation Ski Conservation Fund, constructed The Summit on Hidden Peak and received approval to add lifts in Mary Ellen Gulch. Bob served on the boards of the National Ski Area Association, Cottonwood Canyons Foundation, Wasatch Adaptive Sports, Ski Utah, Utah Sports Commission and the Utah Office of Tourism. 

“Our family is grateful to Bob, Tom and Jerry for their dedicated service to Snowbird and making the resort the amazing place it is today,” says John Cumming, Snowbird Chairman. “Snowbird’s future is bright with the capable hands that take over for these extraordinary leaders.”

Jones joined Snowbird in 1976 as an Assistant Controller and has served as Senior Vice President and CFO since 1991. Giles was hired by founder Ted Johnson in 1972 as a diesel mechanic and by 1976 was the Director of Village Operations. 

“Bob, Tom and Jerry were like adopted sons to our dad,” says Jim Bass, Snowbird Board Member and son of Snowbird Co-Founder Dick Bass. “Bob has been at Snowbird since before the resort opened and Jerry started not long after. Tom was instrumental in our dad’s ability to retain Snowbird during difficult financial times and getting the resort onto the solid financial footing it enjoys today. Their contributions to Snowbird, the family of Snowbird employees over 47 years, and the larger skiing, snowboarding and outdoor recreation community are immeasurable and we are thankful for their passionate devotion to Snowbird.”

Dave Fields, an 18-year employee of Snowbird who has served as General Manager since 2017, has been named Snowbird’s new President and General Manager. Snowbird is hiring a Director of Finance who will replace Jones, and Nima Mahak has succeeded Giles as Director of Village Operations.