Jamie Schwartz named new Marble Mountain chair

STEADY BROOK - Jamie Schwartz is the new chair of the board of directors of Marble Mountain Development Corporation.

Clyde Jackman, minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation appointed the Corner Brook man to the post Wednesday.

Schwartz is the manager and chief operating officer of the Deer Lake Regional Airport Authority.

From 1995-99 he served as general manager of the 1999 Canada Winter Games in Corner Brook.

Schwartz was manager of sports services with the provincial Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation from 1985-95, and prior to that, worked as a consultant with sports services, then housed in the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs.

Jackman said Schwartz has been a member of the ski hill's board since 2002, and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role.

"Schwartz has the board experience, the industry expertise, financial and marketing expertise, sport and recreation background, community leadership profile, and the planning and organizational skills required to fulfill the goals and objectives of the corporation," Jackman said.

The Marble Mountain Development Corporation is a 100 per cent provincially owned Crown corporation that has a mandate to market and promote Marble Mountain Resort as a four-season anchor attraction to serve as a catalyst for tourism development on the west coast and in the province as a whole. Skier visits to Marble Mountain have been steadily increasing, from 44,000 in 1995-96 to 84,058 in 2006-07.

"The Humber Valley is experiencing economic growth that can be attributed, in large part, to Marble Mountain Resort," Jackman said. "The provincial government is committed to the recognition and promotion of tourism in the province and is dedicated to making tourism a year-round industry."