Hi folks!
Welcome to the first edition of “Matt’s Blog”. I am Matthew Drake, Chairman and CEO of Mt. Hood Meadows Oregon Ltd.. I have been involved with this dynamic company in a wide variety of roles since 1968.
Innovation. Change. Continual improvement. These are fundamentals that we embrace daily at Mt. Hood Meadows. This summer we are in the process of implementing many improvements to the resort and our operations that came about from your input to Dave’s Blog and, of course, the initiative of Dave Riley and the talented team at Mt. Hood Meadows. We will make sure to continue to deliver on these important initiatives.
For the past fourteen years it has been exciting to both witness and be part of the development of the bright star that is Dave Riley. In addition to the many team-based achievements that Dave was involved with at Mt. Hood Meadows, a significant part of his legacy will continue to be the strong relationships he built within the communities we serve, the many regulatory agencies we work with on a regular basis, the US Forest Service and, of course, our loyal guests.
Along with many, I have fond memories of working with Dave which I will continue to cherish. Standing next to Dave at the edge of a 50 foot wide and 25 foot deep gap in highway 35 near White River last November, Dave turned to me and said, “This could be a problem”. The rest is now well documented history. I think I speak for many in saying a heartfelt “thank you” to Dave for his spirit, hard work, and strong passion for making Mt. Hood Meadows and Cooper Spur Mountain Resort better places to gather, recreate and have fun.
In 1968, our goals included providing a safe and fun recreation experience on beautiful Mt. Hood. As we prepare for our 40th Anniversary season in 2007-2008, we continue to focus on the key company initiatives which Dave championed so well – safety, sustainability and service. The next blog in early August will highlight a few of the key improvements now underway that support our journey to continually improve on these long standing and important goals supporting our mission to become “Best in the West”.
I am excited to have the opportunity to continue to have an open dialogue with our guests through this blog, as well as direct conversations with you at the resort. I look forward to your comments and involvement. Your opinions and input will continue to play an important role in helping to shape the quality recreation experience we aim to deliver to you.
Onward,
Matthew