Steamboat Resort Vice President of Mountain Operations Dave Hunter has been promoted to the role of president and chief operating officer for the resort, effective immediately. 

Hunter has served as the interim resort lead since November following former President and COO Rob Perlman’s promotion to executive vice president of regional operations for Alterra Mountain Co. Hunter’s promotion was announced Tuesday.

According to Steamboat Resort, Hunter grew up skiing the slopes of Mount Tom Ski Area in Massachusetts, and has since gained more than 30 years of experience in the ski industry. He has previously worked as the director of North American sales for Prinoth, a snowcat manufacturer, as well as director of operations at Eldora Mountain Resort for more than 15 years. 

Hunter joined the Steamboat Leadership team in 2017. 

“As a young kid on the slopes of a small Massachusetts resort, I had grand visions of moving out west and living the ski dream,” Hunter said in a statement. “I am in awe that that dream came true, and I can now share my outdoor passion on the highest level. Steamboat is like no other resort or community, and I am humbled by the opportunity to continue fostering the special relationship the resort has with its staff, guests and locals.”

Around the community, Hunter also serves as the president of Steamboat Mountain Village and is the vice chair on the Yampa River Fund Steering Committee. He has also served as the chairman of the Colorado Ski Country USA Snowmaking Slope Maintenance Committee and is the vice chair on the Colorado Passenger Safety Tramway Board. 

Steamboat Resort plans to host a community meet and greet with Hunter and other resort leaders on June 21. More information on the event will be announced soon. 

“Dave has been around the ski business his entire life, and for the past decade Dave has worked for the world’s leading snowcat manufacturer based in the heart of the Alps and then honed his leadership skills running resort operations at Steamboat while being a key contributor to our resort transformation with Full Steam Ahead,” Perlman said in a statement. “I am proud to continue to work with Dave in his new role, the Steamboat team and the Yampa Valley community on the next phase of the resort including the Gondola Transportation Center, regional transportation efforts and the mountain rail opportunity.”