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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Monday Calendar: Monday, Nov. 10 AARP Vital Aging conference comes to Medford Annual event inspires, supports local artists Couple making home in former church Education Not your father's P.E. class Perk Up coffee shop drive to support Ashland schools Who you going to call? School has its own rodent-buster And the winners are ... Ashland students Marketta Gregory: Stretch yourself for God Environment Navickas ordered to pay court filing fees Celebrating the Pacific Fisher, symbol of a healthy watershed Oregon Climate proposes carbon cost be redistributed Rite Aid cub well, could come back to southern Oregon Report: Smaller streams need further protection Business Silvio Calabi: Does ‘FF’ mean Family Ferrari? 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Silvio Calabi: Does ‘FF’ mean Family Ferrari? Ride & Drive: 2015 Lincoln MKC Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs NEWS NOW 10 things to know for Monday ... Calendar: Monday, Nov. 10 ... Tell Wyden not to push trade pact ... 10 things to know for Monday ... Calendar: Monday, Nov. 10 ... Tell Wyden not to push trade pact ... MT. ASHLAND New hire: Ski area seeks environmental and financial sustainability Mountain Rider's Association co-founder signs on as director of sales and marketing By John Darling For the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Daily Tidings Posted Nov. 7, 2014 @ 7:35 pm Updated Nov 7, 2014 at 7:36 PM By John Darling For the Daily Tidings Posted Nov. 7, 2014 @ 7:35 pm Updated Nov 7, 2014 at 7:36 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Donor helps Mt. Ashland buy new ski boots • Grooming the mountain's facilities to suit the public • Mt. Ashland parking lot paving planned Wednesday • Recap of Mt. Ashland Ski Area survey » Social News With the goal of financial sustainability and year-around outdoor activities, Mt. Ashland Association has partnered with Mountain Rider’s Association, headed up by MRA’s CEO Jamie Schectman, who now becomes Mt. Ashland’s director of sales and marketing. Schectman, who has filled that role here on an interim basis since July, did the same tasks with Mt. Abram in Maine where, he says, he oversaw a boost in skier visits of 35 percent and a revenue hike of 20 percent. MRA, of which he is co-founder, specializes in marketing small ski areas and making them viable, he said, by driving down expenses through volume buying, lowering liability insurance premiums by mitigating risk and by overcoming problems, as outlined in a recent survey of 1,200 users. According to the MRA website, its mission statement is to "develop values-based, environmentally-friendly, rider-centric mountain playgrounds that encourage minimal carbon footprint business practices, while making a positive impact in the local community." The new “partnership” between Mt. Ashland and MRA means Schectman has entered into a services contract with Mt. Ashland, he says, and that he has stepped down from his roles in Maine.  The partnership will focus on “sustainability,” which, he says, means both environmental and financial, seeking to give Mt. Ashland a year-around set of outdoor activities, including zip lines, concerts, retreats, reunions and “holistic outdoor opportunities” — but not mountain-biking, which is ruled out by the steepness of the mountain’s terrain. “'Sustainable mountain playground' is what we call it and it means renewable energy — studies have found wind is a good energy opportunity here — and it means,” he says, “that you take in more money than you spend.”   MRA’s mission, he notes, is “to create a geographically diversified portfolio of like-minded ski areas, which are incredibly important to the overall health of the ski industry. These ski areas, like Mt. Ashland, are feeder resorts. We’re able to focus on making them thrive by combining forces instead of having them be independent, stand-alone resorts.” Schectman’s contract runs through the season and will be reviewed in April, he said. As part of the changes, Michael Stringer, a consultant in past months, has been retained as development director. “I’m going to increase events, increase awareness of Mt. Ashland and bring people up here to have fun,” he said. “We going to get back to providing a great ski experience. This is a very reasonably priced nonprofit organization and we need to continue that." The recent user survey points out shortcomings in food and beverage service, guest service, and flow in the main lodge, resulting in committees to improve these —- and, Schectman said, he will see they are improved to bring the operation up to full sustainability. John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Email him at [email protected].   By John Darling For the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Daily Tidings Posted Nov. 7, 2014 @ 7:35 pm Updated Nov 7, 2014 at 7:36 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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