By Brooke Geery, Killington Resort
On Thursday, Jan. 11, Deirdre Morris was wished happy trails from the team at Killington Resort as she retired from her position as hospitality controller. Her career at The Beast began some 40 years ago in 1983 as the Southside Food and Beverage Manager, responsible for Bear Mountain, Skyeship and the Northeast Passage.
From there, she did stints as lodge manager for Snowshed and K-1 (then known as Killington Base Lodge) before moving into more behind-the-scenes roles such commissary manager, food and beverage controller,food and beverage manager and hospitality controller. Toward the beginning of her career, she took a five-year hiatus, during which she worked in the financial sector in New York, California and Boston. She then had a choice to continue along that track or come back to Vermont.
Courtesy Killington Resort
Dierdre Morris retired from Killington as hospitality controller after
36 years Jan. 11. Morris celebrated with her sister Heather (top)
and Scott Harrison (below).
Courtesy Killington Resort
“I had to decide if I wanted to put on a suit and heels every day, or come back to Vermont,” she said. “I love Vermont, why shouldn’t I stay here?”
A lot changed over her 36-year tenure at Killington. Morris remembers hand counting inventory at the end of each month and the days when you’d have to know the prices of every item to work the register.
“Way back when, there were no human resources policies that I remember and liquor regulations were sort of a suggestion,” she laughed. “The focus we put on those things now is very different.”
Of course, the scope of work has changed a lot, too.
“I was so lucky to be able to develop my own career. I started in operations, then worked on moving the department to more efficient ways with the help of software. I think of myself as being someone who was part of the process of computerizing our department. When I started there was literally no software, I had no computer. It’s obviously a different world now,” she said.
Throughout her career, she never stopped learning new things, something she appreciated.
“In some respects, I feel fortunate that I was able to get out of operations in a base lodge and be a little bit removed to be able to develop and point my career in a direction that let me learn new stuff all the time. I was tasked with the homeowner’s association accounting for a period of time. It was a huge amount of learning late in my career, and that’s been true all the way along,” she said. Morris will remember her bosses and coworkers fondly.
“It’s so nice, I’ve had good bosses, people who I was really fortunate to work for, that had a mutual respect,” she said. “In addition, the people I’ve worked around and with are some of the hardest working, most dedicated people that I can imagine.”
The feeling is mutual with her coworkers.
“Dierdre was a real asset to the company and to myself,” said Director of Hospitality Scott Harrison. “I always say seasons come and go, people come and go, but the memories remain, and I have lots of great ones of Dierdre.”
“I’m excited that I get to retire gracefully and move on to play forever,” she said. “I hope to be able to ski long into the future."
“I’ve been very blessed to have enjoyed Killington work every day,” Morris said. “There are days you don’t like, but most days I’ve really been lucky to enjoy the experience working here.”
With that, Morris is looking forward to her retirement.
“I’m excited that I get to retire gracefully and move on to play forever,” she said.
“I hope to be able to ski long into the future. I also play ice hockey, pickleball, golf and hike, and I’m going to do all those things, plus travel a bit,” she added.
