Taking a Lap With Deer Valley, UT, President and COO Todd Bennett: How Culture, East Village Development, and Long-Term Vision Are Shaping the Resort's Future - SnowBrains

"The first thing you notice skiing with Deer Valley President and COO Todd Bennett isn't what he says, it's who he talks to. On a quiet afternoon during a slow early-season start, Sterling Express hums steadily above our heads. Coverage is thin across much of the West, and Deer Valley, similar to every resort in the region, is leaning heavily on snowmaking to keep terrain open. Sterling, the main artery right now, offers a clean window into operations, culture, and leadership under pressure."

"As we load the lift, Bennett nods toward a group of lift operators. He calls one by name. Then another. When we unload, he stops again. This time for ski patrol. A few turns later, mountain hosts. Then food and beverage staff moving supplies near the base. Two runs. Roughly 15 to 20 employees. Every single interaction is personal. He asks how their day is going. He checks in. He listens."

"It doesn't feel performative. It feels habitual. There's no pause to make sure anyone is watching. It's simply how he moves throughout the mountain. This is Deer Valley in transition: the largest expansion in ski industry history unfolding alongside one of the most challenging early winters in recent memory. And at the center of it is a leader who believes culture isn't something you scale later, it's something you prove every day."

Deer Valley is managing the largest expansion in ski-industry history while facing a thin early season that forces reliance on snowmaking and conservative terrain management. President and COO Todd Bennett consistently engages personally with staff across roles, making frequent check-ins habitual rather than performative. Operations prioritize consistency and a steady operational tempo, with snowmaking infrastructure and crews described as the backbone of the resort. The resort balances major capital expansion with careful daily operational decisions to deliver a reliable guest experience during one of the most challenging early winters in recent memory.

Read at SnowBrains