Aspen One senior official to leave position this spring
Auden Schendler has worked in the role for 26 years
Courtesy photo
Aspen One Senior Vice President of Sustainability Auden Schendler plans to leave his Aspen One position in the spring.
Schendler, his upcoming resignation from the role confirmed with The Aspen Times on Tuesday, joins Chief Human Resources Officer Jim Laing, Vice President of Communications Jeff Hanle, and Senior Vice President of Mountain Operations Katie Ertl, who will all also be leaving in 2025, according to Aspen One.
The four employees bring with them almost 130 years of experience.
During his time on the job, Schendler helped Aspen One advocate for environmental policy change on a large-scale level, which, he told The Aspen Times last month, is necessary work by all companies to make substantive change in modern environmentalism.
He has also helped the company reduce its carbon footprint during his time, advocating that Holy Cross utility, its electricity provider, rely on renewable energy rather than fossil fuels, which had been a large part of their energy source in the past. Ninety percent of the provider’s energy now comes from renewable sources, immensely reducing Aspen One’s carbon footprint, Schendler said.
Schendler, also a climate activist, recently published “Terrible Beauty: Reckoning with Climate Complicity and Rediscovering Our Soul,” outlining the shortcomings of modern environmentalism.
In a statement to The Aspen Times regarding the departure, Aspen One wrote that it has been a leader in innovative sustainability practices for decades and it will continue its commitment to climate and broader advocacy.
“As part of that commitment, this winter our SVP of Sustainability Auden Schendler will begin to transition out of the day-to-day role he has held for 26 years and pass the leadership baton to Chris Miller who will become Aspen One SVP of Sustainability and Advocacy in early 2025,” Aspen One said in the statement.
Miller is transitioning from his decade working as social mission director at Ben & Jerry’s. Before Ben & Jerry’s, he worked in sustainability for Seventh Generation, an environmental oriented laundry detergent company, did public policy work for Greenpeace, and worked with Bernie Sanders’ on Capitol Hill, according to the statement.
“We are beyond thrilled to be able to attract a world-class talent such as Chris Miller — and it is a testament to our track record in this space,” Aspen One said.
During Miller’s time at Ben & Jerry’s, he led one of the most innovative sustainability and corporate activism models amongst global, value-anchored brands, according to the statement.
Schendler and Miller will work together in early 2025 during the transition, before Schendler takes on an advisory role for Aspen One and expands his impact in other sustainability spaces, according to the statement.
“We are incredibly grateful for Auden’s innovative leadership, significant impact, and steadfast partnership over the decades and he will always be part of the Aspen One family,” the statement continues.
Skyler Stark-Ragsdale can be reached at 970-429-9152 or email him at sstark-ragsdale@aspentimes.com.
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