Sam Adicoff Named Executive Director of Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Board of Directors is pleased to announce Sam Adicoff has been named the new Executive Director of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation effectively immediately. The board appointed Adicoff by unanimous vote at its monthly board meeting on Tuesday, January 17.
Head of the search committee, board member Rebecca Waycott remarked, “After an extensive national search, including one international candidate, it was decided that Sam is the right person to lead the organization forward.”
Adicoff, 57, joined SVSEF’s Board of Directors in July of 2011, becoming treasurer and eventually president. From 2013 on, Sam volunteered countless hours helping revamp and update the organization’s financial and business systems. He stepped down from board duties last spring to become interim executive director of SVSEF in May 2016.
“Several focus groups were held over the summer leading to a re-evaluation of the job description for the ED position. It became apparent that the most important qualifications for the new ED included strong management skills, financial expertise and fundraising ability,” Waycott said. “Many very qualified candidates applied for the position, and five of those candidates were invited to the valley for interviews. Sam stood out as the ideal candidate for the ED position at this point in time.”
Board president Jim DeWolfe concurs, citing Sam’s understanding and deep involvement in day-to-day operations and strategic issues, proven experience in decision making and relationship building, long-term commitment to SVSEF and the Wood River Valley and thorough understanding of the financial and operational aspects of SVSEF as assets that separated him from the rest of the candidates.
“Sam’s strong relationships with key strategic partners and constituents, passion and commitment to SVSEF and work ethic are inherent qualities that will mark his stewardship of SVSEF in the coming years,” DeWolfe remarked.
A graduate of Stanford University with a B.S. in Chemistry and M.S. in Industrial Engineering, Adicoff founded, grew and eventually sold Edge Information Systems, a network integration company based in San Jose, California.
In 2000, Sam and his wife, Sue, moved to the Ketchum area with their three children, Sarah Willie and Jake. All three participated in SVSEF programming with Sarah and Willie on the alpine team and Jake starting on the cross country team in 2002 and advancing to the U.S. Paralympic Team and 2014 Sochi Paralympics.
In addition to his volunteer work with SVSEF, Adicoff has lent his time to Sun Valley Center for the Arts, Hemingway Elementary, Wood River Middle and High School and Community School. He has served on the boards of the San Jose Civic Light Opera, Sawtooth Botanical Garden and Lane Ranch Homeowner’s Association. His recreational activities include skiing, mountain biking, peak hiking and gardening.