Powder Mountain hired Katie Van Riper as director of marketing and Justin Soine as director of sports and recreation, a newly created position at the Utah mountain resort.
With recent changes in ownership, a new general manager in Kevin Mitchell, capital improvements set for winter 2023/24, and continued investments to come, the company said Van Riper and Soine join the Powder Mountain leadership team on “the precipice of transformational change for the largest resort in the country” at 8,400 skiable acres.
“Both Soine and Van Riper come to Powder with deep industry knowledge and a wealth of experience to draw from,” said Mitchell. “Katie’s trailblazing marketing experience and Justin’s illustrious career in ski school management perfectly align with our mission to provide extraordinary mountain experiences. Their contributions will help shape the next chapter of Powder Mountain.”
As Powder Mountain’s marketing director, Van Riper oversees marketing and communications with over 15 years of experience in propelling ski resorts, snow sports brands, and real estate/hospitality portfolios. Van Riper’s has contributed to the success of Snowbird, Helly Hansen, Boyne Resorts, and Elevate Outdoor Collective (formerly K2 Sports). While working at Visit Salt Lake for five years, she oversaw the development of the Ski City brand, supporting international marketing, pass programs, travel trade, and advertising for the county’s ski resorts.
As director of sports and recreation, Soine will oversee Powder Mountain’s ski school, training programs, adventure center, and recreational activities. He joins Powder Mountain from Park City Mountain Resort, where he worked as its ski school general manager overseeing Canyons Village. His nearly 20-year career in ski school management also includes several years as ski school director at Afton Alps and as the training manager at Breckenridge Ski Resort. The son of a ski instructor, Soine began teaching at 14 and has since taught countless people how to ski.
Photos courtesy Powder Mountain
