CMC Professor Staib Wins an Emmy

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Associate Professor of Social Science Patrick Staib and his father, Walter Staib.

Associate Professor of CMC Social Science Patrick Staib and his father, Walter Staib.

Associate Professor of Social Science Patrick Staib with his Emmy CMC Professor Patrick Staib won an Emmy for his work as Producer/Co-Host for the “A Sentimental Journey Through Nicaragua”- A Taste of History TV series. Staib's father, Walter, also won an Emmy for his role as Program Host/Moderator.

Patrick is an Associate Professor of Social Sciences and Affiliated Faculty with the Sustainability Studies degree program at CMC Steamboat Springs.

The episode was a tribute to Patrick's mother, Gloria, who passed away in 2016. The cooking and history show episode delves into the culture and cuisine of Gloria’s homeland, Nicaragua.

This was his first episode at the reigns as producer. It was “trial by fire,” Patrick said. “It was an example of applied anthropology.”

Read the complete Steamboat Pilot story: CMC professor wins Emmy for work on ‘A Taste of History’ episode

Sustainability Studies to Sustainable Jobs

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From left, Mikayla Curtis, Nikki Maline and Bailey Matthews have all landed jobs using the knowledge they gained from studying sustainability at CMC in Edwards. Photo Ed Kosmicki

From left, Mikayla Curtis, Nikki Maline and Bailey Matthews have all landed jobs using the knowledge they gained from studying sustainability at CMC in Edwards. Photo Ed Kosmicki

Students in CMC’s sustainability program graduate to successful careers

Nikki Maline arrived in Eagle County from Nebraska in 1997 with an Associate of Arts degree from Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte. Since then, she’d gone into real estate. She received her real estate broker associate license with the state of Colorado in 2005, but something wasn’t right for her.

That’s when she decided to earn her bachelor’s degree in sustainability studies at Colorado Mountain College in Edwards. She graduated in May 2015.

“It was so perfect,” she said of studying sustainability. “It made such sense to me.”

Today, Maline is the energy programs coordinator at Walking Mountains Science Center in Avon, where a number of CMC students, graduates and faculty have either worked, interned or been associated, such as its founder, Kim Langmaid.

Now 41, Maline, with her sustainability studies degree in hand, says her whole world has turned around.

“I love my job,” she said of her work, which includes serving as an energy coach for individuals and businesses. “It’s a totally different working environment than real estate. I can make a difference.”

Early education to sustainable solar energy

Coincidentally, Bailey Matthews also came to Eagle County from Nebraska. After getting her associate degree from Western Nebraska Community College, she came to Colorado and taught special education at Battle Mountain High School for seven years. All the while, Matthews took night classes at Colorado Mountain College.

Like Maline, however, Matthews was looking for a different focus in her life, so when she learned that the college offered a bachelor’s degree in sustainability studies, she registered for the program.

“One of the things I liked about getting my degree with CMC’s sustainability program,” Matthews, 32, said, “was that there was no preaching. Mercedes [Associate Professor of Sustainability Studies Dr. Mercedes Quesada-Embid] is brilliant. She teaches without judgment. She gives her students the power to decide. And it was affordable. I was able to graduate without a huge student loan.”

Since Matthews graduated last May, she has moved from elementary education to solar energy. Today, she’s the solar project manager at Active Energies in Minturn, working with a team consulting, designing and building solar systems for residential and commercial construction.

And there’s another advantage.

“I can bring my dog to work,” she said with a smile.

Sustainability in all its forms

Mikayla Curtis already had two college degrees when she decided to study for a sustainability leadership certificate. A native of the Vail Valley and an alumna of Vail Christian High School, she received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Puget Sound and her master’s degree in negotiation, conflict resolution and peacebuilding from California State University, Dominquez Hills.

Because of her interest and past experience in family and youth development – she had overseen leadership development programs for SOS Outreach in Edwards, for example – Curtis was most interested in studying sustainable social science, such as food systems and cultural equity.

“The certificate program pieced together a little bit of everything,” Curtis, 32, said. “It relates to sustainable family structures, and what kind of priorities are needed for social equity.”

While completing the certificate’s 15 credit hours in December 2014, Curtis accepted a position as the resource development coordinator, and more recently as the manager of strategic impact at Eagle River Youth Coalition in Edwards, which collaborates with other organizations to build strong community support for youth.

For Maline, Matthews and Curtis, though their careers are in diverse areas such as energy and science education, solar and green building, or providing youth with ongoing opportunities, sustainability links them all together.

“[Our careers] are all intertwined and connected,” said Maline.

'Snowboarding forever' with the Ski Area Ops program

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Colin Whitaker Ski Area Ops graduate launches career at Killington Resort

Photo provided by Colin Whitaker

Ski Area Ops graduate lands full-time position at Killington Ski Resort

Colin Whitaker has been snowboarding for more than twenty years. According to him, it’s his life passion. At a young age, he knew he wanted to make a career in the ski industry. In 2013, he began working as a ski patroller at Wintergreen Resort in Nellysford, VA - just under an hour from his hometown of Fairfield, VA. After four seasons of patrolling at Wintergreen, where the elevation tops out at 3,900’, he was ready to pursue his passion for powder and explore opportunities at bigger mountains.

In 2017, Colin moved to Leadville, CO to study Ski Area Operations at Colorado Mountain College and learn from experts in the industry. He was ready to add a degree to his resume and open up new professional opportunities.

On Mountains & In Classrooms

Colin Whitaker Ski Area Ops graduate launches mountain operations career at Killington Resort

Photo provided by Colin Whitaker

We learned from the best,” says Colin, “Bear (retired SAO instructor Paul ‘Bear’ Raushke), Goose (SAO instructor Jason ‘Goose’ Gusaas), and Brian Rosser (SAO alumnus turned instructor) are incredible people to learn from. Collectively they have more than 50 years of experience in the ski industry.”

Small classes with peers who shared his passion for getting first chair - or last, depending on class schedule - combined with hands-on learning were instrumental to Colin’s success at CMC. Unique opportunities like climbing lift towers, and grooming trails, offered first-hand experience with mountain operations.

“We were able to put valuable time to use in a non-classroom setting, like Grooming Lab at Ski Cooper,” says Colin, “CMC was the right choice for me because we had more hands-on learning than book learning. That’s my preferred learning style.”

Classroom time was invaluable as well. In fact, Colin’s favorite class was Ski Area Planning, where students designed their own ski area on paper. The course focuses on computing skiing capacity while balancing facilities, lifts, trails and other various environmental constraints.

Mountain Ops & Patrol

Colin Whitaker ski area ops graduate at colorado mountain college Leadville launches mountain ops and ski patrol career at Killington Resort

Photo provided by Colin Whitaker

Colin graduated in spring 2019, and accepted a full-time position with Killington Ski Resort, owned by Powdr Corporation. During summer resort operations, he facilitates medical needs for the mountain bike park, while conducting basic mountain operations with other departments. When the snow starts falling, his efforts will shift to a traditional ski patrol role—providing medical, rescue, and hazard prevention services—while working with different departments to aid mountain operations.

“I’m super excited to have a full time position with a great corporate ski resort. Here I can help the company grow by working with a number of departments including patrol. Thanks to my education at CMC, I understand mountain operations and the workings of a ski area. Everything I see and do in this role is something I’m familiar with because of the Ski Area Ops program.”

10 Steps Ahead

At twenty-seven years old, Colin’s resume is impressive; Four years of ski patrol, a degree in Ski Area Operations with a certificate in Slope and Trail Maintenance, and exposure to all aspects of mountain operations at various resorts around Colorado.

“If you’re considering the Ski Area Operations program at Colorado Mountain College, just commit,” reflects Colin, “You’ll be 10 steps ahead of everyone else trying to get a job in the industry. I wanted to snowboard forever, and CMCs SAO program is helping me live my dream.”

Colin Whitaker, Ski Area Ops graduate at COlorado Mountain College Leadville, operating a snowcat during a Colorado sunset. He landed a full-time job at Killington Resort this past spring.

Photo provided by Colin Whitaker

A sustainable transition: Langmaid joins CMC

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Kim Langmaid

Dr. Kim Langmaid, the founder and vice president of sustainability at Walking Mountains Science Center, has accepted a position as associate professor of sustainability studies at Colorado Mountain College Vail Valley.

A sustainable transition: Langmaid joins CMC

Dr. Kim Langmaid, the founder and vice president of sustainability at Walking Mountains Science Center, has accepted a position as associate professor of sustainability studies at Colorado Mountain College Vail Valley at Edwards. Langmaid began her work at CMC this week.

Markian Feduschak, president of Walking Mountains, offered his gratitude and congratulations to Langford. “On behalf of Walking Mountains’ board and staff, we wish Kim all the best in her new role,” said Feduschak. “While she will certainly be missed in her full-time role here, we are pleased that she will maintain a senior consulting role at Walking Mountains and remain engaged with our board of directors. We are excited about the positive influence she will have on our local students and community leading the sustainability studies program at CMC Vail Valley.”

Dr. Anne Moll, dean of the School of Humanities, Social Sciences, Sustainability and Education at CMC, said the combination of Langmaid’s exceptional educational background, leadership skills, deep community involvement, and longstanding teaching and curriculum development at the college determined her appointment.

“She is a visionary individual, with the creation and development of Walking Mountains as a testament to her dedication and capacity to think locally but impact globally,” said Moll. “We are excited to have her vision of sustainability not only for rural mountain communities but for global impact.”

‘A commitment to inspire’

When Langmaid founded Walking Mountains in 1998 it reached 900 people, according to Paul Abling, Walking Mountains marketing and communications director. Today, the organization reaches more than 169,000 annually by providing opportunities to learn about the mountain environment through natural science and sustainability programs.

“All of my experiences starting and working with Walking Mountains have been driven by a commitment to inspire and develop our community through experiential environmental science and sustainability education,” said Langmaid. “This new opportunity as a professor of sustainability studies will continue that trajectory, educating and continually improving our community with an eye to the future.”

Langmaid received a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences at Colorado State University, a Master of Arts in environmental studies from Prescott College and a Ph.D. in environmental studies from Antioch University New England. In addition to founding Walking Mountains, she is the former director of the graduate program at Teton Science Schools, and has taught in the environmental studies and sustainability education graduate programs at Prescott College.

At Colorado Mountain College, Langmaid was part of the original design team for the college’s bachelor’s degree in sustainability studies.

“My past experiences helping create the sustainability studies program at CMC and then teaching courses part-time as an adjunct faculty were extremely positive,” she said. “The students in this program are diverse and dedicated to making a positive impact. They are an integral and important part of our community and our future.”

A strengthened partnership

Feduschak noted Langmaid’s transition to CMC will create even stronger ties between the college and the science center, both of which serve the local community – and the world. Langmaid plans to continue the work she began at Walking Mountains regarding the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Sustainable Tourism Training programs and the Mountain IDEAL Sustainable Destination program, both of which have designated Vail as a sustainable mountain resort destination.

“Throughout Kim’s career, she's been relentless in her vision for environmental sustainability and has a history of creating tangible results,” Feduschak said. “Her work is even more important now due to our community’s growth and significant local and global environmental concerns.”

Colorado Mountain College and Walking Mountains are both founding members of the Climate Action Collaborative for Eagle County. And, Walking Mountains has multiple staff members and interns who have been or are currently enrolled in the sustainability program at CMC.

“We are pleased that Walking Mountains will be able to strengthen its partnership with CMC due to Kim’s experience at both organizations,” said Feduschak.

CMC Cross Country Team makes history

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Colorado Mountain College's first sanctioned cross country running team members are from left, Chris Rohlf, Tyrone Chavez, Connor McDermott, Caleb Neel, Jack Setser and Jason Macaluso. Photo Phil Dunn

Colorado Mountain College's first sanctioned cross country running team members are from left, Chris Rohlf, Tyrone Chavez, Connor McDermott, Caleb Neel, Jack Setser and Jason Macaluso. Photo Phil Dunn

CMC Cross Country Team makes history

Aug. 31, Colorado Mountain College Leadville hosted the 10,000 Foot Invite, officially introducing the college’s new cross country running team. The meet signified the first time CMC has ever had a sanctioned cross country team, which means it can now compete as part of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

From left, the CMC Cross Country Team at their season opener. CMC's racers all ran their fastest times for an 8K at altitude. Photo Phil Dunn

The CMC Cross Country Team at their season opener. CMC's racers all ran their fastest times for an 8K at altitude. Photo Phil Dunn

“I saw a lot of positive things today,” said Coach Darren Brungardt of the all-freshmen team, who competed against a cross country team from Colorado College. “These six men are trailblazers for the future of this team.”

Brungardt recruited five runners from high schools in Colorado, and one runner from Kansas.

“This is the highest collegiate cross country race in the galaxy,” Brungardt said, grinning, of the 10,000 Foot Invite. “Each man is dealing with our altitude in different ways. It is not easy, but they are a group that knew that this was going to be a challenge and are persevering.’

CMC’s Jason Macaluso graduated last June from Battle Mountain High School. He clocked the fastest time among CMC racers in the men’s 8K at Saturday’s 10,000-ft. Invite.

With a time of 32:22, the CMC freshman vied for top spots with two Colorado College seniors who came in at 29:41 and 30:29, respectively.

“Jason hung with runners that are, at sea level, 25:00 8K racers,” said Brungardt.

Brungardt said that all of CMC’s runners ran their fastest time for an 8K at altitude.

“We have been primarily working on being fast on our course,” Brungardt said following the race. “Now that we are done with the most challenging cross country meet of the season, we can focus on speed.

Jason Macaluso comes in with a strong finish for Colorado Mountain College at the 10,000 Foot Invite at CMC Leadville Aug. 31.  Photo Phil Dunn

Jason Macaluso comes in with a strong finish for Colorado Mountain College at the 10,000 Foot Invite at CMC Leadville Aug. 31.  Photo Phil Dunn

“I am so proud of each guy,” said Brungardt. “These men made history today as the first ever collegiate cross country team to race for the Eagles.”

Team members are Tyrone Chavez, Gilcrest Valley High School; Jason Macaluso, Battle Mountain High School; Connor McDermott, Elizabeth High School; Caleb Neel, Green Mountain High School; Chris Rohlf, Summit High School; and Jack Setser, Wichita North High School.

The team’s next meet is the Joe I. Vigil Open in Alamosa on Sept. 7. See the CMC Cross Country Team for more information.

Ski Ops Grad Lands Job at Hometown Mountain

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Ski Area Ops graduate Dallas Zamora in the CMC leadville backyard terrain park

Ski Ops Grad Lands Job at Hometown Mountain

Returning to His Roots: Ski Ops Grad Lands Job at Hometown Mountain

DallasZamora SAO graduiate cmc leadville ski area operations professors

Retired Ski Area Operations Professor Paul “Bear” Rauschke (left), CMC graduate Dallas Zamora, and Professor Jason Gusaas at the Colorado Mountain College Leadville graduation ceremony

Dallas Zamora is returning to the mountains he grew up on, and bringing his career with him.  Thanks to his degree in Ski Area Operations and three years of professional experience on his resume, Dallas landed a job as a Terrain Park Cat Operator at Powder Mountain in Eden, Utah—just 40 minutes from his hometown.

In 2019, Dallas graduated from Colorado Mountain College Leadville with his Associates Degree in Ski Area Operations and two certificates in Slope and Trail Maintenance. Thanks to the curriculum requirements and hands-on nature of the Ski Area Ops program, Dallas had accrued three years of work experience in Colorado before graduating.

"While I was living in Colorado and going to school, I worked park crew for Vail Resorts," says Dallas, originally from Layton, UT, "I was hand crew so basically I was putting the finishing touches on all the features."

While in school, Ski Area Ops students are required to get a job in their field for at least a full semester. The real-world experience jump starts their ski industry career - boosting their resume with relevant experience while getting paid and earning college credit. Dallas worked for Vail Resorts for more than three years, before deciding to take his passion back home to the mountains he grew up on.

As a natural hands-on learner, it's no surprise that Terrain Parks and Snow Vehicle Maintenance were two of Dallas' favorite classes. Small class sizes and close connections with instructors also contributed to his success at CMC. Professors became friends, extending their professional network and opening new opportunities at resorts around the world.

"I took advantage of every resource and networking opportunity while going to school at CMC," says Dallas, "I asked if my instructors had any connections to Powder Mountain and they helped me get my foot in the door. Thanks to those connections, this winter I will be setting features and building terrain parks at Powder Mountain."

Though Dallas will be returning to Utah, he shares fond memories of his time at Colorado Mountain College Leadville.

"I loved living on campus," says Dallas, "It was so much fun having your brand new friends all in the same building. Getting to ride in the backyard park, hit the climbing wall or play pool whenever you wanted. It was definitely a really fun experience."

Ski Area Ops graduate Dallas Zamora in the Leadville backyard terrain park