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National Ability Center CEO Leaves After Five Years to Pursue New Role With Vail Resorts

National Ability Center

  The National Ability Center has announced that CEO Kevin Stickleman has left the NAC to pursue a new role with Vail Resorts. KPCW’s Leslie Thatcher has more.

 

Kevin Stickleman was with the National Ability Center for five years – two of that as CEO. NAC Board Chairman Bob Chamberlain tells KPW that Stickleman  got an offer he couldn’t refuse.

“He was offered a wonderful opportunity with Vail Corporation. He is going to be the Director of Skier Services at the Breckenridge Resort. So, a fantastic job.”   

Chamberlain – who was appointed chairman just last month - says he has formed a search committee. As board president, he says he will cover what needs to be done and the committee is looking at whether they will appoint an interim CEO.

“The senior staff at the NAC  just do a fabulous  job. So, it really hasn’t caused any disruption whatsoever.”

The committee is creating a detailed position description – and is expected to approve that and the recruitment path this week. He says they will be looking for someone who is good with fundraising, community relations and interfacing with government entities. 

“You know, we’d like to get this done in next 3 to 4 months if we can. But quality I think, is more important than speed.”

Meanwhile, the NAC continues to work with Vail Resorts and PEG Companies to get its Mountain Center built at the base of Park City Mountain. The organization has been working out of a double wide trailer in that location for 30 years and had hoped to have the new center under construction two years ago.

Last year Stickleman told KPCW because they’re part of a greater development project, they are just in a holding pattern. 

The NAC will continue to work out of the trailer again this winter and Chamberlain says they will work to firm up its plans with Vail, PEG, and Park City Municipal. 

“The  short answer is we don’t know. With the current plan we are caught in-between Vail and PEG because the designated location for the  new Mountain Center is on what would end up being PEG property. PEG will have to get their master site plan approved by the city. We meet with Vail on a regular basis  and in fact, we have a Vail person on our board of directors. We may see if we can explore some other options. But right not, it's not so much up to us as it is up to other people as to when things might be able to move forward.”

He said he couldn’t answer why Vail offered the property to the NAC, if they couldn’t guarantee the donation...

 

“I can’t speak for Vail...there are some construction issues and easement issues. And the city has  certain requirements on fire access and that sort of thing. So, it’s very much a plan in development and you just have to sort out the fine details before things can move forward. We’re working to do that.”

In a statement to KPCW, Robert Schmidt from PEG Companies said the donated land to the NAC is not part of the PEG deal. PEG he said has been in close contact with the NAC since the beginning of this project. Quote, "We are excited to work with and support the NAC in their new location at the base of Park City Mountain. We have been working with NAC, the Lodges (Trent Davis) and Vail to work out the access to NAC. The access is dependent on relocating power transformers, designing new utilities to support NAC, and provide vehicular and pedestrian access to NAC. All of the parties have expressed their commitment to making this work.” 

Meanwhile the center has recently opened its new, nearly 10-thousand square foot recreation center at Quinn’s Junction...and has been able to hold a number of their programs safely inside despite the pandemic.