Vail Mountain Names Shaydar Edelmann as New COO After Beth Howard's 41-Year Career

Vail Mountain is getting a new boss, with Beth Howard stepping down after four decades and Shaydar Edelmann taking over as COO.

Vail Resorts has confirmed a major leadership shift at its flagship Colorado resort. Beth Howard, who has served as Vice President and COO of Vail Mountain since 2019, is retiring after a 41-year career. Shaydar Edelmann has been appointed as her replacement.

For anyone who's skied Vail or followed its operations, this is a notable changing of the guard at one of North America's most prominent resorts.

Beth Howard's 41 years at Vail Resorts

Howard's career started in 1985 as a college intern in food and beverage at Beaver Creek Resort. That internship turned into a run that spanned four decades and took her through virtually every level of Vail Resorts' operations.

She rose to Vice President of Food & Beverage & Clubs, overseeing more than 100 restaurants and eight private clubs across the company's resort portfolio. She then moved into resort management as General Manager of Northstar in California, where she picked up the 2015 Ski Area Management SAMMY Leadership Award, before becoming COO of Beaver Creek in 2016 and then Vail Mountain in 2019.

Howard's influence at Vail Resorts goes well beyond job titles. She pioneered cabin dining at Beaver Creek, launched The 10th restaurant at Vail Mountain, created the Epic Mountain Burger, and helped develop signature resort touches like Beaver Creek Cookie Time and fresh strudel service at Vail. On the infrastructure side, she led the 2019 Vail Mountain snowmaking expansion, secured US Forest Service approvals for McCoy Park at Beaver Creek, and advanced lift upgrades including Beaver Creek Lift 5 and Vail Mountain Lifts 7 and 17.

She was also a consistent advocate for women in mountain resort leadership - something the industry has historically lacked.

Howard will lead Vail Mountain through the rest of the current season, support the transition, and serve in an advisory role until her retirement in mid-October 2026.

Who is Shaydar Edelmann?

Edelmann brings more than 25 years of snow sports industry experience, and his track record suggests someone who builds rather than simply maintains.

Most recently, he served as Vice President and General Manager of Heavenly Mountain Resort, where he oversaw the resort's 70th anniversary season, expanded year-round childcare for employees and the local community, and grew summer operations to boost visitation outside the ski season.

Before Heavenly, he was Vice President of Mountain Operations at Park City Mountain - the largest ski resort in the United States - guiding operations through the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple seasons of heavy snowfall. He also contributed to chairlift optimisation strategies across the broader Vail Resorts network.

His earlier career reads like a tour of California's ski country. He started in competitions and events at Alpine Meadows before working through ski school and guest services roles, eventually becoming Vice President of Operations at Boreal Mountain Resort, Soda Springs Mountain Resort, and Woodward Tahoe. At those resorts, he helped establish California's first recycled water snowmaking system and managed the construction of the Woodward Tahoe facility.

A Kiwi background

Originally from Kaikōura, New Zealand, Edelmann grew up around outdoor adventure and was a member of the New Zealand Junior Surf Team before his career took him to the Lake Tahoe region. He currently sits on the boards of the Tahoe Fund, the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, and the Tahoe Destination Stewardship Council, and serves on the executive committee of Ski California.

It's an interesting appointment. Vail Resorts clearly values operational experience and someone who's comfortable driving change, and Edelmann's CV ticks those boxes. Whether that translates into noticeable improvements for the people actually skiing Vail remains to be seen - but on paper, the credentials are solid.