Great news coming in from Antelope Butte. See below:
August 26, 2015
Antelope Butte Foundation Hires Permanent Executive Director
SHERIDAN, WY – The Antelope Butte Foundation (ABF) has selected Ranchester resident Andrew Gast as its first permanent employee and Executive Director. Andrew follows Jamie Schectman who had been serving as interim Executive Director since March 2015. Schectman is the CEO of Mountain Riders’ Alliance, an organization that supports community ski areas, and that helped solidify the foundation for ABF’s project to reopen the Antelope Butte Ski Area.
Gast earned a bachelor’s degree in recreation management from the University of Georgia and MBA in tourism from Columbia Southern University. He is a Certified Park & Recreation Professional, has worked on projects with Whitefish Mountain Resort and Cataloochee Ski Area, and served in executive manager and camp director roles for the Boy Scouts of America. Most recently, Andrew was the financial director of the Sheridan Senior Center before joining the Antelope Butte Foundation as a consultant to guide fundraising and special events this past spring.
“I’m a lifelong skier and lover of the mountains”, Gast said. “When the Antelope Butte project started to gain momentum, I realized that I have experience from other organizations that could help. I felt called to help open Antelope Butte for the sake of my sons and the other children who can learn mountain sports on our local mountain.”
Antelope Butte Foundation president Mark Weitz led the board in their selection. “We were impressed with Andrew’s experience in the recreation and nonprofit fields, in several capacities, and in his demonstrated skills in fundraising and community outreach with ABF. More so, Andrew’s passion and commitment to our community ski and recreation area was abundantly obvious. With all that, we knew he was the right person for helping ABF to reach its goals.” Weitz said.
Gast will start in his new role on August 31 and be responsible for the long-term goals of the Antelope Butte Foundation, as well as management of its day-to-day operations. “Our immediate focus is to raise the cash to complete the purchase of the ski area, get the deed, start working on the facilities, and engage the army of volunteers waiting to chip in and help. Then, we will focus on the rehabilitation of the ski area, with our goal of getting the lifts running 15 months from now.”
About Antelope Butte Foundation:
Antelope Butte Foundation’s mission is to provide affordable and accessible skiing, year-round mountain recreation, and outdoor education and training for all guests, especially youth and beginners. The organization is under contract to purchase the Antelope Butte Ski Area, and projects to reopen the ski area for the 2016-2017 winter season. For more information, please visit http://www.antelopebuttefoundation.org/
Media Contact: Andrew Gast, (307) 763-0203
NEWS RELEASE
Please send media inquiries to andrew@AntelopeButteFoundation.org
