Degree in ski management launched at Sierra Nevada

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Sierra Nevada College expects its new ski business and resort management program will draw about 50 students when it's launched next fall.

College officials say they believe the program at the private school in Incline Village is the first nationwide to offer a four-year major in ski business and resort management.

Other colleges that provide training in the business are located in New England, Michigan and Colorado.

Coursework in the new major will cover operations, general management, profit centers, marketing and sales, real estate development, and resort master planning.

Teaching staff will include executives of Lake Tahoe ski resorts, and students will work in internships and independent-study programs at resorts.

Tim Cohee, the program director who has 34 years experience in the ski industry, said resorts will be looking for top management in coming years as many of the current executives who are in their 50s and 60s retire during the next decade.

To draw students, the college is advertising at 21 ski resorts across the nation. The campaign that targets high school-aged skiers and snowboarders asks, "So you think you can run a resort?"

"We're convinced there is a huge market of high school graduates who are passionate about skiing or snowboarding and have dreamed about a career in the ski business, but don't know there's an opportunity to pursue their passion by enrolling in our ski business and resort management program while at the same time enjoying life in Lake Tahoe," said Cohee.