Steamboat Springs — Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. has announced that President and Chief Operating Officer Chris Diamond is retiring June 30.

“Chris’ vision, drive and common sense approach has firmly established Steamboat as a leader in the industry,” Intrawest CEO Tom Marano said in the news release. “Chris has been an invaluable asset to not only the company but the entire Steamboat Springs community and across the ski industry; we will miss his commitment, dedication and determination.”

Intrawest, Ski Corp.’s parent company, will be conducting an internal and external search for Diamond’s replacement.

“In October at our executive retreat, I shared my intentions with my team to make this my last season at the helm of the resort and figure out what will be my next adventure,” Diamond said. “Steamboat is truly a very special place, and I have enjoyed working with an incredibly talented team over the years. The resort’s future looks bright and the company is in very good hands with the current management team.”

Diamond’s first job in the ski industry was during college when he was a bartender at the Killington Ski Resort in Vermont. He then became assistant to the marketing director and then served a tour in Vietnam with the U.S. Army. When he returned, Diamond said he “wanted to take a little time off to collect myself and my thoughts, and I was offered a great job working for the president of the company.”

With a master’s degree in English, Diamond never intended to spend his career in the ski industry.

Diamond worked for Killington President Preston Smith and stayed at the resort until 1977, when he became the general manager at Mount Snow, another Vermont resort. He came to Ski Corp. in 1999 as managing director.

While at Steamboat, Diamond played an instrumental role in establishing an urban renewal authority at the base of the ski area. The authority funded many improvements at the base area and required close partnerships with property owners and the city of Steamboat Springs.

“To make it all happen, that was quite a challenge but very satisfying,” Diamond said.

Diamond has served as a board member for several organizations in the community, including the Yampa Valley Community Foundation, the Urban Renewal Authority Advisory Committee, the Yampa Valley Airport Advisory Commission, the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association and Colorado Ski Country USA.

He is a past chairman of Ski Country USA and National Ski Areas Association, and in May 2013, Diamond was presented with NSAA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the industry’s highest accolade for his contributions to the ski and snowboard industry.

After retirement, Diamond said he intends to do a lot more skiing, road biking, reading and writing.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Diamond said. “We’re staying in Steamboat.”

To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @SBTStensland