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A Conversation With: Jim Tust of Shawnee Mountain Ski Area
Stacy Wescoe//October 24, 2019//
Jim Tust, managing partner, has been at Shawnee Mountain Ski Area since 1979 and has been part owner since 1996. Shawnee Mountain is a major Pocono ski area with 23 trails, nine lifts, two terrain parks, snow tubing park, 100 percent snow making and one of the largest rental shops and ski schools in the country. They cater to families, school ski clubs and beginners.
LVB: How many people does Shawnee employee at any given time and what kind of jobs do you offer?
Tust: Thirty full time year round, 550 seasonal full and part time (Dec – March). We have the obvious jobs: snowmakers, lift operators, ski and snowboard instructor, rental attendants and ticket sellers. But, we also have staff in security, parking, ski shop sales, group sales, marketing, food, bar and restaurant even child care. We are many different and somewhat diverse businesses in one.
LVB: What is the biggest challenge in hiring such a large, diverse staff?
Tust: Finding enough front line seasonal employees, followed by more need for additional highly trained technicians, like lift mechanics and supervisors and trained ski instructors.
LVB: What have you learned over the years that makes hiring for Shawnee easier?
Tust: We ask our current valuable staff for referrals, and make applicants feel comfortable and welcome, like at our annual job fair which we hold in November each year. This year it’s on Nov. 16.
LVB: Unemployment is very low right now. Do you expect challenges heading into the busy ski season?
Tust: Yes, we are very concerned about the tight labor market. We anticipate having to raise rates for many of our hourly positions. Also, we’re continuing to cross train those on staff willing to learn more than one specific job. We ask our managers and supervisors to be creative in streamlining operations to be most efficient with less of a burden on staff.
-By Stacy Wescoe
