The Children’s DECL (Division Education and Clinic Leader) team is a group of highly trained instructors who are responsible for running the various Children’s Specialist clinics and certificate programs that the Division offers.
Members of this team have have been selected from the Division Children’s Specialist Trainers; for more information on this process, take a look at the CS Trainer certificate program.
Biography
How did you get your start in this career field? I started as a ski instructor at smuggler’s notch my senior year in college (2012), and then moved to Jackson, WY to be immersed in the mountains. The first full time job I got in Jackson was a ski instructor.
What inspired you to pursue the career you have today? I am passionate about skiing, I always have been. My main goal in life is to provide experiences for clients that they will remember. Additionally, a piece of this is to make skiing more efficient and enjoyable for everyone; whether it’s cruising groomers off of the chairlifts, running moguls on steep terrain, backcountry skiing in the National Park, or backcountry skiing out of a helicopter.
What’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? Bungee jumping. It seems really fun, and also terrifying at the same time.
What surprised you most about working in this industry? The amount of people who are just as passionate about skiing as I am, and their commitment to building community and change within the industry.
What lesson are you most grateful for learning? It’s okay to fail at something the first time around. More often than not you end up learning from those failures and challenges and become a better person because of it.
Please list your hidden talent(s): My snack game is on point.
Biography
How did you get your start in this career field? Tried out to be a ski instructor at Jackson Hole, got hired and ran the 3-5 year old ski program.
What inspired you to pursue the career you have today? Attending a Children’s Symposium put on by the PSIA/AASI Junior Education Team (JETs).
What’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? Paragliding.
What surprised you most about working in this industry? Having a sticker trail at Jackson Hole named in honor of me.
What lesson are you most grateful for learning? How to be an effective teacher, instructor, trainer.
Please list your hidden talent(s): Child whisperer.
Biography
Otis Ridge Ski Area, 1987-94
Crystal Mountain Ski Area 1994-1995
Deer Valley Ski Resort 1995-present
Notes
Home Resort: Deer Valley
Biography
Originally From: Wisconsin
Years Instructing: 21
Favorite Skier or Snowboarder: Doug Coombs
Why do you work in the ski industry? Skiing is fun. I enjoy continuing to learn and ski with new people.
What else do you do besides skiing/snowboarding? Kayaking, Rafting, hockey, raising two kids in the mountains and on the river
If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why? Teddy Roosevelt
Krista Clayton
Children’s SpecialistBiography
How did you get your start in this career field? My Dad was a Ski School Director at Titcomb Mtn. in Farmington , Maine. He love waking up early and being the first one at the mountain.
What inspired you to pursue the career you have today? I have amazing mentors, a passion for snow, and a great love for skiing and riding. I like building an amazing, connected, team atmosphere.
What’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? Surfing
What surprised you most about working in this industry? How lucky I have been to make great connections with people, and the life long friendships.
What lesson are you most grateful for learning? That goals are acheivable with hard work, and dedication.
“I love it when people doubt me. It makes me work harder to prove them wrong”. -Derek Jetter
Please list your hidden talent(s): I am a great whistler. I love playing the piano.
Alex Davenport
Adaptive DECLBiography
How did you get your start in this career field? I was convinced by a high school friend to work at THE Arizona Snowbowl for a free season pass while attending college at Northern Arizona University.
What inspired you to pursue the career you have today? My inspiration for becoming a career instructor came from a combination of my love for learning and my desire to make a positive impact on others. Early in my career, I had a few incredible mentors who not only taught me how to be an effective educator, but showed me the importance of patience, encouragement and dedication. Their influence sparked my passion for education and motivated me to want to give back in the same way. As an instructor, I have the opportunity to inspire, guide and support students in discovering their potential and achieving their goals – on and off the snow.
What’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? I want to take a true stab at playing guitar. I don’t have a musical bone in my body, but I want to give it a shot!
What surprised you most about working in this industry? What surprised me the most about working in this industry is how much I’ve learned from my students. While I expected to be the one imparting knowledge, I quickly realized that teaching is a two-way street. My students continually challenge me to see things from new perspectives, adapt my teaching methods, and stay curious. Their unique insights, questions, and experiences have enriched my own understanding of skiing and riding and have made me a more reflective and empathetic educator. Teaching snowsports is not just about delivering content, but about growing together as a learning community.
What lesson are you most grateful for learning? Understanding who you are teaching is much more important than what you are teaching.
Please list your hidden talent(s): 1) Snooze Button Ninja – In complete darkness and without fully waking up, I have mastered the art of hitting the snooze button on my alarm. 2) Remote control Finder Extraordinaire – My 1 year old has a funny habit of hiding the TV remote. Couch cushions are for amateurs… have you ever found your remote in an outdoor flower pot? I have!
Biography
Indiana born and raised a Hoosier
Attended Indiana University
Began teaching first Cert GLM in 1978
Started with the CS team in 2010
Manager at PCMR ski & sb school
3rd term on BOD, first elected in 2003
Notes
Home Area: Park City
Term: 2011 to 2014 – Intermountain VP of Communications
Biography
Originally From: Saskatchewan, Canada
Years Instructing: 41
Favorite Skier or Snowboarder: Too Many to Name!
Why do you work in the ski industry? I love this sport and I want to share the love!
What else do you do besides skiing/snowboarding? I love to ride my horse, bike, UTV and I own a Landscaping Business.
If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why? My Mum and Dad, I would Thank them for the sacrifices they had to make so that I could Ski Race!
Biography
How did you get your start in this career field? Skiing since 3 years old, seemed like a natural progression.
What inspired you to pursue the career you have today? In an office, bad. Outside skiing every day, good.
What’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? Seeing Earth from space.
What surprised you most about working in this industry? Skiing is important but not the main skill. Listening is number one. Clear concise communication is number 2.
What lesson are you most grateful for learning? Listening. Speak less, listen more.
Please list your hidden talent(s): Cooking
Biography
Originally From: Hampton Beach, NH
Years Instructing: 50+
Favorite Skier or Snowboarder: Stein Erickson
Why do you work in the ski industry? To enhance winter outdoor experiences
To enhance winter outdoor experiences Walk/hike with my dogs, rv to out of the way places, watch baseball
If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why? My kindergarten classmates. How interesting to see where we all ended up!
Biography
How did you get your start in this career field? I wanted to spread the passion I have for the sport to others!
What inspired you to pursue the career you have today? I really love to see people learn and accomplish their goals. Developing learning through play and adventure is what drives me.
What’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? Heli trip.
What surprised you most about working in this industry? How many cool and interesting people I would meet along the way.
What lesson are you most grateful for learning? That people learn in a variety of styles and come from all sorts of different backgrounds, and learning to teach/ train with that in mind has been invaluable.
Please list your hidden talent(s): I can juggle.
Meaghan Lovely
Children’s Specialist Discipline ManagerBiography
How did you get your start in this career field? I grew up ski racing so knew I always wanted to move out west after college. When I moved to Jackson, instructing was not a goal but once I started I was hooked.
What inspired you to pursue the career you have today? Teaching and training are something I get so much joy out of. 16 years ago I could not have told you this would be my career but the experiences, relationships and mentorship I have encountered through the years are the reason I am where I am at today.
What’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? Evacuation training from the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Tram. I think it would be so cool to Rappel from the bottom of it!
What surprised you most about working in this industry? The connections I have made. First with clients and children I taught. Now with the fellow management at my resort and the other staff members from both our Region and the entire Country.
What lesson are you most grateful for learning? Currently, how to have the hard conversations in both personal and professional settings.
Please list your hidden talent(s): Cooking, making flower bouquets, party planning
Rich McLaughlin
PSIA-AASI Intermountain Administrative VP, CS DECL, Snowboard DECL, Board MemberNotes
Home Area: Jackson Hole
Term: 2012 to 2015
Biography
Originally From: Carmel Valley, CA
Years Instructing: 23
Favorite Skier or Snowboarder: Anyone who loves snowboarding.
Why do you work in the ski industry? I love snowboarding and I love teaching!
What else do you do besides skiing/snowboarding? I build water features in the summer time. Also love wakeboarding and anything outside.
If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why? My family because they are awesome!
Biography
How did you get your start in this career field? I started skiing as a teenager on a church youth trip. I got altitude sickness the first day and only skied for 1 day, but I was instantly hooked, even though I only knew how to pizza stop. Fast forward a few years, when my family bought a cabin in Angel Fire, New Mexico and I drove over from Oklahoma City every weekend to ski. By the end of that season, I had worked my way up to being an awkward intermediate skier with a wicked stem. One of the instructors at Angel Fire encouraged me to teach skiing. My response was “I can’t even ski very well” but they responded with “It’s more about how you handle people.” After shadowing my first lesson (with 13 beginners, all from Texas), I knew right away that I wanted to help others enjoy skiing as much as I did. I started off teaching children, and although I now teach mostly families, I always prefer to have kids in the mix.
What inspired you to pursue the career you have today? I enjoy being outdoors, I thrive being in the mountains, and I receive great joy from sharing with others about skiing. I can’t even begin to count the number of people who encouraged me along the way, and I try to do the same with others.
What’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? I’d like to ski in Portillo in the summer–I would even consider instructing there if I knew more Spanish– and I would also like to go heliskiing in Canada. I want to travel to Israel (maybe when things calm down a bit). There really just isn’t enough time to do all the things I would like to do.
What surprised you most about working in this industry? The incredible people you meet–the customers and the fellow employees.
What lesson are you most grateful for learning? Recently, I have been working on my Pilates certification–about 500 hours worth! I am grateful that I am learning so much about the body and how it functions.
Please list your hidden talent(s): I’m a mountain bike aficionado, a Pilates instructor, and a life-long lover of Jesus.
Biography
Originally From: Weston, Connecticut
Years Instructing: 9
Favorite Skier or Snowboarder: Shane McConkey
Why do you work in the ski industry? I work in the ski industry because I love sharing my passion with others. Teaching others to learn and grow in what will hopefully be a life long sport for these individuals is extremely rewarding! Plus, I love that I get to be out on the snow and skiing every day!
What else do you do besides skiing/snowboarding? Biking, Boating, Dungeons and Dragons, Camping, and just being outside!
If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why? I would love to have dinner with Robert Jordan. He wrote my favorite book series, A Wheel of Time, and I would love to talk with him about the books and about the world building and character development that he was able to achieve in this series.
Biography
Originally From: Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Years Instructing: 28
Favorite Skier or Snowboarder: Marc Giardelli
Why do you work in the ski industry? The Love of Skiing
What else do you do besides skiing/snowboarding? I have a leather glove business which brands logos on leather gloves and mittens. It is called G2 Gloves.
If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why? Jesus. Nuff said.
Biography
How did you get your start in this career field? I started teaching as a weekend warrior in high school. I loved skiing, mountains and children and thought it was a great way to give back to the ski world I’d grown up in.
What inspired you to pursue the career you have today? Life changes brought me back to a ski town and teaching full time in 2010. I was inspired to dive into the educational aspect of PSIA with the goals of becoming a regional educator and examiner for both alpine and children’s disciplines.
What’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? Skiing in South America.
What surprised you most about working in this industry? The connections and lifelong friendships I’ve made throughout my 30+ years within in the snowsports community.
What lesson are you most grateful for learning? There is always room for improvement. I believe to be a great skier and educator of skiing, I need to be a learner first and foremost myself.
Please list your hidden talent(s): Avid equestrian, thought I don’t think that is a “hidden,” rather known, talent.
Biography
How did you get your start in this career field? I started skiing with family friends.
What inspired you to pursue the career you have today? The Love of skiing inspired me to this career.
What’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? I’m not sure, I’ve been fortunate enough to do many fun things in my lifetime.
What surprised you most about working in this industry? I am amazed at how many wonderful friends and colleagues I have been blessed to make.
What lesson are you most grateful for learning? I have learned that people can change if they really want to.
Please list your hidden talent(s): I am pretty good at baking goodies, and I have a knack for customer service. I can teach most any fitness class, and I’m not bad with almost all people and animals.
Biography
Originally From: Stockbridge, MA
Years Instructing: 27
Why do you work in the ski industry? I love to share the outdoors with people and help them obtain their personal goals.
What else do you do besides skiing/snowboarding? Events and catering
If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why? My grandmothers who were a huge part of who I am today.
Notes
Home Resort: Deer Valley
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