OUR TEAM
Chris "Chevy" Chevalier – President *
Sure, he had humble beginnings as a gondola operator in 1980. But with amazing leadership skills on his side, Chris gained rapid prominence in the ski industry in Canada and New Zealand, and it wasn’t long before he was Mountain & Risk Manager at Sunshine Village – one of Canada’s largest alpine resorts. During his 30 years in the business, Chris played a key leadership role that proved instrumental to Sunshine’s success. People at all levels of federal and provincial government know Chris as a man of his word and a man of action, adept at navigating the development process with real integrity. He’s also been behind many successful initiatives aimed at mitigating risk and keeping guests and employees safe. Ask any of his staff about Chris and they’ll tell you he’s inflexibly dedicated to their well-being. Theirs and everyone else’s. To Fortress, Chris brings a wealth of insight, contacts and operational expertise in resort planning, development and operations.
Chris Mueller – Director of Operations
At 18, Chris kicked off his ski industry career as a lift operator at Sunshine Village. That was 1995. Within a year he’d worked his way into a supervisory position, which he held for five years. In that time, he became involved in developing Sunshine’s Terrain Park program and in grooming. In 2000, Chris left Sunshine to start a tour company called Giddy Goat Adventures specializing in multi-day, multi-resort ski programs plus other charter, custom hiking and biking programs. Seven years later he returned to Sunshine to operate snow-grooming equipment and develop and expand the snowmaking program. A graduate of Selkirk College’s Resort Risk Management program, Chris also spent two seasons as a senior snowmaker at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
Kelly Tindal - Director of Hospitality
Kelly was born in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea in the islands of the South Pacific. He lived and was culinary trained throughout Australia, for fourteen years until he immigrated to Canada in 1990. He continued plying his craft in Canada, notably for eleven years at heli skiing lodges providing an intimate culinary experience to exclusive clientele.
This led to Kelly to exercising his passion for the culinary arts to the film industry where he was personal chef to many well known celebrities. A four year stint as chef at the Banff Springs Hotel golf course and ten years operating Kaiculina Catering, Kelly now joins the Fortress team where his endless enthusiasm for fresh contemporary food of the future encompasses his passion as Director of Hospitality
Rory Evelyn - Snow Safety Supervisor
He patrolled at Fortress back in the day and worked patrol and Snow Safety at Sunshine village for many seasons. He brings a wealth of local Fortress knowledge to the job and is passionate about the mountain.
Dr. Kevin Hanrahan, Medical Director
Bachelor of Physical Education (Outdoor Pursuits), MD and Family Medicine programs in Calgary.
After working as a Family Physician for 15 years joined the Calgary Fire Department and worked as front line Firefighter and Technical Rescue Team Member for 6 years.
Subsequently trained in Emergency Medicine through the CCFP(EM) program in Calgary practicing full time Emergency Physician working at the Foothills, Peter Lougheed Hospitals since 2005.
Steve Dougherty - Reservations and Sales
Lives in Calgary, transplant from Montreal and Vancouver. Steve started skiing at 4 yrs old on Mt Seymour and taught skiing throughout college. The advent of high speed quad chairs pushed him over to mountaineering and snowshoeing. While not actively working with the guests he can be found every Friday snowshoeing up Fortress. Unlike most everyone else he prefers hiking up. For him (and all others who discover it) Fortress is a special place that’s both bold and quiet. Great snow, no crowds, special people.
Rob Stevens - Snowboard Leader
A level 4 CASI snowboarder instructor, CBC Olympic commentator and host of the long-running TV series Ride Guide, Rob brings a perspective to our plans for the mountain inspired by an appreciation for what Fortress was to her existing fanbase and what the mountain can be to her new ones.
Currently a Realtor in Canmore, you might occasionally find him leading a cat group on his noboard. (If Chevy lets him ride it that is,)
Nyren Evelyn - Ski Leader
When he's not leading groups of guests around the mountain, Nyren works in the film industry. Fortress was the first place he ever skied and is still his favourite place to ski and be!
Andy Waddell, MBA Chief Financial Officer *
Growing up in the prairies, Andy made the pilgrimage to the mountains at least once a year for a family ski trip. Finally in 2012 Andy made the move out west to be closer to his passion for skiing. Andy brings over 20 years of financial experience in director of finance roles, and a broad knowledge of IT infrastructure, reporting and business metrics.