Andrew Wirth

Early life and education

Andy Wirth was born in Neubrucke, West Germany on July 25, 1963.

Wirth has a Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State University and attended Edinburgh University in Scotland.

Wirth worked as a backcountry ranger for the Rocky Mountain National Parks and a wilderness ranger in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness Area. He was also a member of the Hot Shot Wild Land Fire Crew based out of Northern New Mexico.

Early career

Wirth began as an intern with the Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation in 1986. He worked at Steamboat for more than 20 years, serving in many different marketing positions within Steamboat and for ownership groups involved in the ski resort industry, while based out of Steamboat. In 2007, he was promoted into the parent company Intrawest, which completed acquisition of Steamboat in 2006 for $265 million, and he was named the chief marketing officer and executive vice president of sales and marketing. At Intrawest, Wirth managed domestic and global marketing strategy, overseeing Intrawest's full portfolio of mountain and ski resorts

Wirth also led and founded the Mountain Village Partnership (MVP) in 2009, serving as president of the board of directors of the organization. MVP is a business and marketing promotion group supporting local businesses, and it is sponsored by Steamboat.

Wirth was active in Steamboat Springs, serving as chairman of the board of directors for the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, a 100-year-old organization responsible for the development of winter sports athletes and staging of winter competitive sporting events. Wirth also served as a volunteer fireman and then board member of the North Routt Fire Protection District.

In 2010, he helped direct Steamboat's Olympic send-off for the American Winter Olympic teams going to Vancouver. Wirth was also involved in two previous Olympic send-off celebrations in 2002 and 2006.

Squaw Valley

In the summer of August 2010, Wirth was appointed the President and CEO of Squaw Valley ski resort. He replaced former CEO Nancy Cushing, who was exited from the position after 16 years as President and CEO. Until Wirth took over, Squaw Valley had always been under the direction of the Cushing family after the ski resort was founded by Wayne Poulsen in the 1940s and later owned by Nancy's late husband, Alex Cushing.

Under Wirth's direction as CEO, the company underwent a $70 million upgrade. Changes included vastly improved mountain design and infrastructure, renovations to culinary, base area facilities, lodging and common areas and were funded by KSL Capital Partners, which bought Squaw in November 2010. Improvements have also included much-needed alterations to the customer experience. According to Wirth, "Squaw Valley moved from the bottom 20 percent of ski resorts into the top 20 percent over the year" for customer service satisfaction.

In September 2011, it was announced that Alpine Meadows Ski Resort and nearby Squaw Valley would merge to offer a combined ticket pass to customers. Wirth led the acquisition of Alpine Meadows and is now the President and CEO of both resorts.

Squaw Valley USA, north of Lake Tahoe in California, was home to the 1960 Winter Olympics and combined with Alpine Meadows offers over 6000 acres of skiable terrain for visitors.

Wirth is featured on the March 8, 2013 episode of Undercover Boss, where he goes undercover at his Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows ski resorts.

In 2017, Squaw Valley Ski Holdings, KSL Capital Partners and the Henry Crown Company merged. The resulting holding company acquired Intrawest Resort Holdings and Mammoth Resorts.

Philanthropy

Wirth is a member of the Tahoe Fund "Founders Circle" and is a major supporter and contributor to environmental and community service organizations, including the Humane Society of Tahoe Truckee, The Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation Community House, High Fives, The McConkey Foundation, Girls on the Run Sierra Chapter and the Truckee River Watershed Council.

Over the course of his career, Wirth has served as a member or in a leadership role of several community organizations in Steamboat including:

Since arriving in the Lake Tahoe area in 2010 Wirth has served or is serving on the following Boards and community service organizations:

Current philanthropy work outside of the Lake Tahoe Area:

Awards

Wirth is a recipient of multiple community service and professional awards. In 2012, Wirth was awarded the Chairman’s Outstanding Service Award from the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority Board of Trustees. Wirth was the recipient of the 2002 Steamboat Springs Business Leader of the Year Award. In 2009, he was also awarded a spot on the HSMAI Top 25 Minds in Hospitality and Travel Sales and Marketing list.

In 2014, he was recognized as Citizen of the Year by Disabled Sports USA and received the Community Five Award.

Personal life

In 2013, Wirth was featured in a Wall Street Journal article about his workout routine and trail running. He has competed in half-marathons and triathlons.

In October 2013, Wirth's right arm was torn off and surgically reattached, as a result of a skydiving accident in Lodi, California. Due to changing wind conditions and other factors, Wirth, an experienced and licensed skydiver, along with other skydivers, were not able to make it to the designated landing area. Wirth landed on steel posts and wires in a vineyard outside the landing area. Wirth was able to slow bleeding of his brachial artery until he was airlifted to the University of California, Davis trauma center, where his arm was reattached. Additional surgeries were performed at the Buncke Clinic at the California Pacific Medical Center. Wirth returned to work after 50 days in the hospital and over 23 surgeries on his right arm.