Association of Professional Patrollers

APP Board of Directors

The 2018-2019 APP Board of Directors represents both the history and the future of the APP. The diverse board comes with passion, experience and passion for the future of this organization. This experience involves every aspect of patrolling including Area Management, Patrol Director, Backcountry Guides, NSP's Patroller of the Year, National NSP Certified Supervisor, Division Certified Supervisor, Avalanche Control Professionals including Blaster Licenses, training and use of Rescue Dogs, Paramedic, EMT, & OEC Medical Certification, etc. If there is a patroller activity, someone on the Board has done it.

In addition, your Board has used their management and outdoor experience to contribute to their community and country. This includes Life Flight, various Mountaineering activities, all areas of Avalanche education, High Altitude Training of Special Forces, Civic organizations, Fire Rescue, etc. The education of your Board is not as important as actual accomplishments above, but includes various Bachelor Degrees, Masters in Engineering and Business.

We on the Board thank you for trusting us with the leadership of this great organization we look forward to implementing another stellar lineup of events and clinics in this season. Drop us an email if you have any comments, feedback, or suggestions for the upcoming year. Many thanks to all who participated in this year's elections, candidates and voters alike!

The Board of Directors is elected by the APP Certified Members at large, with electronic voting open during the General Membership meeting at the Annual Spring clinic and continuing on-line until the end of May. Each Board Member serves a two-year term, with four members elected on the even years and five elected on the odd years. After the Board is elected, the Board then selects a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.

The 2018-2019 Elected APP Board consists of the following Directors:

Role Name Bio

President: David Moore

It is with great humility that I am privileged to serve as the APP’s Secretary and a Board Member. This is a time filled with opportunity in the snow sports industry, and I feel incredibly lucky to help guide this great organization as it shapes the future of professional ski patrolling. I began patrolling 30 years ago and was fortunate enough to be trained by one of the legends of APP, Tom Battenberg. The lessons I learned from him seemed at the time like they were all about skiing and medicine and crazy midnight hikes in storms. Only later in life did I realize that very little of what he taught me only applied on the mountain. Outside of patrolling I became a risk manager, which is essentially the same job, with less blood and better pay! I advise movie studios, concert venues and even ski hills how to keep bad things from happening, and when they do how to deal with it. It's basically the same stuff I learned how to do 30 years ago… I have been actively involved in the management of resorts. I teach rescue medicine. I have certifications in fire rescue, explosives, weapons, hazmat and of course risk management. I can fly a plane, drive a race car and sail a boat 1000 miles with little more than a jug of water and some crackers, but none of that is why I am on the board. I am here to grow this organization. We have more potential for expansion than any project I've ever been involved with. That same knowledge that was passed to me needs to be given to the next generation. It needs to be organized, shaped and disseminated and that is what I'm here to do. If we are not actively cultivating the next generation and expanding our sphere of influence, we are not properly serving our membership, and I am grateful to to have been given the opportunity to help achieve that goal.

Vice President: CJ Svela

I have had the opportunity to go around to many of the mid-winter clinics over the last 4 years and meet a lot of you face to face, ski with you, and hopefully help influence your patrol training.

Through the last 4 years, we have undergone many big steps towards providing education, hosting many more clinics, and expanding our membership. With your help, I will help further the APP’s educational goals and meet the needs of our members.

Pro patroller for 15 years. Been involved with app for 14 years. ALS backcountry rescue. Flight paramedic. Professional backcountry avalanche forecaster and specialist-consultant.

Treasurer: Scott Cordner

I have been a patroller since 1994, serving both as a volunteer and as a paid professional, from part-time weekender to full-time assistant paid director. I have been an APP certified patroller for 10 years. This is an exciting time for the APP, and I am energized to be a part of it. I want to see smart, managed growth of the organization. To have the APP develop and flourish, we need to show the value of the organization to both its members (paid and volunteer) and resort management. We can show this value by working with insurance companies and resort management to establish the APP as the ski patrol training and certification standard. This will allow the APP’s members to gain knowledge, valuable skills, and certifications for all members as well as promotions and pay increases for paid professional patrollers.

Secretary: Kari Brandt

I have been a pro patroller for 6 seasons, three of which I was the director at Snow Valley. I am now a Risk Manager for SkyPark at Santa's Village, an Adventure Theme Park/Bike Park. I also continue as a part-time patroller for Big Bear Mountain Resorts. Coming from a small ski hill, the APP has made me into a much better patroller and professional. The organization gave me training and networking tools I would have never received had I stayed in the bubble of my ski resort. My goals for the APP are to grow its membership and show its value to patrols of any size. I will also be working with Shannon to grow women's participation in APP and in joining the ski industry. With the APP and the newly formed "Women of Patrol" we will be able to provide clinics and resources for women in the industry or wanting to join it.

Board Member: Bob Heflin

29 seasons Pro Patrol experience. Medical Dept Lead for Taos Ski Valley Patrol, patrolled in Chile for a number of years and still do some training and consulting for ski area there. 25+(?) year member of APP, on BOD for over a decade. Committed to ensuring our goals as an educational organization by providing opportunities for scholarship to attend ISSW or NAS, and by providing APP sponsored educational opportunities in the form of RM seminars and Blasting seminars. Looking forward to working with the board to help advance the APP as a resource for patrollers

Board Member: Shannon Maguire

My name is Shannon Maguire, and I have been a full-time ski patroller at Sierra At Tahoe since 2007. Over the past 3 years, I have had the opportunity to participate in Association of Professional Patrollers clinics and trainings, and achieved an APP full certification this past season. Throughout this process, I have learned a tremendous amount, and have also gained a deep respect for what the APP provides through education and camaraderie. I received a scholarship at the 2014 spring clinic, which I used towards attending the Wasatch Backcountry Rescue International Avalanche Dog School this past season with my Avalanche Dog, Hunter. One of the most valuable experiences APP clinic participation has presented me is the opportunity to meet with other female patrollers and discuss shared challenges in this field. Discussions this year show a desire for creating an on-hill women’s mini-clinic to be tied to spring clinics. I would like to work on creating on-hill women’s mini-clinics and increasing female participation in the APP

Board Member: Ed Gassman

I know many of you but as background I have been a patroller over 40 years, a member of APP for 26 years, certified for 25 years and a member of the APP Board for 6 years in the 90’s. I stepped down due to time constraints of family and job. I have been a paid and volunteer patroller in Utah, Washington, New Hampshire, Tennessee, California, and now Colorado. I serve on the Board of FIPS (Federation Internationale des Patrouilles de Ski) composed of the major ski associations around the world. I am proud APP is now one of 22 distinguished members of FIPS.

Four years ago I was asked to head up High Altitude Winter Environment Training of Special Forces. SEALS are trained in San Diego and Green Berets in North Carolina but we now have Bad Guys hiding in the 10-14,000 foot mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan so there was a real need. The team I put together was composed mostly of certified patrollers. I am happy to report the curriculum and penchant for excellence of the Certified program has been extremely successful and well received by our elite young heroes. Hopefully it will save lives and reduce terrorist threats, hence taking us back to our roots when the first ski patrollers created the 10th Mountain Division.

Board Member: Wally Shank

Wally Shank has worked in the ski industry since 1965 in many capacities and has been an active ski patroller for 47 years. Wally became Certified in 2000 and is currently a member of Bryan Mountain Nordic Ski Patrol where he is a Back-Country patroller in the Arapahoe National Forest. Wally has been an instructor and judge at many Certified Clinics. Wally is also a Risk Management Professional, Ski Lift Inspector, and Loss Control Consultant who works with over 100 ski resorts throughout the United States.

Board Member: Hawk Ferenczy

Growing up in the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania, I got on a pair of skis at early age of two and a half and after a few runs falling and tomahawking down on the steeps, I began learning and connecting telemark turns in the steep runs in the backyard of Count Dracula.

In the summers, I was chasing trout and grayling with my fly rod in the rivers and streams of the same mountain range. This two hobbies become my passion and the passion turned in to my profession. Soon I graduated from college, started ski patrolling and being a fly fishing guide in the summer. I started travelling around the Austrian, Swiss, and French Alps, working as a Ski Instructor and on some occasions as a backcountry ski guide. After moving to US in 1999 and get my certifications, I become a Ski Patroller and Fly Fishing Guide in the White Mountains of Arizona . Being Assistant Patrol director at Sunrise Park Resort, worked in Park City, Utah for the Canyons Resort as a Patroller, Patrol Director for White Pine Resort in WY., and landed in Angel Fire Resort, NM. eight years ago as the Director of Ski Patrol. Being lucky to have year round position in the past 11 years as Patrol Director, fly fishing is much more fun in the summers when I have a chance to fish with my friends (and for myself ). I do not miss guiding, not yet. Ski Mountaineering is one of my lifelong passion. Climbed and skied beautiful mountains in the Wasatch Range, Wind River Mountains, Wyoming Range, Teton Range, Rocky Mountains National Park and Chugach Mountains. I have chances to climb higher on “the ladder” in the ski industry, but Ski Patrolling is my life, my biggest passion, the best job in the whole ski industry. With my position, I can buckle my boots every morning and be on the mountain all day with my Patrol, and spent only a few hours per season in meetings.

Role	Name	Bio
President:	David Moore	It is with great humility that I am privileged to serve as the APP’s Secretary and a Board Member. This is a time filled with opportunity in the snow sports industry, and I feel incredibly lucky to help guide this great organization as it shapes the future of professional ski patrolling. I began patrolling 30 years ago and was fortunate enough to be trained by one of the legends of APP, Tom Battenberg. The lessons I learned from him seemed at the time like they were all about skiing and medicine and crazy midnight hikes in storms. Only later in life did I realize that very little of what he taught me only applied on the mountain. Outside of patrolling I became a risk manager, which is essentially the same job, with less blood and better pay! I advise movie studios, concert venues and even ski hills how to keep bad things from happening, and when they do how to deal with it. It's basically the same stuff I learned how to do 30 years ago… I have been actively involved in the management of resorts. I teach rescue medicine. I have certifications in fire rescue, explosives, weapons, hazmat and of course risk management. I can fly a plane, drive a race car and sail a boat 1000 miles with little more than a jug of water and some crackers, but none of that is why I am on the board. I am here to grow this organization. We have more potential for expansion than any project I've ever been involved with. That same knowledge that was passed to me needs to be given to the next generation. It needs to be organized, shaped and disseminated and that is what I'm here to do. If we are not actively cultivating the next generation and expanding our sphere of influence, we are not properly serving our membership, and I am grateful to to have been given the opportunity to help achieve that goal.
Vice President:	CJ Svela	I have had the opportunity to go around to many of the mid-winter clinics over the last 4 years and meet a lot of you face to face, ski with you, and hopefully help influence your patrol training. Through the last 4 years, we have undergone many big steps towards providing education, hosting many more clinics, and expanding our membership. With your help, I will help further the APP’s educational goals and meet the needs of our members. Pro patroller for 15 years. Been involved with app for 14 years. ALS backcountry rescue. Flight paramedic. Professional backcountry avalanche forecaster and specialist-consultant.
Treasurer:	Scott Cordner	I have been a patroller since 1994, serving both as a volunteer and as a paid professional, from part-time weekender to full-time assistant paid director. I have been an APP certified patroller for 10 years. This is an exciting time for the APP, and I am energized to be a part of it. I want to see smart, managed growth of the organization. To have the APP develop and flourish, we need to show the value of the organization to both its members (paid and volunteer) and resort management. We can show this value by working with insurance companies and resort management to establish the APP as the ski patrol training and certification standard. This will allow the APP’s members to gain knowledge, valuable skills, and certifications for all members as well as promotions and pay increases for paid professional patrollers.
Secretary:	Kari Brandt	I have been a pro patroller for 6 seasons, three of which I was the director at Snow Valley. I am now a Risk Manager for SkyPark at Santa's Village, an Adventure Theme Park/Bike Park. I also continue as a part-time patroller for Big Bear Mountain Resorts. Coming from a small ski hill, the APP has made me into a much better patroller and professional. The organization gave me training and networking tools I would have never received had I stayed in the bubble of my ski resort. My goals for the APP are to grow its membership and show its value to patrols of any size. I will also be working with Shannon to grow women's participation in APP and in joining the ski industry. With the APP and the newly formed "Women of Patrol" we will be able to provide clinics and resources for women in the industry or wanting to join it.
Board Member:	Bob Heflin	29 seasons Pro Patrol experience. Medical Dept Lead for Taos Ski Valley Patrol, patrolled in Chile for a number of years and still do some training and consulting for ski area there. 25+(?) year member of APP, on BOD for over a decade. Committed to ensuring our goals as an educational organization by providing opportunities for scholarship to attend ISSW or NAS, and by providing APP sponsored educational opportunities in the form of RM seminars and Blasting seminars. Looking forward to working with the board to help advance the APP as a resource for patrollers
Board Member:	Shannon Maguire	My name is Shannon Maguire, and I have been a full-time ski patroller at Sierra At Tahoe since 2007. Over the past 3 years, I have had the opportunity to participate in Association of Professional Patrollers clinics and trainings, and achieved an APP full certification this past season. Throughout this process, I have learned a tremendous amount, and have also gained a deep respect for what the APP provides through education and camaraderie. I received a scholarship at the 2014 spring clinic, which I used towards attending the Wasatch Backcountry Rescue International Avalanche Dog School this past season with my Avalanche Dog, Hunter. One of the most valuable experiences APP clinic participation has presented me is the opportunity to meet with other female patrollers and discuss shared challenges in this field. Discussions this year show a desire for creating an on-hill women’s mini-clinic to be tied to spring clinics. I would like to work on creating on-hill women’s mini-clinics and increasing female participation in the APP
Board Member:	Ed Gassman	I know many of you but as background I have been a patroller over 40 years, a member of APP for 26 years, certified for 25 years and a member of the APP Board for 6 years in the 90’s. I stepped down due to time constraints of family and job. I have been a paid and volunteer patroller in Utah, Washington, New Hampshire, Tennessee, California, and now Colorado. I serve on the Board of FIPS (Federation Internationale des Patrouilles de Ski) composed of the major ski associations around the world. I am proud APP is now one of 22 distinguished members of FIPS. Four years ago I was asked to head up High Altitude Winter Environment Training of Special Forces. SEALS are trained in San Diego and Green Berets in North Carolina but we now have Bad Guys hiding in the 10-14,000 foot mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan so there was a real need. The team I put together was composed mostly of certified patrollers. I am happy to report the curriculum and penchant for excellence of the Certified program has been extremely successful and well received by our elite young heroes. Hopefully it will save lives and reduce terrorist threats, hence taking us back to our roots when the first ski patrollers created the 10th Mountain Division.
Board Member:	Wally Shank	Wally Shank has worked in the ski industry since 1965 in many capacities and has been an active ski patroller for 47 years. Wally became Certified in 2000 and is currently a member of Bryan Mountain Nordic Ski Patrol where he is a Back-Country patroller in the Arapahoe National Forest. Wally has been an instructor and judge at many Certified Clinics. Wally is also a Risk Management Professional, Ski Lift Inspector, and Loss Control Consultant who works with over 100 ski resorts throughout the United States.
Board Member:	Hawk Ferenczy	Growing up in the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania, I got on a pair of skis at early age of two and a half and after a few runs falling and tomahawking down on the steeps, I began learning and connecting telemark turns in the steep runs in the backyard of Count Dracula. In the summers, I was chasing trout and grayling with my fly rod in the rivers and streams of the same mountain range. This two hobbies become my passion and the passion turned in to my profession. Soon I graduated from college, started ski patrolling and being a fly fishing guide in the summer. I started travelling around the Austrian, Swiss, and French Alps, working as a Ski Instructor and on some occasions as a backcountry ski guide. After moving to US in 1999 and get my certifications, I become a Ski Patroller and Fly Fishing Guide in the White Mountains of Arizona . Being Assistant Patrol director at Sunrise Park Resort, worked in Park City, Utah for the Canyons Resort as a Patroller, Patrol Director for White Pine Resort in WY., and landed in Angel Fire Resort, NM. eight years ago as the Director of Ski Patrol. Being lucky to have year round position in the past 11 years as Patrol Director, fly fishing is much more fun in the summers when I have a chance to fish with my friends (and for myself ). I do not miss guiding, not yet. Ski Mountaineering is one of my lifelong passion. Climbed and skied beautiful mountains in the Wasatch Range, Wind River Mountains, Wyoming Range, Teton Range, Rocky Mountains National Park and Chugach Mountains. I have chances to climb higher on “the ladder” in the ski industry, but Ski Patrolling is my life, my biggest passion, the best job in the whole ski industry. With my position, I can buckle my boots every morning and be on the mountain all day with my Patrol, and spent only a few hours per season in meetings.

In addition, the following individuals have been appointed by the Board as Committee chairs:

Appointed position Name Bio

Elections Committee , SWAG Committee, Ski Judge Bo Yule

Pacific Northwest Committee Chairperson Dave Alley

I reside in the spectacular town of Coeur d'Alene/Hayden Lake in North Idaho. My home mountain is Schweitzer Mt. Resort and the Selkirk Mountain Range, but also spend time in California at Dodge Ridge Ski Area.

Growing up and working in the ski industry has been my life and life style. I have nearly 40 years doing something I truly love. I don't need to tell you everything that I've done or can do, but can say I've been fortunate to have become a 'jack of all trades' in ski area operations.

I've been a member of the APP which was formally the FWPSPA since 1980. I've seen many changes in ski patrol operations and industry standards thru the years and have seen many great ski patrollers come and go.

The APP has given me a high level of training standards that I've used and shared with fellow patrollers. It has also given me a avenue to meet other patrollers from other areas and exchange ideas and learn from them.

I'm proud to be part of the APP organization and look forward to a few more years. Hope to see and meet new patrollers coming into the APP and of course the seasoned veteran patrollers at one of the clinics this coming season. My bond-ship and friendships with many of the APP members will last a lifetime.

Ski hard, be safe...

Rope Rescue Committee Member Robert Walters

Robert Walters serves on the Technical Rescue Committee and holds degrees in Education, Fire Service Administration and Fire Science. He presently, is an instructor for the Technical Rope Team and Ski Response Team at Jackson County Search and Rescue. In addition, he responds with a Fire Department Technical Rescue Team and practices paramedicine with a community ambulance service. He has worked on technical rescue teams at Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Crater Lake National Parks.

Appointed position	Name	Bio
Elections Committee , SWAG Committee, Ski Judge	Bo Yule
Pacific Northwest Committee Chairperson	Dave Alley	I reside in the spectacular town of Coeur d'Alene/Hayden Lake in North Idaho. My home mountain is Schweitzer Mt. Resort and the Selkirk Mountain Range, but also spend time in California at Dodge Ridge Ski Area. Growing up and working in the ski industry has been my life and life style. I have nearly 40 years doing something I truly love. I don't need to tell you everything that I've done or can do, but can say I've been fortunate to have become a 'jack of all trades' in ski area operations. I've been a member of the APP which was formally the FWPSPA since 1980. I've seen many changes in ski patrol operations and industry standards thru the years and have seen many great ski patrollers come and go. The APP has given me a high level of training standards that I've used and shared with fellow patrollers. It has also given me a avenue to meet other patrollers from other areas and exchange ideas and learn from them. I'm proud to be part of the APP organization and look forward to a few more years. Hope to see and meet new patrollers coming into the APP and of course the seasoned veteran patrollers at one of the clinics this coming season. My bond-ship and friendships with many of the APP members will last a lifetime. Ski hard, be safe...
Rope Rescue Committee Member	Robert Walters	Robert Walters serves on the Technical Rescue Committee and holds degrees in Education, Fire Service Administration and Fire Science. He presently, is an instructor for the Technical Rope Team and Ski Response Team at Jackson County Search and Rescue. In addition, he responds with a Fire Department Technical Rescue Team and practices paramedicine with a community ambulance service. He has worked on technical rescue teams at Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Crater Lake National Parks.