The ASF Board of Trustees are pleased to announce that Ray Curtis has agreed to take on the role of Director of Operations and that Cherisse Young has agreed to continue her many years of service to the ASF, now as Director of Development. Petra Davenport will be the Deputy Director of Operations with a focus on community outreach, development of summer programs, and representing the staff on board committees. Both Ray and Petra are long-standing members of the Windham community. In addition to their successes as active instructors, coaches and administrators at Windham Mountain Resort, as a team they bring substantial experience in corporate managerial leadership, legal and not-for-profit matters.
Ray Curtis is retired from Delta Air Lines where he served as Vice President/Officer for their Cargo Division as was responsible for their global network. His career spans 40 years in aviation and logistics, having worked at both Northwest and United Airlines as well. Prior to joining ASF, Ray held position as the Safety and Project Manager of the Windham Mountain Snow Sports School.
- B.S. Marketing: St. John’s University
- Professional Ski Instructors of America: Certified Alpine Level III
Petra Davenport grew up skiing in her native Catskill Mountains. She spent ten years working as a coach, race administrator, and supervisor with the Windham Race Factory, the alpine competition team at Windham Mountain Resort, prior to joining the Adaptive Sports Foundation.
Petra began her career as a financial services attorney in Manhattan and maintains offices in both Manhattan and Windham. She and her husband, Ben, moved to Windham in 2013 just before their first daughter was born. Now five and three, both girls are following in the footsteps of their parents as enthusiastic skiers. As a family, the Davenports spend as many winter days as possible skiing, while the rest of the year is filled with sailing, kayaking, hiking, biking, and camping.
- B.A. Journalism: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
- J.D.: University of Denver, Sturm College of Law
- U.S. Ski and Snowboard: Alpine Coach, Alpine Official, Alpine Level 100, Referee, Chief of Race, Chief of Course, Race Administrator
- New York State Ski Racing Association: Alpine Coach
- American Sailing Association: Bareboat Cruising Certification
Cherisse Young has been with the Adaptive Sports Foundation and Windham Mountain since 1996. She began as the Fundraising Coodinator under ASF founder, Gwen Allard. She was promoted to Development Director in 2000 and to Executive Director in 2004. In 2013, Cherisse decided to step down from the role of Executive Director to give her more time to spend time with her family. However, she remained with the ASF and is currently serving as the Development Director.
Cherisse has been skiing since she was six years old and it was her passion for the sport that initially motivated her to become a ski instructor in high school. Her experiences teaching eventually lead her to her career with the Adaptive Sports Foundation. Skiing and ski instruction is a family tradition as her father was a PSIA Alpine Level I Certified ski instructor and her daughter began skiing at the ripe old age of 20 months. In the off season, Cherisse enjoys spending time at her home on Burden Lake with her daughter, Labrador retriever and her many neighbors and friends.
- M.A. Non Profit Management: Regis University
- B.S. Marketing and Management: Siena College
- Professional Ski Instructors of America – Eastern Division: Past Member of the Board of Directors
- Professional Ski Instructors of America: Certified Alpine Level II
- Professional Ski Instructors of America: Certified Adaptive Level 1
