SnowSports Industries America (SIA) announced the appointment of Mike Carey to its Chairman of the Board position. Additionally the association named two seasoned veterans from the snow sports industry to director positions to fill vacancies until the next election.

Carey, who previously served as First Vice Chair, will take the role as Chairman effective immediately. Carey was appointed Chairman after the resignation of incumbent James Curleigh, who has left the snow sports industry to pursue other interests. Carey has owned Seirus Innovative Accessories since 1979 and is credited with inventing five of eight of the company’s patented products. In his off-time, Carey can also been seen donning black and white stripes in his role as a referee for the NFL.

“I am excited to serve at the helm of SIA’s member-owned association and look forward to playing a pivotal role in helping bolster the future and strength of the snow sports community. SIA has a long standing tradition of delivering viable and relevant materials, services and products to its members,” stated Carey. “During my term, I hope to work with the SIA Board, the SIA staff and its members to develop an extensive strategy that enables all facets of our industry to work together to utilize all the assets afforded us to growing snow sports both in participation and product sales. If we can get the suppliers, retailers, reps, media and resorts to come together as one community and work together, then we can create synergy to help strengthen the snow sports industry as a whole,” he added.

SIA also welcomed new directors Jake Jacobs, President and CEO of Spyder, and Mike Adams, General Manager of Atomic USA. Both will serve one-year terms on the Board.

Jacobs started with Spyder as Production Manager. He then moved to Hong Kong to set up Spyder’s quality control office while managing production and development in eleven Southeast Asian factories. He took a four-year hiatus from the company to work for Nike. Since rejoining the company in January of 1995, Jake has served as Spyder’s Director of Merchandising, Vice President of Merchandising, Senior V.P. of Product, and President/COO. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Colorado in International Business and Marketing, and a Fashion Design degree from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, California.

Mike Adams was named General Manager of Atomic USA in April 2007 and recently relocated the company from Amherst, New Hampshire to Ogden, Utah. Prior to that, Adams had spent 11 years with Salomon North America most recently as the Senior VP and Director of Hardgoods in Portland, Oregon. Additionally Adams’s career in the winter sports business includes an 11-year stretch at Elan Monark in Burlington, Vermont where he was President from 1992 until 1996. He is an active skier and snowboarder with both collegiate competition and coaching experience. Adams has served on several other committees for SIA including: Nominating, Trade Show and Research; and he was a former member of the SIA BOD while at Elan-Monark.

In other SIA Board of Director related news, Tim Petrick (K2), former secretary, has moved up to the 3rd Vice Chair position and Cindi Busenhart (Sessions) will fill the position of Secretary. Petrick has served on the SIA Board since 2001; while Busenhart became a director in 2006.