A longtime Vancouver Island resident and a passionate skier and mountain biker, Mike Manara brings three decades of resort operations experience to the role.
Mike Manara has been named the new general manager of Mount Washington Alpine Resort.
A longtime Vancouver Island resident and a passionate skier and mountain biker, Manara brings three decades of resort operations experience to the role.
Manara succeeds Dean Prentice, who is retiring after nearly a decade at the helm of Mount Washington.
Prentice played a vital role in enhancing operations, investing in infrastructure and expanding the resort’s appeal year-round, said Pacific Group Resorts, which operates the mountain resort near Courtenay.
Manara’s most recent role was as Mount Washington’s senior director of operations, but he has been a cornerstone of the resort’s growth and community engagement for 25 years, said the company in a statement.
His portfolio has spanned lift operations, snow sports schools, slopes grooming, rentals, retail, Nordic activities, special events and summer programming, including development of the bike park and Eagle’s Flight ZipTour. “I’m just a guy who likes to ski,” Manara said in a release.
“For me, it’s always been about sharing the joy of the mountain with our community.
“We’ve got an amazing crew here, and I’m excited to lead with a ‘ski-first’ mindset — focusing on making our wonderful terrain accessible, creating great snow surface quality and enhancing the moments that create lifelong memories for our guests.”
Manara is co-chair of the snow sports committee for the Canada West Ski Areas Association.
He is also a founding volunteer board member of the United Riders of Cumberland and worked for the mountain bike organization for more than a decade, attaining a zland-access agreement that provides primary trail access in Cumberland.
Mark Fischer, president and CEO of Pacific Group Resorts, Mount Washington’s parent company, said Manara has earned the respect of his peers and staff through years of hard work.
Pacific Group Resorts is an international resort operating company based in Park City, Utah. Its portfolio includes ski mountains in Vermont, Virginia, Maryland, New Hampshire and Colorado.