CBMR changing line-up of upper

Four long-time employees off the ranks

Four familiar faces up at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) will be moving on to new ventures after the company announced on Tuesday, May 27 several changes in key management positions.

CBMR general manager Randy Barrett, director of mountain operations Jack Gibbons, public relations manager April Prout, and Crested Butte Mountain Schools director Charlie Farnan will all be leaving the company this spring, according to a Tuesday press release issued by CBMR.
In the press release, CBMR owner Tim Mueller says, “It has been decided that Randy will step down as general manager as we look to make changes in our management structure so it aligns more closely with new company goals.”
Mueller also commended Barrett and the other employees who would be leaving. “Randy has served the company in a number of capacities over the years and has done a commendable job in his position as general manager. Randy, Diane (Mueller, wife of Tim and co-owner of CBMR) and I are in agreement that it is in the best interest of CBMR to create a new management structure,” Mueller says.
He continues in the press release, “We respect and appreciate the hard work and dedication that our management team has shown.”
The change in line-up is part of a restructuring of the company, the press release states.
Responding to questions Tuesday evening, Mueller says the restructuring isn’t spawned by any event in particular. “To some extent it started soon after we bought the place. You may remember we made some (personnel) changes last year… In an evolving business like we are, it’s an ongoing thing. It’s not a process that starts and stops with any given event,” he says.
Mueller says the recent branding study conducted by CBMR is indirectly related to the restructuring.
Mueller would not comment on whether the individual employees left of their own volition.
The press release refers to the “departure of April Prout as public relations manager and Jack Gibbons as Director of Mountain Operations.” It also states that Farnan “has decided to leave his position as Mountain Schools Director in order to focus more time on his real estate business and on teaching skiing next season.”
In the press release, Barrett indicates his desire to stay with the company and assist during the transition. “I understand the decisions are with the best interest of the company in mind and I will be a resource during those changes. I have been here for over 26 years and my family and I will continue to support the success of the resort and of Crested Butte,” Barrett says.
In the release, Farnan says, “I have enjoyed my time as Mountain Schools Director and am proud of the positive contribution I have been able to make in that role… As I like to say, in the 32 years working in the ski school at Crested Butte, I have never had a bad day.” Farnan also indicated that he would return as a regular ski school instructor next winter.
CBMR vice president and chief marketing officer Ken Stone says the company will have a transition management team in place as it searches to fill the positions. Tim and Diane Mueller will be more involved on a daily basis and other company executives and managers will assume added responsibilities in the meantime. He says the company is searching both internally and externally for candidates.
Stone says the company will continue to have a communications specialist in the future, but the scope and duties of the job title will likely change from Prout’s former position. “Really, we’re just refining what communications is in a broader scope of the company,” he says. Stone also says the resort will begin outsourcing certain aspects of its communications and public relations needs.
Mueller says capital improvements and other projects at CBMR will continue during the transition. He hopes the positions will be filled before the next ski season.