MLR BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - ERIC WASSERMAN
The incredible team of Board members that make MLR spin, are as diverse as the unique landscape we call home. This month, we would like to introduce you to long time Board member, Eric Wasserman. Eric has been involved in the development and implementation of recreation in Mammoth Lakes for many years. He sat down and took the time to share a bit about himself with us.
Enjoy!
I grew up in the Metropolitan NY area living in both NY & NJ as a kid. I think being in a city environment has always made me appreciate the outdoors. Once I skied for the first time I was hooked, the only problem was I was too young to drive and had no means of going again on my own. As soon as I was able to get to the mountains I did as often as I could. At first, I skied the Poconos, then the Catskills with massive vertical drops of 1,000-1,500 feet, then graduated to the mountains of Vermont during and after college. During my senior year at University of Pittsburgh I was actually a part time ski instructor at Seven Springs resort in Western Pennsylvania. From that moment on It was always a dream of mine to be a ski bum in a ski town out west for a season. After college I started my career on Wall street which really got in the way of my dream to be a ski bum. My first job was as a stockbroker where my office was not even 50 feet from the NYSE. As my career advanced, I became a portfolio manager for a hedge fund in Northern NJ where I was only 45 minutes away from an IntraWest owned resort, Mountain Creek. I was able to teach skiing at night after work several times a week and also taught on the weekends. I was thrilled to be in the ski industry again, even if it was only part time for fun, however I earned my Level II PSIA certification.
In 2002 I decided to take the time and go cross country to see the games in Salt Lake City and be a ski bum out west for the rest of the season, thinking that would last about two months. Mammoth always seemed amazing in the ski movies so I set my sights there and an added extra bonus was that I could enjoy the California lifestyle as well. I applied for a job as a ski instructor and ironically my first contact with Mammoth was with our current board President Craig Albright who hired me over the phone, thank you Craig! Twenty three years later I’m still here.
Something about Mammoth just draws you in and then that same energy envelops you and keeps you here, it’s truly a magical place. About three weeks into my tenure in Mammoth I ran into Rusty Gregory in Canyon Lodge and knew this was my opportunity to find a way to stay after the snow melted. I boldly approached him in full ski school uniform, lifted my goggles, introduced myself; then asked him several financial questions about the big hole in the ground behind Pioneer Market (currently The Village). He looked at me like I had nine heads but took the time to answer my questions. Curious as to why I’d want to know such things he asked my background, then a few questions of his own. Feeling confident I asked if I could set up a meeting to have ten minutes of his time to discuss more and possibly get a job analyzing finances for the mountain and this massive project. Rusty handed me a card and said “tell Mary to give you 30”. That summer I started doing special financial projects for MMSA and my financial career in Mammoth was born.
Ultimately, I started an Edward Jones office in 2003 then branched out on my own to what is now Orion Capital, a boutique full service financial firm. We have nine financial advisors, several Client Service assistants and three offices in California and Nevada. Our firm handles giving advice to individual participants of the 401k plans we manage, both corporate and non-profit clients, personal retirement and financial planning, portfolio management and also serves some of the wealthiest family offices in the country. It’s truly a dream to be able to run a business of this magnitude from Mammoth.
My favorite thing about Mammoth and the Eastern Sierra is the whole lifestyle. I have friends ranging from 18 to 85, age has no meaning here. What brings us together in Mammoth is our common passions and a love for the outdoors. I truly feel like a kid calling on my friends to go play. Whether it’s skiing, ice hockey, softball, mountain biking, golf, tennis, hiking, boating, camping or a music festival; everyone is passionate about what activities they do and always eager to do them. This place is more than a community; it’s a family living in a boundless playground. The amount of love and outreach here is amazing, especially in tough times when you really see friends and neighbors helping each other. Moving to Mammoth was the best decision of my life.
I’m proud to serve as an MLR board member so I can give back to the family I love so much. As a board member we’re tasked with prioritizing what recreational needs will best benefit our guests and residents. We are always looking for feedback and do as much outreach as we can so that we can get it right. My goal is to make sure we provide the highest quality product possible in everything we do. People live and visit Mammoth to recreate at the highest level, and I would like for us to provide an experience that exceeds their expectations as much as possible. Afterall, we all participate and use all of these amenities too! With the amazing team we have on MLR I have no doubt that we will continue to move forward in this direction.
About Mammoth Lakes Recreation
Formed in 2014, Mammoth Lakes Recreation’s mission is to deliver cutting edge sustainable recreation, mobility, and arts & culture opportunities and infrastructure for the benefit of the community and natural environment of Mammoth Lakes. For more information, go to www.mammothlakesrecreation.org.