About

The mission of the Vail Chamber & Business Association is to responsibly and professionally advocate for economic development and communication for the Vail merchant community that will foster collaborative relationships and revenue development opportunities for its members.

Board of Directors:

Matt Gruesbeck –Treasurer (FirstBank Vail)

Matt Gruesbeck is from Michigan and grew up on a family-owned potato farm.  His family took a ski vacation to Vail when he was in High School, and from that point on, his dream was to live in the greatest place on earth, Vail.

Matt moved to Vail in 2013 after graduating from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and Finance.

He is a Vice President at FirstBank and brings extensive knowledge of local commercial and residential real estate to the board.  Matt is likely skiing and exploring the mountains in his free time with his fiancé, Lauren Arnold and adventure dog, Maverick.

Ami Hudgins (Antlers at Vail)

Ami is the Director of Sales and Revenue at the Antlers at Vail. With 22 years of hospitality experience in the Vail Valley she is committed to growing revenues in the valley through growth in overall occupancy and rate.

Ami’s passion in work is staying close to both local and regional trends to make the best business decisions for the Antlers and Vail and Vail as a destination. Growing up skiing in Waterville Valley New Hampshire, moving to Colorado was always a dream. She loves selling Vail as the best ski resort and an amazing place to raise a family.

 

Mike Lange (Lions Square Lodge)

Mike began working at The Charter at Beaver Creek as a Night Auditor in 1985.  Mike graduated in 1985 with a BA in Finance from UND and an MBA from the University of Denver in 1996.  At The Charter, he held the positions of Controller from 1989-1997 and General Manager from 1997-2015.

He was promoted to Executive General Manager of Vail/BC for Wyndham Vacation Rentals and moved to Lion Square Lodge in 2015.  As an EGM, Mike oversees the day-day operations for Vail/BC and thoroughly understands budgets, property management, and operations.  Mike and his Associates have high service standards and emphasize hotel-type services (bell service, concierge, onsite front desks, daily housekeeping, etc.) in Condominium properties.

Cabal Yarne (Arriesgado Clothing Company)

Cabal has been a Vail Valley resident for the past thirteen years. Cabal gained considerable expertise in developing and operating small and large business enterprises through his work at the Limited. Before that, Cabal managed several clothing and logo businesses in Vail, Beaver Creek, Aspen, and Snowmass.

Cabal is also co-owner of a wholesale entity, Colorado Brand Ltd., which fashionably displays Colorado state flags on targeted clothing items.

Zach Meyers (Manor Vail)

Zach is a native Coloradan and grew up in Burlington, CO, on the eastern plains.  Family vacations to Vail were a winter staple throughout his childhood and high school years.  Zach attended San Diego State University and received a BA in English in 1996.

Shortly after graduating, he started his career in hospitality, working at the historic US Grant Hotel and La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club in San Diego before returning to Colorado to begin what would become a seventeen year career with Vail Resorts hospitality in 2005.

He spent three years working in the Vail Beaver Creek Resort Properties Group Sales Department before transferring to Hotel Jerome in Aspen and working as the Director of Operations over the three years; the property was flagged a RockResort.

In 2011, Zach transferred to Jackson Hole, where he served as Director of Hotel Operations for Grand Teton Lodge Company for five years.  In this role, he led all Lodging, Food, Beverage, Camping and Activities operations under Vail Resorts’ concessions agreement with the National Park Service.

In 2016 he returned to Vail to take on the role of General Manager at The Arrabelle at Vail Square, a RockResort and was promoted to the Senior Director of Lodging role for the Vail Resorts’ lodging operations the town of Vail in 2021.

Zach accepted the role of General Manager at Manor Vail Lodge last July.

Zach is a proud resident of the Town of Vail.  He is passionate about sharing this amazing place with our visitors and delivering world-class hospitality to his guests and homeowners at Manor Vail.  You’ll likely find him out in the mountains enjoying the backcountry, skiing, biking, paddling, or simply taking in nature when he’s not at the hotel.

Marco Valenti (Vail Resorts Retail)

Marco Valenti is the Senior Manager for Vail Resorts Retail in Vail Village and oversees the operation of both the Vail Sports and concept shops.  Marco is passionate about his team, the snowsports industry, and delivering world-class guest service throughout town. Originally from North Carolina, Marco and his wife Celine live in East Vail and are happy to call Vail, CO, home.

Alison Wadey (Executive Director)

Before joining the VCBA team, Alison was an independent marketing and sales consultant for the past two years. Before this, she served as the Director of Membership Sales & Marketing at the Club at Cordillera for ten years. She is involved in the community through the Vail Rotary Club and other charitable organizations.