EAGLE COUNTY — The Vail Centre is no more, but the idea that originally spawned the nonprofit group lives on.
Citing “financial insolvency,” the Vail Centre on Dec. 26 sent a letter to vendors and creditors stating that the nonprofit group wouldn’t be able to pay its bills. The group has also scrubbed its digital presence: You can’t connect to any page at vailcentre.org.
The nonprofit sprung from the Vail Leadership Institute. People using that material will continue to lead courses using that material.
The institute was formed by longtime local resident John Horan-Kates, who has written extensively about leadership and “the Vail way.”
Those courses have been popular over the years. Horan-Kates said leadership courses will continue to be led by former Vail Centre employee Dr. Karah Mololey and Frank Johnson, a longtime veteran of the Vail lodging industry.
Horan-Kates also remains active in leadership education. He and Terry Minger, who also has decades of work in mountain resorts, have been invited to talk to a group of city managers at a gathering in Glenwood Springs.
Recommended Stories For You
“We’ll use some of that (Leadership Institute) material,” Horan-Kates said. “It describes the difference between leadership and management.
Eagle County Manager Jeff Shroll has taken a few leadership courses through the Vail Centre and leadership institute.
“I got a great deal out of it,” Shroll said. When Shroll was Gypsum Town Manager, he sent several employees to leadership courses.
“It’s a great place to collaborate on leadership, develop management styles and (learn about) value-based leadership.”
Chris Romer is the CEO of the Vail Valley Partnership, the valley’s regional chamber of commerce. Romer is another veteran of the leadership courses.
“We’ve found great value in them,” Romer said. “I’m glad to see the programs continue.”
What about co-working?
The Vail Centre had a pair of co-working spaces, one in Avon and one in Edwards.
The Avon facility is now being operated by the Hoffmann family, owners of the building in which the facility is located.
In Edwards, most of the office space in the Slifer Designs building has been leased to individuals, with about a half-dozen desk spaces still available for co-working.
