John is the Founder of the Vail Leadership Institute. He spent the first seven years of the organization’s life as President & CEO.
Since coming to Vail in 1974, John has been blessed with many opportunities to contribute to the growth of the community.Prior to helping to establish the Institute in 1998, John ran East West Marketing, a company specializing in the development and marketing of large-scale resort programs. As Vice President of Marketing for Vail Associates from the mid-70’s to the mid-80’s, he led the development of a number of innovative marketing campaigns and programs. Prior to arriving in Vail, he held marketing director positions at the Kirkwood Resort in the California High Sierra and at the Keystone Resort in Colorado.
As the founding President of the Vail Valley Foundation, he helped establish the American Ski Classic, headed fundraising efforts for the Ford Amphitheater and started the World Forum, chaired by former President Gerald R. Ford. He also led Vail's efforts to secure the 1989 World Alpine Ski Championships and served on the Organizing Committee for both the 1989 and 1999 events. In l985, he helped create Pepi's Wedel Weeks, Inc., a successful ski instructional program that was followed by similar concepts in fly fishing, sporting clays and golf. As Interim President for the Beaver Creek Arts Foundation in 1997, John led the effort to raise more than $21 million for the Vilar Center for the Arts.
"Achieving one's goals in life by contributing to the community is worthwhile and satisfying," says John. "but at the end of the day one should be able to look inside and see that he has also been true to his core purpose. Helping people take that look is inherent in the mission of the Institute and one that I believe to be valuable to all of us. The Vail Valley is first a recreation community, but over the next 25 to 30 years I envision the community evolving into a place also about renewal or “re-creation”, a place where people come to rejuvenate themselves, to reconnect with their loved ones and to renew their spirit. The Institute will help spawn this movement.”
John holds an undergraduate business degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, is an honors graduate from the U.S. Naval Officer Candidate School and the Naval Supply School and is a decorated veteran of Vietnam service aboard the USS Jennings County. He holds a Certificate as a Professional Leadership Coach from the Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara.
He is a past Chairman of the Vail Resort Association and has served on the boards of Colorado Ski Country USA, the Travel and Tourism Research Association, the Colorado Children's Chorale, the Vail Valley Foundation, the Vail-St. Moritz Sister City Commission and the Business-Education Partnership. He currently serves as a national trustee of the American Leadership Forum. He is the immediate past Board Chairman of Vail Christian High School and remains an active supporter. In l994, John was named "Vail Valley Citizen of the Year".
A native of Detroit, John and his wife Pam live in the Lake Creek area of Edwards. Their son, Conor, and daughter Brooke are both students at the University of Colorado in Boulder.