Vail Resorts fires five shuttle employees
Vail correspondent
Aspen, CO Colorado
VAIL, Colo. ” Vail Resorts said Thursday it has terminated five senior managers at Colorado Mountain Express, its transportation business.
The terminated employees included President Jay Ufer, Vail Resorts said.
“The terminations were prompted in part by the existence of ongoing bonus, severance and contingent payment arrangements totaling $4 million for five employees,” Vail Resorts said in a statement. “These arrangements are with the former owner of CME and were not disclosed as required by the documents governing the acquisition.”
Vail Resorts spokeswoman Kelly Ladyga declined to comment on the matter. The Broomfield-based resort company, which also owns local ski areas Vail and Beaver Creek, acquired Colorado Mountain Express from East West Resort Transportation Holdings LLC in November 2008.
Harry Frampton, an investor with East West Resort Transportation Holdings LLC, said Thursday he adamantly disagreed with Vail Resorts’ statement that there was a disclosure problem. He declined to comment further on the nature of the disagreement.
“I think it’s a little bit sad that five people who have worked for CME for a total of 92 years were fired on the spot,” Frampton said.
Frampton is a former president of Vail Associates, which is now a subsidiary of Vail Resorts.
A woman who answered the phone at CME declined to say whether Ufer was there or still worked at CME and would not accept a message for him. Ufer is not listed in the phone book.
In its statement, Vail Resorts also said John Dawsey, area director of sales and marketing for RockResorts’ Vail collection, was appointed director of sales and marketing for CME and will oversee sales, marketing and reservations for the transportation business.
“All other administrative support for CME will be provided by existing Vail Resorts personnel and a search for permanent replacements will begin immediately,” Vail Resort said in its statement. “The company does not anticipate any disruptions to guest service or to any other business relationships with CME.”
Colorado Mountain Express provides service from Denver International and Eagle airports to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone, Aspen and Snowmass. Its fleet includes 240 vehicles, according to its website.
Aspen School District holds off on new federal free COVID test distribution
The United States Departments of Education and Health and Human Services will begin sending free Covid tests to schools, which the Aspen School District will take advantage of when their current stock runs low.
