WVA Faculty and Administration

WVA employs over 45 faculty, 8 staff and 14 full time coaches committed to assuring that WVA student athletes achieve excellence both on snow and off within academic, training and living environments in which they will succeed.  These personnel are led by the following team of professionals:

 

Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director:  Peter Stokloza - Peter holds a BS in Business Management from Plymouth State University and was a full time coach, Business Manager and Dean of Students for WVBBTS/SEF throughout the 1990’s.  Peter is a former Eastern Development Coach for the US Ski Team and an international certified coach for USSA.  Peter has coached NOR-AM to World Cup men and women athletes, has coordinated competition and training camps around the world and is currently part of the USSA educational staff.

 

WVA Headmaster:  Gary W. Benedix - Gary holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies and Physical Science/Mathematics along with a Teacher Certification from Plymouth State University.  Gary has served in various positions while at WVA over the past 19 years including full time Mathematics teacher, Physical Science teacher, Dean of Academics and Assistant Headmaster.

 

Executive Director of Athletics and Alpine Program Director:  Tom Barbeau - Tom is a graduate of McGill University in Canada with a bachelors degree in Education and a masters degree in Physical Education.  Tom is fully certified in the Burdenko Method for conditioning developed by Russian Sports Scientist Igor Burdenko.  Tom has been named the USSA Eastern Alpine and NHARA Coach of the Year.  Tom is the ex-Canadian National Team Coach and has also served as the South African Olympic coach at the Nagano and Salt Lake City Olympics.

 

Freestyle Skiing Program Director and Head Freestyle Coach:  Nick Preston - Nick graduated from Colby College with a Bachelor of Arts degree.  Nick is a USSA Level 3 Coach and is PSIA certified.  Nick was named the 2002 USSA Domestic Coach of the Year.  He also received the United States Olympic Committee Freestyle Coach award in 2002.  Nick has been with WVBBTS since 1980 directing the freestyle program.  USSA awarded Nick the prestigious Russell Wilder Award in 2006 to recognize him for the most outstanding effort in focusing the interests of American youth on the sports of skiing or snowboarding.  The BBTS Ski Club was named USSA Freestyle Program of the Year in 1999 and 2004.  Nick is also the owner and director of Freestyle America Ski Camps.

 

Snowboard Program Director and Head Snowboard Coach:  Bill Enos - Bill is a former US Snowboard Team member and was ranked in the top 10 snowboarders worldwide for 3 consecutive years.  Bill joined BBTS in 1998.

 

Director of Development & Communications:  Sharon Schmidt - Sharon holds a BA from University of Rochester and a JD from Cornell Law School.  Sharon is a former Chair of the Committee of 1000 fundraising group for Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston and director of fundraising for a Massachusetts regional school district educational foundation.

 

The minimum requirement for WVA faculty is a bachelors degree.  Several members of the faculty hold advanced degrees.