Who We Are
We grew up in the mountains, and on the mountain is where we are happiest. With genetic roots tracing back to the 10th Mountain Division and Camp Hale, and business roots tracing back to the founders of Killington, we are old blood in the ski industry.
Our Why
To help ski areas achieve peak performance – Because no one reaches the summit alone.
In the era of mega corporations dominating skiing, along with their mega industry partners, it is beyond difficult for small and midsize ski areas and mountain resorts to keep up. We believe in independent resorts, the local hill, and the “mom and pop” ski area. We believe that the sport of skiing cannot survive without these crucial businesses; they are the lifeblood of the sport. Therefore, it is imperative that they not only survive, but that they grow and thrive to achieve peak performance.
Tony T.
Founder & Principal
Tony brings over fifteen years of leadership and operations experience to SlopeStrategics. From lift operator at Sugarbush to executive team roles at Ski Cooper and Purgatory Resort, he has been at the wheel driving record visitation, multimillion dollar projects, and cultural shifts through strategic planning, master planning, and revenue optimization. During his time in Leadville, CO, Tony served as an adjunct instructor for the Ski Area Operations program at Colorado Mountain College, where he helped form the minds of industry newcomers. Transitioning beyond skis, he led daily operations and major multimillion dollar capital projects at Denver Zoo, as well as working to create the revenue strategy and elevated guest experience to fund John Ball Zoo’s lofty ten year master plan. Prior to skiing and zoos, Tony spent time in the construction business and studied architecture at Clemson University.
As Principal at SlopeStrategics, Tony’s areas of expertise include strategic planning and revenue growth, architectural design, capacity analysis, construction and project management, leadership coaching, risk and safety management, HR best practices and workforce management. Tony is a certified professional in Lean Six Sigma and Occupational Health & Safety. Furthermore, he is well-versed in navigating the realms of compliance and permitting with regard to physical expansion.
Patrick T.
Founder & Principal
Patrick brings over fifteen years of ski industry mastery, starting as a Ski Area Operations student at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, CO, before climbing the ranks at Ski Cooper, with stops at Sugarbush Resort and Roundtop Mountain along the way. From snowmaking and grooming to lift operations, accounting, IT, and marketing, he honed a sharp skill set. Patrick has been the recipient of several industry recognitions including Slope Groomer of the Year from Colorado Ski Country USA, Ski Area Management Magazine’s “Recruit of the Year” (2009), and “10-Under-30” (2017). He has penned over 10 articles for SAM and is the author of “Snow Guns Before Sunrise,” a revealing look at ski resort life. He returned to Colorado Mountain College as an adjunct instructor, molding future industry leaders. Beyond the slopes, he’s a professional classical pipe organist and a discerning enthusiast of fine cigars and single malt Scotch, blending precision and passion in all he does.
As Principal at SlopeStrategics, Patrick brings an abundance of expertise in mountain operations best practices, mountain infrastructure design, strategic marketing, information technology and systems, financial planning and analysis, and professional development.
Dan T.
Senior Consultant
With a ski industry career spanning six mountains, four states, three GM roles, and nearly five decades, Dan is the epitome of the ski industry veteran. From the smallest local ski hills, to the largest mountain resorts, Dan’s experience encompasses every facet of operations, and has been instrumental to the growth and progress of the mountains he’s led, particularly at Sugarbush Resort and Ski Cooper. Needless to say, Dan is the inspiration behind Tony and Patrick joining the ski business ranks.
Dan has supervised the installation of multiple ski lifts and directed the production of several master plans, most recently the conceptualization and realization of a major development at Ski Cooper in 2019 with the installation of a new lift and terrain expansion. He has expertly navigated the challenges of interfacing and collaborating with local, state, and federal agencies to drive projects to completion, most notably the redevelopment of the Lincoln Peak base village at Sugarbush Resort. Additionally, Dan has consulted for business planning and development for several reopening ski resorts in the east. Outside the ski industry, Dan has spearheaded new business development for a high-tech firm, worked as a construction contractor, and developed and run top-tier tennis schools.
Our Values
Family Comes
First
“The most extraordinary thing in the world is an ordinary man and an ordinary woman and their ordinary children.”
– GK Chesterton
Great Business is Rooted in Love
“Do what you love in the service of people who love what you do.”
– Steve Farber
Discipline is the Essence of Success
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."
- Aristotle
Life is Best
on Skis
"The little ski area is where it all goes down, it's where we learn how to ski, it's where the community is." - Glen Plake