Industry Steering Committee
Addressing the needs of industry is mission critical to the PSIC and deep engagement with industry is underway. An Industry Steering Committee will guide and shape the competencies taught within the PSIC educational pathway. Composed of a diverse cross-section of resort representatives, the committee is currently being assembled and announcements will continue to be made as additional resorts are added.
Confirmed resorts and their representatives on the committee include:
Wendy reade
committee chair
Wendy has been a snow sports director for over 35 years, including her current role as the Winter Sports School Director at Fernie Alpine Resort and previous as the Snow Sports Director at Marmot Basin. Wendy has taught skiing in both Canada and New Zealand. She loves connecting with people, sharing her knowledge and experience of skiing and exploring all the mountain has to offer. Wendy’s belief in being the best one can be through attention, intention, execution and commitment is the perfect complement to the PSIC’s philosophy. Wendy is a CSIA Level 4, CSCF Level 3, CASI Level 1. She served for many years on the Alberta CSIA Board and the CWSAA Snow School committee, and is the new Chair of the PSIC’s Industry Steering Committee.
russ wood
committee member
As the Senior Director Snow and Bike School at Whistler Blackcomb, Russ oversees one of the largest snow schools in the world, employing over 1,500 ski and snowboard professionals. He is a member of the Whistler Blackcomb Senior Leadership Team and the Vail Resorts “Core Ski and Ride School” industry best practice group which represents 37 ski schools globally. Russ is also a member of the CWSAA Snow School Director Committee. He has been in the industry for over 30 years and is a three time Canadian Interski Ski team member.
gord fielding
committee member
Gord has been involved in the ski industry for over 40 years in various roles starting at Osler Bluff and Blue Mountain near Collingwood, Ontario. His ski teaching career started in 1986, and he instantly fell in love with teaching skiing and sharing his passion with customers and other staff members. In 1991, Gord went to Banff for two months to teach at Club Ski and he’s still there!
Gord spent 12 years at Club Ski teaching the public, training staff and making many industry connections from around the world including with other ski clubs, equipment manufacturers and retailers. Gord worked at Sunshine Village for five seasons as a trainer and privates instructor, and also toured media and VIP guests around the resort. For the past 14 years, Gord has been the Snow School Director at Norquay where they have developed one of the top instructor training programs in Canada. Since 1996, he has taught over 125 Level 1 courses and has worked collaboratively with other Snow School Directors to help them set up training ideas for their resorts.
liz wadeson
committee member
With over 30 years of experience, Liz is a committed and enthusiastic pro engaged in all aspects of hill operation. She began her career as a ski instructor, and later became deeply involved in managing resorts. This journey has given her a unique perspective, understanding both the day-to-day operations and the bigger strategic picture.
Her experiences have taught her a lot about how to bring ethical practices into the workplace, and the importance of creating a culture of trust and honesty. Building relationships with community partners, honouring diversity, and remaining focused on innovation and sustainability; Liz is passionate about making sure the ski industry is safe, fair and respectful for everyone.
Always pushing for improvement, she stays responsive and up-to-date on important issues in a continually changing environment. She is dedicated to keeping the ski industry at its best.
becki relihan
committee member
Becki currently serves as the Director of Resort Services at Blue Mountain Resort. With over 15 years of experience in the ski resort industry, she possesses a genuine passion for introducing individuals to the winter sport lifestyle. Presently in charge of snow school, retail, programming, and rentals at Blue Mountain, Becki offers a fresh perspective on ski instruction and the infrastructure necessary for resorts to boost participation in an inclusive manner.
darren macdonald
committee member
Currently serving as the ski school staff trainer for Ski Ben Eoin, the very hill where he learned to ski in the early '80s, Darren brings a wealth of expertise to the committee. He is an MBA graduate with specializations in Strategic Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Digital Marketing, with over two decades of experience in user-centred design consulting, working with startups and Fortune 500 companies. Beyond his business acumen, Darren is a dedicated Level 3 ski instructor/trainer and served as Chair on the national board for the Canadian Ski Instructors' Alliance. His educational journey includes a BSc in Kinesiology and an MSc in Ergonomics, which enrich his understanding of human performance and design principles.
In addition to his extensive industry and academic experience, Darren has taught in Higher Education and completed his Development Level training for coach certification with Alpine Canada, demonstrating his commitment to education and coaching excellence.
jen crabtree
committee member
Jen is currently the Senior Manager of Skier Services at Mount Washington Alpine Resort where she oversees Snow School, Rentals, Sales and Educational Groups. With 24 years in the ski industry and a CSIA Level 4 certification she loves sharing her enthusiasm for the sport and enjoys exploring new ways to create lifelong skiers and instructors.
mark rutherford
committee member
Mark has worked in the ski industry in Ontario for 32 years with the last 18 as the General Manager of Brimacombe, located in the Greater Toronto Area. Mark has sat on several industry committees, both provincially and nationally, and has a passion for guest experience and an inclusive corporate culture. As a lifelong skier his most powerful motivator is seeing the joy he experiences on the slopes, on the faces of the thousands of people who learn to ski and become lifelong participants.
brian diedenhofen
committee member
Brian has been General Manager and Snow School Director at Batawa Ski Hill in Ontario for the last 8 years of his ongoing 38 year career in the ski industry.
Beginning as a ski instructor and ski school supervisor at Mount Saint Louis Moonstone for 15 years, Brian then spent the next 15 years at Mansfield Ski Club as Ski School Director, principal terrain park builder and part of the management team.
When not running the ski area, Brian continues his 37 year commitment to the motorcycle training program at Georgian College. For 22 years he has sat on the Ontario Ski Resorts Association (OSRA) Risk Committee and has been a volunteer member of the OSRA Board of Directors for 12 years.
His teaching and training certifications include CASI Level 4, Level 2 Course Conductor and Level 1 Freestyle, and Level 2 Race Coach as well as CSIA Level 3 and Level 1 Course Conductor.