(LOS ANGELES, CA; May 21, 2013) — Sierra Nevada Resort is pleased to announce the appointment of Brent Truax as the new General Manager. Brent will be working alongside resort owners Nancy and Jim Demetriades in overseeing the operation of Mammoth Lakes’ newest premier resort. Together, the Demetriades family and Brent seek to foster a welcoming environment with top-notch customer service and to deliver memorable, customized experiences for guests of the resort.

“Brent brings a wealth of experience across all aspects of hotel and resort operations to Sierra Nevada Resort, as well as a vast knowledge about Mammoth Lakes because of his previous work here. Brent will perform a key role in the ongoing success of the property. He brings with him a background of providing the best customer service in Mammoth to the position, and as the newest resort in Mammoth Lakes, raising the bar on customer service is job one.  We are very excited to welcome Brent to our team,” Jim Demetriades said.

Originally from Vermont, Brent Truax moved to Mammoth Lakes in 2010 with his wife, Betsy, and their young daughter, Katherine. Since moving to the beautiful Eastern Sierras, Brent has become an active member of the community, serving on Regional Planning Commissions and State Planning Commissions. Additionally, Brent served as the past president of The Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce, and is currently a board member of Mammoth Lakes Tourism as well as a member of the Disabled Sports of the Eastern Sierra council.

Brent has an extensive background in managing resort properties with an emphasis on health and wellness, including Westin Monache Resort in Mammoth Lakes, CA; The Peaks Resort and Spa in Telluride, CO; Mirbeau Inn and Spa in Skaneateles, NY; Canyon Ranch in Tucson, AZ; and the Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa in Whitefield, NH.

Brent began his career in hospitality working for the American Skiing company based out of Sugarbush, Vermont, and was the Resort Manager for Topnotch Resort in Stowe, VT before be becoming the Hotel Manager for the Brown Hotel in Louisville, KY.

As a guest instructor, Brent has taught hospitality classes for the University of New Hampshire, Cornell University, and the University of Vermont.  In Whitefield, New Hampshire, he helped form a strategic partnership with Mountain View Grand Resort and Spa and the local school district, with the support of the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association, to create Mountain View Academy.  The program is taught at the hotel where hospitality management curriculum is complemented by real-world learning opportunities as students work with managers in various departments.

Brent is an avid cyclist, alpine and Nordic skier, and hiker. He is a graduate of the University of Vermont with a degree in Recreation Management.

About Sierra Nevada Lodge
Sierra Nevada Lodge, a family owned, 149-room hotel, is situated on six acres in the heart of Mammoth Lakes. The hotel, originally built in 1967 by Jerry Buss, former owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, quickly became THE place to stay and a favorite getaway for many Hollywood stars. The lodge was frequently visited by the likes of John Wayne, the “Rat Pack” and Jerry Lewis, who spent their evenings at Duke’s Bar, a favorite local hangout. The hotel was acquired by the Demetriades family in 2009 after they fell in love with its story and the Mammoth Lakes community. A decision to salvage the history of this beautiful property was quickly made, and a multi-million dollar renovation project began immediately. A piece of this Hollywood beginning is still preserved in the lodge lobby by way of a 1905 antique piano once owned by Clark Gable. The Demetriades family, dedicated to maintaining the glamorous charm of the lodge, has provided a place for the community to gather as well as a place for their out-of-town guests to call their “home in the mountains.”