Soldier Hollow Announces Richard Hodges as Executive Director

(Press release)

Hodges will lead Soldier Hollow, reaffirming its place as North America’s premier Nordic venue

Midway – Utah (June 25, 2014) The Soldier Hollow Legacy Foundation (SHLF) is excited to announce the hiring of Richard Hodges as its new Executive Director effective July 1, 2014. Hodges will oversee the execution of the foundation’s bold strategy to build upon its current financial stability and continue building regain its place as the premier cross-country ski and biathlon venue in North America and become a year-round tourism and event magnet for the Heber Valley.

“Richard brings to this position a contagious passion for Nordic sports,” said Brian Olsen, newly-elected Chairman of the Board and 2006 Olympian. “He brings a compelling vision for re-invigorating the venue’s facilities, its programming, and its ties with the Heber Valley community.”

A past member of the foundation’s Board of Directors, Hodges has 10 years of experience as the volunteer President of The Utah Nordic Alliance (TUNA), the largest cross-country ski organization in Utah. In that position, he grew the organization’s membership, event participation, and revenues, and assisted smaller ski clubs with becoming financially stable.

Hodges has stated that his immediate priorities are to listen to the ideas and feedback of the foundation’s many stakeholders, from employees to long-time Soldier Hollow users. “I very much look forward to working with local business and community leaders in Midway and Heber Valley to help expand Soldier Hollow’s presence and profile,” said Hodges.

With sport central to the foundation’s mission, Hodges looks to build deeper and even stronger ties with regional and national sports organizations, such as the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association and the U.S. Biathlon Association. The goal is to ensure that the venue is contributing to the athlete development pipelines of these sports by recruiting and developing new talent and providing a world-class training and competition venue for elite athletes.

Outside of the ski world, Hodges has been in the transportation sector as an accomplished project manager, economist, and, most recently, private consultant. He has worked for and in support of government entities such as the Utah Transit Authority, which will serve him well leading a foundation holding the concession contract with the State of Utah to operate the Soldier Hollow venue: “Our long-term partnership with Utah State Parks ensures that together we provide great opportunities for the community,” he said.

Having worked as an event volunteer and advisor to the Salt Lake Organizing Committee since the early days of what would later become Soldier Hollow, Hodges experience with the venue runs deep. The foundation’s first and current Executive Director, Howard Peterson, will remain as a consultant through September providing Hodges with continuity and expert advice after having served in the position for more than a decade. “I am honored and privileged to have the opportunity to work with Soldier Hollow’s world-class staff to carry forward the Olympic and sport legacy that Howard has built,” concluded Hodges.

About Soldier Hollow Legacy Foundation (SHLF): A non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation based in Midway, Utah, SHLF oversees the facilities and programming of the Soldier Hollow venue, which hosted the cross-country skiing, biathlon, and Nordic combined events during the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games. Today, Soldier Hollow is a year-round facility focused on recreational, youth, and elite level cross-country skiing, biathlon and other related sports programs. Soldier Hollow also provides winter snow tubing and hosts multiple events during the summer. At all times, the organization and its staff work to promote the Olympic and Paralympic ideals, and expand opportunities for people in the communities it serves.