SnowSports Industries America (SIA) announced four key additions to its leadership team, including a new COO, following the organization’s move and opening of its new headquarters in Park City, UT.
Serving as chief operating officer, Maria McNulty will maintain oversight of strategy development, procurement of new opportunities and the bolstering of overall value that SIA delivers back to the industry. A graduate of the University of Utah College of Law, McNulty brings more than 20 years of international winter sport expertise to SIA, covering operations, partnerships, rights management, event management and content/television production. Her career has included jobs at Street League Skateboarding, Burton Snowboards, the organizing committees for the Vancouver and Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games and TTR Pro Snowboarding.
As director of member services, Kyle Kennedy will be tasked with developing tools, programs and benefits that deliver a clear benefit to SIA’s members. Leading internal programs and managing outside representatives, Kennedy will reinvigorate the membership process and develop new resources for the organization and its members, officials said. He brings more than two decades of industry experience in publishing, media and sales, as he’s worked at brands such as Academy Snowboards, started Kid’s Know Distribution and as publisher of Snowboarder Magazine.
In the role of director of communications and marketing, Todd Walton will lead strategy and creative direction for SIA’s communications, social media, content and marketing, increasing SIA’s visibility and mission to the industry and beyond. Heading both internal and external efforts, Walton comes to SIA with more than 25 years in the snow sports, outdoor and lifestyle industries. He’s brought retail, manufacturing, communications and marketing theory to fruition for organizations like Crested Butte Mountain Resort and Outdoor Industry Association, and for independent brands via The Walton Works.
Combining more than 10 years of human resource and management experience with a passion for the outdoors, Jo Gabrielson will take on the role of accounting and human resources manager. In her new role, Gabrielson will pair her love of winter sports with an ability to bridge accounting and human resources capabilities, pushing beyond organizational boundaries to achieve corporate goals.
The new crew joins longstanding SIA leaders Debbie DesRosche, director of trade show; Henry Cho, director of information services and Kelly Davis, director of research, creating a leadership team that is well positioned to take SIA into the next phase, according to the organization.
“With the team now in place and the new Park City office up and running, the energy and excitement is palpable,” said Nick Sargent, president of SIA. “The breadth of knowledge, passion and experience we have across our entire team enables us to be nimble and member-focused to lead the industry through our next phases. It’s a new time for us and it’s exciting.”
He added that the move to Utah “symbolizes the organization’s efforts to initiate positive growth within the snow sports industry, with a closer proximity to many likeminded organizations and partner businesses.” Located at 1918 Prospector Avenue in Park City, UT, the new office serves as both the headquarters for SIA and a resource to the snow sports community.
