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FRANK FIDLER NAMED ROCKY MOUNTAIN LIFT ASSOCIATION’S MECHANIC OF THE YEAR

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO- May 14, 2009- Steamboat Ski Resort has once again been recognized for honing the skills of the best employees in the industry. At the Rocky Mountain Lift Association Conference last week in Grand Junction, Frank Fidler, a nine year veteran of the Steamboat lift maintenance department was selected as the Mechanic of the Year. 

“Steamboat is world renowned for its Champagne Powder™ snow, western heritage and warm hospitality while amenities like our extensive lift system and gondola are often overlooked,” says Chris Diamond, president and COO for the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation. “Frank is a shining example of how much hard work we put in behind the scenes to make our guest experience top notch. We are so proud of Frank and the entire lift maintenance department, and are thrilled that the Rocky Mountain Lift Association recognizes all the hard work Frank has put in over the past nine years.”
 
Frank moved to Steamboat in 2000 after completing his Masters Science degree in Agriculture and Natural Resource Economics from West Virginia University, and began working at the ski resort as a lift operator. In 2002 he transferred into the Lift Maintenance department and soon after was hired as an apprentice mechanic.  His hard work, dedication and attention to detail moved him quickly through the ranks and in 2006 Frank became a Master Mechanic.  Frank was instrumental during the past two seasons in the implementation of the new Christie Peak lift, helping understand the mechanics, trouble shooting the project, educating the team and foreseeing operational concerns. In addition to being an integral part of the lift team, Frank also acts as the Safety Coordinator for the department and enforces and enhances Steamboat’s strong commitment to personal safety-wise programs.
 
“Frank’s strengths in problem solving, training and developing new procedures makes him not only an asset to our organization, but a role model for our team,” says Kurt Castor, lift maintenance director for the Steamboat Ski Resort & Corporation. “Frank has high expectation for himself, and therefore consistently sets the bar very high in everything he does. That dedication and attention to detail helps propel everyone in our department to the highest level of work.”
 
RMLA has presented the Mechanic of the Year award to the top mechanics from resorts around the country since 1994, “in recognition of their outstanding performance, productivity and commitment to excellence in the Lift Maintenance Field.” Each year ski resorts are asked to submit their top candidates for excellence in lift maintenance; Fidler was nominated by his supervisor Castor, who presented him with the awards at the annual conference. This is the first time Steamboat has been recognized by RMLA for outstanding work in the lift maintenance department.
 
“This is a great honor for Frank and Steamboat, since he was selected from a field of top mechanics at resorts from around the country, not just the state of Colorado,” says Castor.
 
In the past three years, Steamboat has dedicated millions of dollars in capital expenses to upgrading and installing new lifts, including the new Sunshine Express Chairlift in 06/07 and the new Christie Peak Express in 07/08. The Steamboat Lift Maintenance department is in charge of 18 chairlifts spread across the resort’s 2,965 acres, including 1 eight-person Gondola, 1 High Speed Six Pack, 5 High Speed Quads, 1 Conventional Quad, 6 Triples, 2 doubles and 2 surface lifts. The Steamboat lift system is capable of carrying 33,619 people uphill per hour.
 
-www.steamboat.com-