Reitzell to leave NSAA after two years, citing family health challenges

Michael Reitzell will step down as president and CEO of the National Ski Areas Association on Nov. 10, ending a two-year tenure at the helm of the U.S. ski-area trade group. In announcing his decision, Reitzell cited serious health challenges in his family and a desire to devote more time to his wife and two young children.

The announcement, published by Ski Area Management on Oct. 27, was personal in tone and clear about the reason. Reitzell said that he and his wife, Kristen, had navigated significant family health issues, including difficult recent news, prompting them to reassess their priorities. He also said he intends to remain connected to the ski industry, though he did not specify what form that involvement might take.

NSAA board chair Stephen Kircher said the board would begin searching for a successor soon and thanked Reitzell for launching initiatives the association can continue to build on. Reitzell, for his part, expressed confidence in the organization’s foundation and commitment to a smooth transition.

The short tenure is notable because Reitzell arrived with deep industry experience. Before joining NSAA, he spent nine years as president of Ski California, representing resorts in California and Nevada, and previously worked as an attorney representing ski resorts. At Ski California, he helped develop the Mountain Safety Guide and expand the Lift Maintenance and Operations Education conference—work that made safety education and workforce training part of his leadership record.

At NSAA, the remit was broader: strategic direction and operations spanning government relations, public relations, research, finances, member education and administration. Those responsibilities place the organization at the intersection of resort business, public policy and mountain recreation. The association’s own industry-statistics program covers subjects including visitation, climate and sustainability, safety, and the economics of skiing and snowboarding.

That agenda has become especially tangible in the latest season data. Preliminary figures for 2025–26 put U.S. ski-area visits at 52.6 million, down about 9.1 percent from the 10-year average. The national snowfall average was 112 inches, compared with a 10-year average of 169 inches; the weak western season was partly offset by strong visitation in the Northeast and Southeast. These figures underline a central challenge for the next leader: helping resorts navigate volatile weather while sustaining participation, investment and the communities that depend on mountain tourism.

Reitzell’s departure therefore creates both a personal transition and an institutional one. The board now faces the task of choosing a leader who can carry forward existing initiatives while representing a varied industry—from small regional hills to large destination resorts—through shifting conditions. The announcement does not identify an interim leader or provide a timetable for the search beyond saying it will begin soon.