Killington Resort announced Tuesday, Jan. 14, the promotions of several team members to new roles with the organization. Continuing its tradition of promoting from within, these promotions will help streamline efficiencies across the resort with a new structure within several key departments and create opportunities for growth throughout the organization.
Kayla Sarajian
In Mountain Operations, Vice President Tait Germon has created a new position: the mountain experience manager, who will work to advance quality controls and promote Killington’s hospitality standards around the mountain. With this new promotion, Kayla Sarajian assumes a larger role within the Mountain Operations group and takes on added responsibility. Formerly the lift operations manager, in her new role, all guest-facing Mountain Operations departments will report to Sarajian. This includes lift operations (including ticket checking, tubing and summer Adventure Center), terrain parks, ski patrol and race event operations.
Kayla Sarajian began her career at Killington Resort in 2014 as a team leader for the Unleashed program in the Snow Sports department, then worked summers as an attendant for the Snowshed Adventure Center, eventually becoming a foreman for the lift operations group and transferring to that department full time in 2016.
“Kayla has a proven record of building strong teams and providing superior guest service,” said Tait. “In elevating her leadership over these departments, her role is to continue to improve the guest’s experience on the mountain. By focusing on team morale, promoting Killington’s hospitality standards and identifying and eliminating issues that affect our guests and staff, we inevitably strengthen our culture of guest service and improve the resort experience for everyone.”
Christine Bulgini
Also in Mountain Ops, Christine Bulgini, currently Mountain Operations administrative coordinator, is being promoted to the role of administrative manager. This change will better the crucial role she plays in overseeing Mountain Operations’ extensive safety program and in auditing Mountain Operations’ compliance with federal OSHA laws and state tramways regulations. Bulgini’s strong organizational skills and collaborative work style make this a natural progression.
As with her previous role, Bulgini will continue to facilitate communication, disseminate information and provide timely and relevant reporting. In order to consolidate efforts and increase efficiency, the Mountain Operations Dispatch Supervisor Matt Poli, will now report to Bulgini.
“With this structure, Christine can leverage the knowledge and expertise of that team in providing consistent oversight and reporting,” said Tait.
Scott Harrison
Senior Vice President of Hospitality Scott Harrison will now oversee all base area operations, including lodges and parking. Accordingly, Parking Manager Ryan Gosselin will now report to Harrison.
Harrison is also pleased to announce promotions within his department.
Eric Rusch
Eric Rusch has been promoted to food and beverage director of the Grand Hotel and Northside Dining. Rusch recently expanded his role to include front of house food and beverage operations in the Grand Hotel. These additions include Preston’s, Banquet Events, the Yurt and Clubhouse Winter Operations. His promotion will include the oversight of our Hotel Culinary team.
Rusch started his career in 2010 as the executive sous chef in the Grand Hotel exhibiting strong interpersonal and leadership skills, as well as culinary excellence. He was then promoted to open the new Peak Restaurant as Peak chef/manager. In this role he was instrumental in making the Peak our premier on-mountain dining location.
Soon thereafter, Rusch and team elected to bring to life The Jerk Jamaican Mountain Grill, which has become a must stop for many of our skiers and riders. Thus, he was a natural to be selected to also manage and assist in designing and opening the K-1 Lodge, which has quickly become our largest and finest on-mountain dining experience at Killington.
“Eric has done an exceptional job creating a well-balanced team and improving our staff culture and guest experience,” said Scott.
Sophie Parvez
Sophie Parvez has been promoted to hospitality business manager. Her new duties will include financial/budgetary management for the resort’s food and beverage and lodging operations. Sophie will also assume oversight of the Conference Sales team operations and provide technical support for operating sales platforms.
Parvez moved to Vermont to complete her education at Green Mountain College in 2010, graduating in 2012 from the Resort and Hospitality Management Program. During college, she worked at Bear Mountain Base Lodge for her co-op and internship. After graduating, she worked in various food and beverage roles at Bear Mountain, Skyeship, and the Clubhouse Grill until she left Killington in 2014 to accept a role at Riverside Farm until 2017. She returned to Killington as Grand Hotel banquet supervisor. In this role Parvez excelled as a supervisor improving its culture and guest experience while also showing great organizational skills and proficiency in financial management.
In 2023 Parvez accepted the role of food and beverage administrator, where she became proficient in all operating systems, managed menu costing and content, and served as Department of Liquor Control liaison with the state. Parvez also manages the resort’s commissary operations.
“I look forward to seeing Sophie excel in her new role. Her great organizational skills are ideal for this role and she is sure to go above and beyond,” said Harrison.
Nate Stoodley
Nate Stoodley has been promoted to K-1 Base Lodge manager. In his new role, Stoodley will oversee all food and beverage operations in K-1, as well as acting as a liaison with other departments and events in K-1.
Stoodley began his career at Bear Mountain in the rental shop, then transferred into the food and beverage dept. to eventually become Bear Mountain Base Lodge manager. Prior to being promoted, he was K-1 Base Lodge F&B front of house manager. His duties included oversight of public area attendants, front of house staff and pub operations. Stoodley will continue to transition into his summer role at Snowshed Base Lodge, where he assists Ellen McDonough with operations and works closely with the Events Team.
“I look forward to seeing Nate continue his growth within our F&B team and sharing his interpersonal skills and passion for our resort and guest satisfaction,” said Harrison.
Rebecca Reed
In Human Resources, Rebecca Reed has been promoted to employee experience manager. In this role, Rebecca will helm the day-to-day operations of HR. Rebecca began her career at Killington in 2021 as international recruiter before expanding to focus on all recruitment efforts. Danielle Hewitt and Susanna Foster will continue their roles as recruiting specialists under her guidance. Kathy O’Rourke reports to Angelica Probst, who, along with Roberta Hefner round out the HR team reporting to Reed. Rebecca Reed reports to Vice President of Employee Experience & Technology Chris Condon, another relatively new role in the company.
Jordan Spear
On the Resort Leadership Team, Jordan Spear has been promoted to the role of Vice President of Resort Services & Sales. In this expanded capacity, Spear will oversee all skier service revenue and guest service areas, unifying these key functions under one leadership team. This alignment will allow us to streamline operations and continue delivering outstanding service to guests.
Spear began his career at Killington as part of the Resort and Hospitality Management program at the now Vermont State University. During his 17 years at Killington, he has served as guest services manager, tickets manager, marketing manager, and director of product marketing and sales.
As part of this transition, Dave Beckwith, director of mountain sports will now report to Spear. Beckwith will continue to oversee the mountain sports school, rentals, daycare, and golf, maintaining his strong leadership and focus in these important areas. In addition to this new oversight, Spear will continue leading tickets, guest services, marketing technology, group sales, and reservations, ensuring these functions remain well-integrated and optimized.
“This reorganization represents an exciting step forward for our team, fostering greater
collaboration and operational excellence, and continuing our tradition of promoting from within,” said Killington President and CEO Mike Solimano. “Please join me in congratulating everyone on these well-deserved promotions and in recognizing Dave for his continued contributions to our success.”
