Women in Waterville: Meet Our Remarkable Female Leaders
In the United States, women make up approximately 32% of leadership positions. While the National Ski Areas Association does not track such gender employment statistics, it's no secret that the ski industry is traditionally dominated by men. Waterville Valley Resort stands out as a beacon of progress due to its remarkable gender diversity in leadership roles. Women outnumber men among Waterville's Strategic Management Team. Comprised of the resort's top managers and directors, this team has a female-to-male ratio of 5:4. This significant representation of women in leadership roles is not just a numerical anomaly; it's a testament to the resort's commitment to diversity, equality, and the recognition of talent irrespective of gender.
Let's take a closer look at the remarkable women who are steering Waterville Valley to new heights:
Left to Right: Katie Smith (Director of Accounting), Marissa Preston (Director of Buildings & Grounds), Lisa Dutto (Director of Snowsports), Abby Guinan (Director of Sales & Leasing), and Allison Gilman (HR Manager).
LISA DUTTO – SNOWSPORTS DIRECTOR
Lisa Dutto – affectionately known as "LD" - is Waterville's Director of Snowsports. Overseeing all snowsports lessons, programs, rentals, and childcare, Lisa plays a pivotal role in shaping the resort's instructional programs, ensuring that they cater to individuals of all ages and skill levels. Under her guidance, Waterville Valley Resort's snowsports offerings have flourished, earning a reputation for excellence and innovation.
LD's journey in the ski industry began during the " good ol' boys" era. Lisa first stepped onto the slopes as an enthusiastic ski instructor. She noticed a monumental imbalance between male and female instructors, recalling that all upper-level classes were assigned to male instructors, while female instructors were pigeonholed to teaching children. Working together with fellow female PSIA members (Professional Ski Instructors Association), Lisa fought hard to help even the playing field. Alongside fellow female instructors, Lisa fought for equal pay, access to training, and unbiased recognition of talent regardless of gender. Lisa is grateful for her mentor, Kathy Brennan, who was the President of PSIA East Coast. In addition to breaking gender barriers, Kathy cultivated Lisa's natural creativity, emphasizing the value of creating a fun and exciting learning environment for both students and instructors.
Lisa is a rare gem: she is revered for her radiant demeanor, genuine kindness, and unwavering commitment to her students and instructors. During my interview with Lisa, her eyes twinkled passionately. She emanated a unique kind of joy - the kind of joy you get from living out your dream while simultaneously leading the next generation to do the same. Lisa spoke fondly about the immense personal and professional impact of her coworkers, managers, and employees - past and present. Preparing to retire at the end of the winter season, Lisa's passion, creativity, and unwavering dedication had left an indelible mark on countless students, instructors, and team members alike. While her presence will be deeply missed on the slopes, her legacy will undoubtedly endure, serving as a testament to the profound influence of one remarkable individual on an entire community.
MARISSA PRESTON – DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS & GROUNDS
Marissa Preston is Waterville’s Director of Buildings & Grounds, but her official title does not quite encompass her lengthy list of roles and responsibilities. In addition to buildings and grounds, Marissa oversees many seasonal and year-round operational departments, including construction, facilities, electrical, janitorial, lift maintenance, lift operations, landscaping, and more. Leading several different male-dominated departments within our industry is not simply uncommon, it's an extreme rarity.
Marissa first fell in love with the ski industry right out of college, working at Utah's Olympic Park, running freestyle programs, aerial site builds, and terrain park builds. Throughout her career, she developed extensive experience in construction, project management, and ski area operations. While Marissa did not work with many other women, she always looked up to her mother. In a time when men dominated higher education administration, Marissa’s mother, who started out as a teacher, worked her way up through the ranks to vice president of her college. Marissa admired her mother's community involvement and the respect she earned in return.
In addition to leading Waterville's backbone departments, Marissa serves as a role model for young women like me. Defying the outdated notion that manual labor and physically demanding jobs are unsuitable for women, Marissa consistently exhibits mental and physical fortitude. Marissa runs a tight ship, all the while building and developing her team members, helping them to reach their potential. Fearless and endearing, Marissa leads with respect and devotion, earning respect and admiration from her team and employees across the company.
ABBY GUINAN – DIRECTOR OF SALES & LEASING
Abby Guinan is one of those extraordinary individuals whose smile can brighten up an entire room. As the dynamic Director of Sales & Leasing, Abby manages Town Square leasing and groups of all sizes, including international schools, ski clubs, athletic teams, corporate retreats, conferences, weddings, and more. Growing up in Plymouth, Abby's connection to Waterville Valley runs deep, having spent every weekend carving up Mount Tecumseh since the tender age of two.
From her early days on the slopes, Abby harbored aspirations to follow in the footsteps of trailblazers like Deb Moore, the highly esteemed former Director of Marketing at Waterville Valley. Moore's pioneering role as a female leader in a predominantly male industry served as an inspiration to Abby, igniting her own ambitions to make her mark in the ski industry. As she progressed in her career, Abby encountered challenges along the way, particularly when it came to interacting with assertive male clients. It took time for her to earn recognition and respect in this male-dominated environment, but through perseverance and self-belief, she emerged stronger and more confident, unafraid to tackle any challenge head-on.
For Abby, the most rewarding aspect of her role isn't just closing deals or scoring big clients; it's about sharing the mountain experience with her family and friends. Whether she's chaperoning local school groups or watching her nieces grow in confidence on the slopes, Abby cherishes every moment spent on the mountain, embodying the true spirit of Waterville Valley.
KATIE SMITH – DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING & IT
Katie Smith is the powerhouse behind the scenes at Waterville Valley Resort, serving as the Director of Accounting and IT. With a diverse array of responsibilities under her belt, Katie is the driving force behind the resort's financial and technological operations. From managing the intricacies of the resort's IT infrastructure to overseeing risk management, Katie is whip-smart and her attention to detail is unmatched.
Before entering the ski industry, Katie developed a knack for revitalizing struggling businesses. Whether it was a banquet hall, an established catering company, or a niche manufacturing firm, Katie put 110% into each business, bravely undeterred by stormy waters. Katie steered each ship toward success by cutting costs and optimizing revenue. Handling the financial books, vendors, payroll, bookings, distribution, and more, Katie learned the ins and outs of each business, all the while growing her financial aptitude.
When speaking with Katie, it became clear that reviving these businesses was not purely inspired by professional aspirations. Katie was also motivated by the desire to improve the lives of the people who made up each business. Knowing Katie, that makes perfect sense. Katie cares deeply about the people and organizations in her life. Case in point: Katie folded programs for the Waterville Valley Community Church throughout our interview. Katie credits her affectionate nature to her grandmother, whose nurturing and inquisitive approach made a monumental impact on Katie. Thanks to her grandmother, Katie has a natural tendency to question and inquire with genuine kindness and acceptance, rather than judgment and critique.
ALLISON GILMAN – HR MANAGER
Allison Gilman manages all functions of human relations, payroll, employee housing, employee relations, plus compliance regulations. With over fourteen years of ski industry experience, Allison has seen it all. She works with individuals of all levels and backgrounds, including high schoolers working their first job, retired part-timers, seasonal international exchange visitors, and full-time, year-round career professionals. This wealth of experience affords her a unique, dynamic perspective on ski area operations.
During my conversation with Allison, she emphasized how lucky she was to have a powerful mentor positively influence her career path. Prior to working at Waterville, Allison worked for a female HR Director at a different ski resort. This HR Director helped Allison learn the ins and outs of the position, empowering her to continue her education, and inspiring her to weather the fiercest storms with courage and determination.
Allison is tenacious, resilient, and tough as nails. Unwavering in her commitment to integrity, Allison is never afraid to speak up and do the right thing. But underneath that strong exterior, Allison has a heart of gold. She cares deeply for her employees and colleagues, never failing to show support and compassion. She leads by example during periods of high stress, creating burnout prevention initiatives and lending a helping hand to any and all departments. When asked what she loves about skiing, Allison replied “My love of skiing comes from watching other people enjoy the sport”. She smiled and proceeded to tell me about the joy she feels watching her family and friends progress on the snow, growing in confidence and watching their passion develop.
Waterville Valley Resort’s gender diversity in leadership is not just a milestone; it's a testament to the power of inclusivity and the value of diversity in driving organizational success. Our female leaders serve as a model for the wider ski industry. By prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion, other ski resorts can tap into a broader talent pool, better understand and serve their diverse customer base, and ultimately drive greater innovation and success.
P.S. Think Snow!