Former Eaglecrest supervisor Julie Jackson Piper is lone finalist to be ski area’s new general manager

Board interview scheduled Thursday for Piper, who was the runner-up during the previous search for a GM in 2024; board will hear about possible Goldbelt takeover of operations

Julie Jackson Piper, recreation manager for the city of Richland, Washington, is the lone finalist to be Eaglecrest Ski Area’s next general manager. (Screenshot from City of Richland video)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

Julie Jackson Piper was one of two finalists interviewed to be Eaglecrest Ski Area’s general manager in 2024. After finishing as the runner-up then, she is set two years later to get the job as the lone finalist under drastically different circumstances at the mountain.

Piper, who worked in management positions at Eaglecrest between 2009 and 2015, was also the aquatics manager for Juneau’s two public pools between 2015 and 2018. She has since been the recreation manager for the city of Richland, Washington.

A public interview of her by the board is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Assembly Chambers at City Hall. Feedback forms will be available for attendees to submit by the end of the meeting and comments can also be submitted by email.

In a May 30 cover letter to Eaglecrest’s board, Jackson stated "my interest in this mountain is deeply personal," noting she returned there for her wedding in 2023 after meeting her husband at the ski area while working there.

"What excites me most about this opportunity is the chance to help rebuild trust — with the skiing and riding community, local citizens, city leadership, and other key stakeholders," she wrote. "Trust is not restored through isolated short-term efforts; it is rebuilt through transparency, consistency, and meaningful engagement."

Piper was interviewed as a finalist for the job in early August of 2024, losing out to Craig Cimmons. He announced his resignation in January and Erin Lupro has served as interim general manager since his departure.

Since that time Eaglecrest has struggled through increasing financial losses and equipment problems. Its long-term future was cast into uncertainty when the Juneau Assembly backed out of a deal to install a used gondola meant to be the cornerstone of year-round mass tourism operations, due to the project’s cost being far higher than anticipated.

At Thursday night’s meeting, prior to the interview with Piper, the board is scheduled to get an update about discussions between city leaders and Goldbelt Inc. about the latter taking over management of Eaglecrest.

An undated letter from City Manager Katie Koester and Eaglecrest Board President Brandon Cullum includes "a formal invitation for Goldbelt to engage with the Manager’s Office and the Eaglecrest Board regarding investing in Eaglecrest and potentially operating the ski area."

"There are two core conditions for the City and Eaglecrest Board that need to be considered for any proposal to advance: CBJ must maintain long-term ownership of Eaglecrest and no agreement can include approval of Goldbelt’s proposed development on West Douglas," the letter notes.

The latter condition refers to Goldbelt’s proposed two-berth cruise dock it hopes to open by 2028. The letter from Koester and Cullum notes that project is under review by the Community Development Department for a conditional use permit and "the Planning Commission has the sole authority to approve or deny this permit."

Uncertainty of Eaglecrest’s financial and operational future raised concerns among some city and ski area leaders that finding a qualified general manager candidate until those issues were resolved. Dallas Hargrave, the city’s human resources and risk management director, stated in an email to the Juneau Independent on Wednesday that 14 applicants went through a human resources screening interview and five were interviewed by Eaglecrest’s Human Resources Committee before Piper was recommended as the finalist.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.