The North American Snowsports Journalists Association (NASJA) honored Michael Berry, president of the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), with the association’s Carson White Golden Quill Award. The award recognizes an individual or individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of snow sports in North America. It was named in memory of Carson White, the first president of the U.S. Ski Writers Association. The award was presented during NASJA’s annual meeting held at Vermont’s Killington Resort, March 27.

“Thank you for this honor, I really appreciate it,” said Berry upon accepting the award. “I’m used to giving awards—not getting them.

Berry has been president of NSAA since 1990. Prior to that he was president of the Kirkwood Resort, near Lake Tahoe.

During his tenure with NSAA, Berry has been instrumental in commissioning the Model for Growth, a major research endeavor designed to address getting and keeping newcomers in skiing and snowboarding. That research helped spawn the Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month/Bring a Friend Initiative, an effort supported by many partners in the snow sports industry. Other initiatives have thrived under his presidency including Lids on Kids, Sustainable Slopes, National Safety Month, the Golden Eagle Awards, and the NSAA Marketing Awards program.

Berry also spends a lot of time in Washington, D.C. monitoring legislation affecting the ski and snowboard industry and in dealings with the U.S. Forest Service upon which many areas reside. In addition, NSAA organizes a series of educational conferences that address risk management, safety, operations and public awareness issues for the $7.1 billion dollar industry.

NSAA is based in Lakewood, Colorado. It represents more than 300 ski/snowboard areas throughout the U.S.

NASJA represents 180 press members and 109 corporate members nationally. Find out more about NASJA at www.nasja.org