3 upper level Aspen One employees to retire over the next year

Three upper level Aspen One employees will retire over the course of the next year.

Hannah Dixon, Aspen One director of Communications and Public Relations, confirmed in a Wednesday email to The Aspen Times that Chief Human Resources Officer Jim Laing, Senior Vice President of Mountain Operations Katie Ertl, and Vice President of Communications Jeff Hanle will be retiring.

These three employees have been with Aspen One for decades, totaling almost 100 years of experience between them.

Laing will transition to be a senior advisor to the company until he retires next year. He began working at Aspen Skiing Company, which is a part of the Aspen One portfolio, in 1995.

Laing did not answer a request for comment from The Aspen Times.

Ertl became senior vice president of mountain operations in 2017 after working her way up the ladder since she became a ski instructor at Aspen Skiing Company at 18 years old. She will continue her role until Dec. 1 and then will become a senior advisor to Aspen Skiing Company CEO Geoff Buchheister until March 31, 2025.

“I am so grateful for the amazing career opportunities that (Aspen Skiing Company) has provided,” Ertl, who just finished her 37th year, said in a text message to The Aspen Times. “I am sticking around in the valley and hope to be on the slopes with all of the other passionate skiers and riders.”

Hanle, Aspen One vice president of Communications, has been with the company over 26 years. He will stay through next year.

He declined to comment on his retirement but released a statement in an email to The Aspen Times, which was sent from Dixon on behalf of the company.

“We are a growing and evolving organization and with that comes natural change and transition,” the statement said. “The recent internal transition announcement of three valued teammates has been planned for years and (is) part of that natural change cycle. We are deeply grateful for their many years of dedication and service. While they will be missed, these changes provide an opportunity for Aspen One to build upon their legacy, continue to evolve, and continue to raise the bar in serving our guests, employees, and communities.”

As for sale rumors, Aspen One CEO Dave Tanner said that they are “patently false” in a statement emailed to The Aspen Times from Dixon.

“Our ownership has supported Aspen One and the Aspen community for almost 50 years and is steadfast in supporting our business,” the statement said. “Our unique values-based culture, legendary guest service, and unparalleled execution are world-renowned. Our three business verticals — Aspen Skiing Company, Aspen Hospitality, and Aspen Ventures, as well as our centralized Aspen One support functions — are all receiving significant investment to more fully capture the opportunity that exists to continue to elevate everything we do, capitalize on our independence, and to expand the Aspen brand globally. We are focused on building for the next 50 years, not thinking short-term.”

Regan Mertz can be reached at 970-429-9153 or rmertz@aspentimes.com.