A group of cross country skiers standing on snow.

How PSIA-AASI Operates


PSIA-AASI is a 501(c)6 membership association with a related 501(c)3 Education Foundation. Our organization is made up of eight regions representing all parts of the country and our more than 34,000 members. There are more than 20 member groups that work together to guide and govern our association. Read on for more details and links to relevant documentation.

PSIA-AASI Priorities (“Ends”)

1.0 broadest end: PSIA-AASI Members receive innovative, inspirational, and accessible professional development to enhance their careers and leadership potential in the Snowsports industry.
  • 1.1: Members, partners, and the public recognize PSIA-AASI education, training, and credentials as a global standard and valued service.
  • 1.2. Members experience profound personal and professional growth and participation in diverse communities.
  • 1.3 Members consistently receive exceptional service, benefits, and value for their membership across the PSIA-AASI organization.

Policy Governance and PSIA-AASI

PSIA-AASI’s board of directors uses a Policy Governance® model. It clearly defines and guides the relationship between PSIA-AASI’s owners (members), its board, and its CEO and helps the board make strategic decisions in the best interest of the association. This model clearly identifies outcomes, or “Ends,” that the board wants to have happen on behalf of all members. It is PSIA-AASI’s CEO job to oversee staff to implement the ends.

Governance Groups and Structure

The highest levels of PSIA-AASI organizational leadership include the board of directors, Education Leadership Council, and Operational Leadership Council.

PSIA-AASI’s national board of directors includes representatives from each region who also sit on their regional boards. The national-level president’s council is comprised of all regional board members. At the national level, the board organizes four committees: Awards and Recognition, Audit and Investment, Executive Compensation, and Governance and Leadership Development.

The Education Leadership Council includes task forces representing each discipline. The Operational Leadership Council includes advisory groups and committees that work on specific issues and topics.

The board of directors and its chairperson oversee specific governance committees and oversee PSIA-AASI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The CEO’s job is to carry out the vision of the board and the governance groups by implementing the day-to-day operations of PSIA-AASI. This includes finances, marketing, member services, and education initiatives.

Operational Committees

PSIA-AASI’s operational excellence and continual innovation are thanks in large part to the snowsports education and discipline experts who willingly give their time and talents to our organization through their work on advisory groups, committees, and task forces.

The Education Leadership Council (ELC) serves PSIA-AASI educational directives and acts as the conduit between all discipline task forces and association leadership to drive consistency in all educational initiatives. The ELC additionally acts as the visionary steering council for future growth and evolution in snowsports education. During the 2016 Leadership summit, the ELC was charged with Strategic Goal Three: Complete the transition in consolidation, consistency and cooperation regarding education and certification.

Chair: Dave Schuiling, National PSIA-AASI Education Director

Phillip Howel, Central. Keri Reid, Eastern. Colleen Jamieson, Intermountain. Ben Roberts, Northern Intermountain. Jill Imsand Chumbley, Northern Rocky Mountain. Rick Lyons, Northwest. Dave Gregory, Rocky Mountain. Lynnea Anderson, Western. Jeb Boyd, PSIA-AASI National Team Head Coach. Michael Rogan, National Team Alpine Coach. Emily Lovett, National Team Cross Country Alumni. Geoff Krill, National Team Adaptive Coach. Eric Rolls, National Team Snowboard Team Coach. Greg Dixon, National Team Telemark Coach. Matt Boyd, National Team Alpine Assistant & Development Coach. Tony Macri, Snowboard Assistant & Development Coach.

The Adaptive Task Force serves PSIA-AASI adaptive alpine and snowboard discipline directives and acts as the conduit between all divisional adaptive certification and education groups. It also acts as the visionary steering group for future growth and evolution of adaptive sport education. To drive consistency in all educational initiatives, the adaptive task force reports to the Education Leadership Council (ELC).

The Alpine Task Force serves PSIA-AASI alpine discipline directives and acts as the conduit between all divisional alpine certification and education groups. It also acts as the visionary steering group for future growth and evolution of alpine sport education. To drive consistency in all educational initiatives, the alpine task force reports to the Education Leadership Council (ELC).

The National Children’s Task Force serves PSIA-AASI children’s specialist discipline directives and acts as the conduit between all divisional children’s specialist certification and education groups. It also acts as the visionary steering group for future growth and evolution of children’s specialist education. To drive consistency in all educational initiatives, the NCTF reports to the Education Leadership Council (ELC).

The Cross Country Task Force serves PSIA-AASI cross country discipline directives and acts as the conduit between all divisional cross country certification and education groups. It also acts as the visionary steering group for future growth and evolution of cross country sport education. To drive consistency in all educational initiatives, the cross country task force reports to the Education Leadership Council (ELC).

The Equity and Inclusion Advisory Group advises PSIA-AASI operational leadership on equity and inclusion matters. They develop and promote strategies and best practices to educate on the topics of age, ability, disability, ethnic origin and nationality, racial, religious, social, sexual, and gender diversity. This Equity and Inclusion Advisory Group strives to empower the Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) community; the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning (LGBTQ+) community; and other marginalized groups by providing and creating education opportunities for them to engage with peers and advance their snowsports education. Their ultimate goal is to provide the betterment of PSIA-AASI’s culture through all facets of PSIA-AASI’s education efforts, including the Learning Connection model, so that everyone is provided with an inclusive educational and professional experience through snowsports.

The Education Foundation Advisory Committee develops, updates, and works with staff to implement a fundraising plan for PSIA-AASI’s Education Foundation, including grants, donations, and ideas to strengthen existing and new scholarship programs. This advisory committee also serves as a review and selection team for active funding and scholarship opportunities set up through PSIA-AASI’s Education Foundation and/or creates subcommittees to meet the need for the grant and scholarship distributions. The group also reviews PSIA-AASI Education Foundation financial reports provided by operations staff and suggests possible management of funds to the organization.

The Freestyle Specialist Task Force serves PSIA-AASI freestyle discipline directives and acts as the conduit between all divisional freestyle certification and education groups. It also acts as the visionary steering group for future growth and evolution of freestyle sport education. To drive consistency in all educational initiatives, the freestyle specialist task force reports to the Education Leadership Council (ELC).

Founded by former PSIA Alpine Team Member (1992-96) Nancy Oakes Hall, this scholarship enables women in PSIA-AASI to advance their skills and seek leadership roles in the industry. The Nancy Oakes Hall Women’s Scholarship Committee selects scholarship recipients.

The Snowboard Task Force serves PSIA-AASI snowboard discipline directives and acts as the conduit between all divisional snowboard certification and education groups. It also acts as the visionary steering group for future growth and evolution of snowboard sport education. To drive consistency in all educational initiatives, the snowboard task force reports to the Education Leadership Council (ELC).

This groups provides updates on industry trends, and shares issues, from a snowsports managers perspective. The task force is a conduit for disseminating ideas, plans, projects, so member schools have resources for best practices. Members of this group collaborate to plan and provide regional meetings and training opportunities for management groups. The task force also helps steer the direction for educational programing.

The Telemark Task Force serves PSIA-AASI telemark discipline directives and acts as the conduit between all divisional telemark certification and education groups. It also acts as the visionary steering group for future growth and evolution of telemark sport education. To drive consistency in all educational initiatives, the telemark task force reports to the Education Leadership Council (ELC).

The mission of the Women’s Advisory Group is to invest in women through educational programming, women’s events, financial support and mentoring at the local, divisional and national levels. It also acts as the visionary steering group for creating opportunities for women in leadership in PSIA-AASI.