Vail Resorts Names Trent Poole As New Vice President And General Manager Of Heavenly Mountain Resort

Vail Resorts has officially announced a major leadership change at its premier Lake Tahoe property, appointing industry veteran Trent Poole as the new Vice President and General Manager of Heavenly Mountain Resort.

Poole, who currently serves in the exact same dual capacity at Hunter Mountain in New York, will step into the vacancy left by former Heavenly chief Shaydar Edelmann. Edelmann vacated the role in April after being promoted to Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the company's flagship Vail Mountain property in Colorado.

A Rapid Ascent Through the Vail Ecosystem

The appointment marks Poole’s fourth general manager position within the sprawling Vail Resorts network in just over six years. His executive trajectory showcases a diverse cross-section of geographic and operational leadership:

• December 2019: Appointed General Manager of Mad River Mountain, Ohio.

• 2021: Promoted to lead the multi-mountain operations at Jack Frost Big Boulder, Pennsylvania.

• October 2023: Transitioned to helm Hunter Mountain, New York—one of the East Coast's busiest ski destinations.

• May 2026: Named Vice President and General Manager of Heavenly Mountain Resort, California/Nevada.

Before his rapid string of operational promotions, Poole built a deep institutional foundation at Vail Resorts, where he has been employed since 2005. He spent more than a decade rising through the corporate ranks in high-level finance and accounting leadership roles, giving him a unique analytical edge in managing large-scale resort budgets and capital allocations.

Endorsement from Corporate Leadership

Tim Baker, Senior Vice President of Vail Resorts’ regional destination resorts division, expressed immense confidence in Poole's capability to manage the complex, bi-state operations at Heavenly.

“Trent is a passionate and charismatic leader with deep experience across mountain operations, finance, and project management at Vail Resorts," Baker said in a public statement. “His leadership style makes him exceptionally well-suited to lead the Heavenly team and build on the resort's momentum in partnership with employees, guests, and the broader community.”

Poole’s executive reputation extends beyond resort boundaries; he is highly regarded for regional collaboration. He currently serves as an executive board member for the Ski Areas of New York (SANY) and is an active participant on the greater Hunter area comprehensive planning task force, helping bridge the gap between corporate ski operations and local municipal development.

Looking Ahead to Tahoe

Heavenly Mountain Resort, famed for its sprawling terrain cutting across the California and Nevada border and its dramatic views over Lake Tahoe, represents a significant step up in scale for Poole.

“I have long admired the Heavenly team’s resilience, grit, and commitment to service and the resort experience,” Poole said of his new appointment. “I’m looking forward to joining the team and working alongside the broader community to continue to elevate Heavenly and South Lake Tahoe as an incredible place to live, work, and recreate.”

A native of Columbus, Ohio, and a proud graduate of Ohio University, Poole is preparing to transition across the country. He and his family are slated to relocate permanently to the Tahoe region in the coming weeks to prepare for the upcoming summer operations and the 2026/27 winter ski season.