O’Donnell named president of Aspen Former Whistler Mountain President Patrick O’Donnell was named president and chief operating officer of the Aspen Skiing Company last week. O’Donnell, 57, left Whistler Mountain in June 1994 to become executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Aspen/Snowmass ski areas. In his new position O’Donnell will be responsible for all aspects of the company’s skiing operations. Lester Crown, whose family owns a majority of the company, said O’Donnell "has a passion for making the Aspen/Snowmass ski areas the best in the world. In his short tenure here we have made significant strides in elevating our level of customer service." O’Donnell takes over from Bob Maynard, who has served as president since January 1988. Maynard, 68, becomes chairman and remains chief executive officer. He is responsible to the owners for overall management of the company. In the last eight years the Aspen Skiing Company has invested more than $65 million in skiing-related improvements, including new lifts and the purchase and upgrade of the Aspen Highlands ski area. O’Donnell was president of Whistler Mountain Ski Corp. from November 1991 to the spring of 1994. A native of the San Francisco area and an experienced mountaineer, O’Donnell was president of the Yosemite National Institutes, a non-profit environmental education organization, for five years before becoming president and CEO of Patagonia Inc. He spent five years at Patagonia before moving to Whistler. He has also been in management positions at the Badger Pass, Kirkwood Meadows and Keystone ski areas. He worked with Maynard at Keystone and Badger Pass. "Of all the places I have lived and worked, I find the Aspen/Snowmass area the most exciting," O’Donnell said following the announcement of his new position. "This is an incredible place, with four of the finest ski areas in the world and a vibrant, lively community. I’m looking forward to continuing to improve our ski areas and the service we provide to our guests, and to helping ensure that the Roaring Fork Valley remains a great place to live and visit."
