Khara Hesselton Benoit

Highly-motivated employee with desire to take on new challenges. Strong work ethic, adaptability, and exceptional interpersonal skills. Adept at working effectively unsupervised and quickly mastering new skills. Results-driven individual with a solid track record in delivering quality work. Known for excellent communication and teamwork abilities, with a commitment to achieving company goals and delivering exceptional service. Driven to continuously learn and add professional development. Passionate about the growth of the mountain environment as a community hub.

As a child I grew up loving skiing and became an avid ski racer.  I took my passion for the sport to become a coach and invested time in the industry as a whole.  Moving from Vermont to the Adirondacks and then to Colorado I was able to experience many areas, climates and industry activities.  I spent my time at home in the local ski shop learning about skis, maintenance, retail, and customer service.  I have coached many different levels of young athletes.  In 2016 I moved back to NH to start a family.  Part of starting over was finding a ski "spot".  Not a resort, but a place that I could be a part of.  A place to become home base.  Growing up in the Upper Valley, Whaleback was the first that came to my mind.  I grew uop racing at Whaleback, training at Whaleback.  First things first, you join race league!  As an infant my daughter sat in a car seat in the old skylight windows that looked over the hill.  We quickly fell back in love with the little gem, just down the road.  We joined camps, skied with Elsa and found a "spot".  I was asked to work an event at the end of February vacation......sounded fun, I jumped right on board.  Joining the team felt right.  Thew following summer I started the summer camp at the mountain.  I quickly learned the ins and outs of how the mountain operated in the off season.  As much as I wanted to be the director of all things fun at Whaleback, that position wasn't open.  But, the Kitchen Manager position was.  I have an extensive background in restaurants and knew that I could do the job.  I knew I could make a fun menu that the skiers would love and stand out against the larger areas that surround us.  I took food sales to a new level.  I expanded food service to three locations.  Next up, catering and events.  The off season seemed like a good time to grow.  Events started to take off when I built the outdoor food service and bar and added music each week to our new family nights.  Family nights went from very few guests to up to 400 on some occasions.  Watching these events evolve has been a joy.  It has strengthened our community and become a destination on friday nights and weekends.  As years have passed Whaleback has become a "spot" for not just me and my little family, but for so many families!  It started as just the kid you'd see at summer camp or in a lift line to the kid that has to peeled out of the lodge on a Tuesday after eating the burgers that went viral.  To then not only see the whole family and siblings begin to learn a new sport and spend time year round at the mountain.  

Through the time I have been at Whaleback, I have grown the food and beverage department.  Taken on business operations and followed through with our number one priority, being a community hub that everyone can be a part of.  Year round.  

Being a part of the little Mountain on 89 not only became my "spot" but my passion.  Watching it and helping it grow is my priority.  I take pride in Whaleback's small successes and know that I can lead it through larger ones.