International Women's Month

I left Southern New England in 2002 to work as the food and beverage (F&B) supervisor at Sunday River Resort in Maine. However, the position was not available right away, so I got tossed into the ski rental shop. I spent my first few weeks on the job at the resort doing pre-season tuning on their rental skis. At that time, they were tuning all the rental skis from three different locations in one shop using manual ski-tuning machines, so it was very busy and a lot of physical work, but I enjoyed it. I liked the people I worked with and felt comfortable in the tuning shop. That type of work was right up my alley. By the start of the ski season, the tuning shop made me a better offer than the original F&B supervisor position. I ended up staying in the tuning shop for 19 years. I was eventually promoted to shop supervisor and worked in that capacity for many of those years. During my tenure as shop supervisor, we purchased two new Wintersteiger automated ski-tuning machines – a Discovery and then a Mercury. Because the Wintersteiger brand and automated machinery was new to our shop, I worked closely with the Wintersteiger Service Technician to ensure our staff was up to speed on how to use them and our machines were properly maintained over their lifespan. He respected me and we worked well together. We developed a rapport and when a new Wintersteiger Service Technician position opened up he recruited me. I have to admit, it took some convincing to consider, but now I am glad I did.

I started my ski industry career at Steamboat Ski & Bike Kare as a rental tech for skis and bikes. While there I worked my way up to wrenching on bikes and tuning skis. Eventually I was promoted to tuning shop manager, and I ran the tune shop for four seasons. In October 2022, Steamboat Ski & Bike Kare got a new Wintersteiger Scout automated ski-tuning machine, and I met the service technician. He and I worked closely during the 2022-23 season while the shop acclimated to new automated tuning processes and everyone in the shop got up to speed on how to use the machine. Then, at the end of the season when a Wintersteiger Service Technician position came available, he recruited me!

I like being busy, I get bored easily, and I just can’t sit still. My favorite part is I stay busy all the time. Whether it is turning wrenches, completing paperwork, or researching and learning, there is always something to keep me busy.

I’m naturally curious and enjoy understanding how things work so being a Wintersteiger Technician suits me well. It is both challenging and rewarding to figure out what is wrong with a machine and then fix it. Additionally, I enjoy the travel aspect of the job. My territory is Colorado, and although I have lived in Colorado for 11 years, in the last 10 months this job has taken me more places in the state than I’ve been able to get to in all 11 years I have lived here.

Most of the jobs I have had in my adult life are about the same ratio of males to females as the Wintersteiger Service Technician job, so I don’t have a real viable comparison to make. What I can say is the public accepts it more now than it did in 2003. 

I am young, so I am fortunate enough to enjoy the work environment that women of past generations have worked so hard to get us young ladies! I would say most people I meet are stoked when they see a woman doing what has traditionally been considered a “man’s job.” While I have not been in the workforce long, most of my jobs have been in non-traditional situations. But growing up in Gen Z, I have rarely run into issues regarding my gender.

You can’t get what you don’t ask for. If you see someone that would be a good fit for a position, just ask them, regardless of traditional gender roles. Just like the service technician that recruited me, he just needed to ask. From my lengthy career in the ski industry, if a woman is not in a specific role, it is probably because they don’t want to, or no one has ever asked them.

In today’s job market, I think reaching out to women is a great way to get more women involved! Sometimes the best candidates are not actually looking for new jobs. Or are not specifically looking for the job you are looking to fill. Personal connections are key. If you or your employees know someone that seems like they would be a good fit for the job, regardless of traditional gender roles, reach out to them. If I had not been recruited, I would have never thought I would be working this job, but now I couldn’t be happier!