Winter Leadership Team

VP of Mountain Sports

Christine started skiing in Big Sky with her family in 1981. She fell in love with the mountain, the town, the people, the skiing, and everything that came with it. In 1982 (at age 6), she told her parents she was going to stay and she'd see them next year. "What are you going to do?" her parents asked. "Be a ski instructor," she replied. It didn't happen thtat year, but eventually it did.

You can watch her TED talk here.

Assistant Director

Matt was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He learned how to ski on Mt. Hood and Mt. Bachelor, frequently riding the ski bus up from Portland after school for night skiing. He started instructing at Mt. Bachelor in 2004 and then moved to Big Sky in 2005. At Big Sky, Matt has been working in Mountain Sports since he began here. He moved into supervising in 2010 as the Local's Program Supervisor, then Children's Program Supervisor in 2013, and Children's Program Manager in 2019. he has a Level III in both Alpine and Telemark and is active in PSIA as the current NRM Telemark Chair. He was also a former member of the Board of Directors for the division. The only thing that he might like as much or more than skiing is fly fishing. In the summer, he spends his time on the local rivers as a fly-fishing guide with Wild Trout Outfitters. He lives in Big Sky with his wife, Claire, and their two sons Connor and Brennan.

Madison Base Manager

Francesca, originally from Crested Butte, Colorado, was immersed in the world of skiing from a young age, thanks to her dedicated parents—Jean Pavillard, an international mountain guide, and Mary Cain, a professor, both fully certified ski instructors. While not consistently instructing, Francesca has been sharing her knowledge and coaching skills since the age of 15. Her teaching experiences span various locations, including Crested Butte, Steamboat, Leysin-Switzerland, Cardrona/Treble Cone-New Zealand, Portillo-Chile, and more.

Growing up as a competitive freeride skier, Francesca achieved recognition by earning a spot on the Freeride World Tour in 2013. Transitioning away from competitive skiing in 2016, she redirected her focus towards personal development within the instructor community. Francesca is actively involved in both Professional Ski Instructors of America and the New Zealand Snowsports Instructors' Alliance. She currently holds the position of an alpine, telemark, and freestyle examiner in both associations and is a member of the New Zealand technical team.

Business Manager

Lucia Damberg is from Washburn, a small town in northern Wisconsin. She first learned to ski at Mt. Ashwabay, which boasts an impressive 317ft of vert. After a short hiatus of snowboarding Lucia switched back to skiing and started focusing on racing. She raced USSA for 5 years as well as Wisconsin High School Racing. Lucia studied Sustainability and Society at Willamette University in Salem, OR. After graduating she didn’t want a “Big Girl Job” so she followed her sister Hannah to work in the Mountain Sports Office in Big Sky. Now it’s a “Big Girl Job” here!

Paul began teaching and coaching skiing in 1992 at Spirit Mountain in Duluth, Mn, and has been teaching and coaching at all levels since. He moved to Big Sky in 1996 and began teaching in the children’s ski school and coaching with BSSEF the next year. In addition to Big Sky Resort, Paul is currently on the Ed Staff for US Ski and Snowboard, has coached on a project base level for the US Ski Team, and was previously on Ed Staff for PSIA-NRM. Paul has 3 beautiful daughters, is a below average guitar player, and is as passionate about skiing and ski racing now as he was when he was 15.

Nordic Center Manager

We're not in Washington, D.C anymore! Denise migrated to Big Sky via Colorado. After attending University of Colorado Boulder, she thought she'd check out Montana for the winter and move then back to family in Washington D.C. How could she ever leave a place like Big Sky, Montana? Nordic skiing is her passion, with alpine skiing a close second, and she has been teaching people the joys of sliding around on snow for more than 25 years. Denise is a Nordic Examiner for PSIA NRM, and is also certified Level 2 Telemark and Level 1 Alpine and has a Children's Specialist endorsement. During the summers, you can find her rafting, biking, hiking with her husband and 2 college age sons, and guiding guests through the lesser-known places in Yellowstone with her outfitting company, Big Sky Adventures and Tours. Let's get outside!

Adult Training & Adult Supervisor

A.J. has taught for the adult program the last 6 seasons. Originally from Salt Lake City, he moved to Big Sky full-time after attending Rocky Mountain College. A.J. is a member of the training staff at Big Sky and the NRM Education team. He likes fishing and mountain biking in his free time.

Training Manager

Zoe has been working at Big Sky Resort for 10 years. She is a member of the PSIA-NRM Alpine and Children’s Education staff as well as a member of the PSIA-AASI National Team.

Zoe was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado where she started skiing as soon as she could walk. After Ski Racing most of her formative years, she moved to Montana and Attended MSU. Zoe has been teaching skiing since she was 15 and has found a huge passion for outdoor education over the years. She spends her summers as a river guide and loves all things water related. Zoe is always happy to catch a lap on the hill and loves to nerd out about skiing!

Children’s Group Lesson Manager

Tom Conway spent his first 18 years of life in McHenry, IL before moving to Montana in 2011. He spent his first few winters as a Child Ski Instructor before transitioning to a Supervisor role. He spends his summers at Big Sky Golf Course where he tries to make the game of Golf at least a little bit fun. Some people have a hard time finding Tom throughout the year, but if you take a quick peak around the Golf Course or the ski slopes you will likely find him either enjoying the sports he loves or trying to pass on knowledge to willing and unwilling participants. He is hard-working, dedicated, and approachable, oftentimes tackling a majority of people’s needs.

Private Lesson Booking Supervisor

Taylor hails originally from Dillon, CO and is a graduate of Colorado State University, GO RAMS! While her summers have been spent in Alaska, Colorado and Thailand, Big Sky winters keep calling her back! This year her main focus will be private lesson facilitation but you can find her pumping up the desk staff, comforting crying Dinos and eating all the leftover cookies. When not in the office you may find her slinging dogs at Yeti Dogs, teaching an Eagle Mount lesson or trying to master the Poma lift.

Montage Mountain Sports Supervisor

Kelsey Modlich hails from Columbus, Ohio and learned to ski and ride at Mad River Mountain in Belfontaine, Ohio. From a young age she has always loved the snow and snowsports. Her brothers were always challenging her to get out of her comfort zone, and this has inspired her in her coaching to challenge others in snowsports. Kelsey began teaching snowboarding at Big Sky in 2018. Her ability working with young kids quickly led her to also help out on skis with Mini Camp. By the 2019 season, she was helping out with just about everything as an Assistant. Supervisor. She was also getting noticed out on the hill as she trained for and achieved her Snowboard Level 2 as well as her Alpine Level 1, Children’s Specialist 1, and Freestyle Level 1. She loves everything about the mountains from the fresh pow to the transient people who reside here.

Madison Base Children’s Program Supervisor

Paige is from Northborough, Massachusetts and is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she studied Communication. She learned to ski starting at the age of 5 when her parents enrolled her in a kids camp at the local hill, Ski Ward. Years later, Paige taught lessons at the same hill she herself learned for 6 seasons throughout high school and college. Paige spends her summers as a Trail Guide in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. In her down time you can find Paige reading mystery novels, trying out new arts and crafts, and spending time outdoors with friends. Paige is super excited for her first season in Big Sky!

Certification Training Supervisor

From the age of 2 Jill grew up skiing the West with her family. At the age of 22 Jill moved to Big Sky and started working as a Children’s Ski Instructor after college and she hasn’t left yet. Jill also spent 3 summer seasons teaching skiing in the Southern Hemisphere at Coronet Peak in New Zealand. While there she really enjoyed her time working with instructors and people from all other the world. Jill enjoys spending time with her husband Stew, who she met instructing and their 2 children, who are frequent users of the Mountain Sports School.

Madison Base Sales Supervisor

Madison Base Children’s Program Supervisor

Logan grew up in Sandpoint, Idaho where she learned to ski at Schweitzer Mountain almost as soon as she learned to walk. She started instructing at Solitude while attending the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. This is her first season in Montana, and she is looking forward to bringing her passion for skiing to the Big Sky team. During the summer, you can find Logan looking at plants both in her free time and while working for land management agencies. Logan also enjoys climbing, mountain biking and fly fishing in her free time, but skiing will always be her first love!Josie is from Castle Rock, Colorado where she commuted to the mountains as much as she could. She learned to ski from a young age and had the privilege of visiting many of Colorado’s resorts. As a graduate from Montana State University, the passion for skiing intensified with proximity to Bridger Bowl and Big Sky Resort. With a degree in Environmental Science, Josie gained a background in land management/conservation. After graduation, she worked as a children’s instructor at Big Sky and found a new love for the Mountain Sports world. She is looking forward to her first season as a supervisor! Feel free to contact her for questions regarding Seasonal programs, thrifting, plants, and of course dirt.

Adult Supervisor

Conor was raised in Gallatin County and graduated with a BS in History at Montana State University. He spent his college years teaching at the YC but once he graduated he moved to Germany to teach skiing where he spent three years. After his time in Europe, Conor moved to Jackson Hole to be a river/backcountry guide, switching for a winter to guide in Japan and then returning to JHMR to teach four seasons and continue guiding in the summer. Finally returning to Big Sky in 2021. Off the clock you can find him on a bike, in a kayak or in the backcountry.

Ski Camp Supervisor

Calvin spent the first 18 years of his life in Park City, Utah. He came to Montana for school in 2014 and joined Big Sky as a children's ski instructor the following year, recently transitioning into the lead ski camp supervisor role. In his time away from Big Sky, Calvin enjoys fishing, golfing, camping and getting rowdy at Bobcat football games. He graduated from Montana State in 2020 with a BS in Fish and Wildlife Ecology.

Snowboard Program Assistant Supervisor

Camden grew up in Eastern North Carolina and graduated from the University of North Carolina with a BA in Political Science and Public Policy. After graduation, she opted to leave sea-level for the mountains. Combining her love of the outdoors and working with kids, Camden started as a Children’s Instructor before swapping to blue pants as a Mini Camp Supervisor. Camden spends her summers as a Trip Leader for Backroads, and has led bike trips in Oregon, New Mexico, Kentucky, and Wyoming. Camden’s passions include Settlers of Catan, kid’s lunch cookies, and ski school fun runs.

Jake was born and raised in New Jersey. After graduating from Boston University in 2020 with a BA in Neurobiology he moved to Stowe, Vermont and began to teach skiing. Following a brief stint in the pharmaceutical industry Jake began bartending/fishing guiding in summer and skiing in winter. Last year he found himself at Big Sky and is stoked to be back for another season! In his free time, Jake enjoys fishing, backpacking, music, cooking, and bartending.

Tony grew up in the vast sunshine of Pensacola, Florida. Sports have always been an important part of Tony’s life and he has played everything from Football to Golf. Skiing is the latest Sport to pique his interest. Having grown up in the sunshine state, skiing was a distant thought, however a childhood friend convinced him to move to Big Sky, Montana and pursue a snowsports career. He showed up without many of the winter items one may need, but had a positive attitude and a love for learning. The first few runs on the mountain were full of pizzas and french fries, but he soon learned well enough. He looks forward to his new role as one of our On Snow Supervisors and hopes to be a mentor to all the people who chose to make snow a second language.

Rhian is from Tryon, North Carolina and is a graduate of Brown University where she studied Cognitive Neuroscience. Despite being born and raised in the Southeast, she started skiing in early childhood thanks to parents who met working at a ski resort, and was fortunate to grow up skiing in Utah, Colorado, and West Virginia. Rhian has spent her summers working in outdoor education, attempting to convince youth that backpacking is in fact enjoyable, so teaching skiing seemed like a logical winter pursuit once finishing school. In her free time, you can find her pursuing a number of hobbies that keep her outside including biking, kayaking, playing ultimate frisbee/soccer, and, obviously, skiing. This is Rhian's third season at Big Sky and she is looking forward to another Montana winter full of canyon drives, yellow dinos, and fun runs with coworkers new and old!

Snowboard Program Manager

Paul is a Montana native who has spent time in Minnesota and “Wydaho,” working at Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole before coming to Big Sky. Paul is the Chair for AASI NRM’s Snowboard Education Team and loves watching the fire light inside students and instructors alike

Ryan was born and raised in Tennessee. He learned how to ski and snowboard at Beech Mountain in North Carolina. In high school, he would regularly drive an hour and a half after school to go night skiing and saved all of his money for gas and lift tickets. He started teaching children’s snowboarding at Kirkwood Mountain Resort, near Lake Tahoe, in 2014. After spending his second season instructing at Palisades Tahoe, he returned to Kirkwood for 5 more years. During his time at Kirkwood, Ryan began transitioning into leadership roles while obtaining his AASI snowboard level 1, 2, and 3 certifications. In addition to those certifications, Ryan completed a PSIA alpine level 1 certification, Children’s Specialist 2 certification, and a bachelor’s degree in ski business and resort management. Ryan also spent a summer coaching for High Cascade Snowboard Camp at Mt. Hood and, following his time at Kirkwood, served as the Ski and Ride School Director at Cataloochee Ski Area in North Carolina near his hometown. When Ryan is not busy at ski school or sliding around with friends, his favorite past times include golf, camping, and watching sports (particularly football). Ryan is very excited for his first winter season at Big Sky!