Photo: Brenda Hollon

Mentors

Dr. Kelly Elder - U.S. Forest Service

So many quotes from Dr. Elder adorn my field notebooks "Don't take bad data!"

"Be very careful when you start believing your own bull***!"

Kelly's commitment to the field of snow and avalanche science is an amazing example for me. He challenges me to always ask, "why?" and discover if I really understand what is happening.

Kelly also demonstrates leadership through kindness and respect. He is a role model who I strive to emulate.

Brian Lazar - Colorado Avalanche Information Center

I have learned so much from Brian's breadth and depth of knowledge. His lessons on fracture mechanics and the current state of snow research has changed the way I look at the snow.

I appreciate Brian's talent as a teacher. He has demonstrated to me that to truly understand a topic, you must be able to communicate it at any level.

I have had the privilege of learning from and working with some amazing mentors during my career. Here is a selection of a few of them, how they have influenced me, and demonstrated professionalism in the field.

Peter Carvelli - Snowmass Ski Patrol

Working with Peter on a daily basis has been a huge privilege. Peter has taught me the importance of constantly being out in the snow and the need to get my hands and feet in it every day.

Peter's decades of experience show in everything he does - evaluating snow stability, handling explosives and route finding.

Peter's enthusiasm for passing on his knowledge while continuing to learn and explore new theories sets an example for all those who work with him.

Dr. Dean Modroukas

Dean has guided me throughout my entire career as a researcher, designer and engineer. His analytic mind, systematic approach, and enthusiasm for problem solving has been an example for me to follow when tackling any challenge.

He also demonstrates trust in coworkers and commitment to the value of letting people develop their own styles and ability to figure problems out for themselves.