Board of Directors
Melissa Malm
Founder & Executive Director 2012
Melissa’s skiing obsession began about age eight on the icy trails of the Catskills, New York. Moving permanently to Jackson in 1975, she interned that winter with Bridger Teton Forest Snow Ranger Gary Poulson and assistant John Simms studying snow and avalanche forecasting. She also worked as a First Aider for the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol in 1976, before becoming the first woman hired on the patrol in February 1978. In 1987 as First Aid Administrator for the ski patrol, she coordinated the transition of their first aid training from American Red Cross First Aid to the nationally recognized Outdoor
Emergency Care program. She no longer patrols full time on the hill but fills in as a clinic ski patrol liaison. She skis and adventures with her husband Greg and has a son Forest, who is following his own passion for skiing and outdoor adventure in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Creating this scholarship fund honoring fellow ski patrollers who have passed has fulfilled her vision of recognizing and
encouraging spirited local youth to follow their passions and live their dreams.
Jeff Burke
Jeff Burke is an Iowa native who first came to the valley in the winter of 1994. He grew up skiing (sort of) in neighboring Minnesota before dedicating the majority of his adult years to northwest Wyoming. He’s been working for the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol since 2006, while also spending nearly two decades in the Outdoor Industry, writing copy for several publications, as well as many hard and soft goods manufacturers.
JJ Jaroch
JJ was born and raised in eastern Pennsylvania, somewhere small, between
Philadelphia and Harrisburg. Family friends used to marvel at her ability to spend entire
winter days outside playing in the snow when their own children would lay face down in protest, begging to come back inside.
Her love of all things winter, cold and snow lead her to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
where she attended Northern Michigan University and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography. She also finally learned to ski.
Shortly after graduating, JJ arrived in Jackson and secured a coveted job as an upper
mountain chairlift operator. After five years as a lift operator, JJ joined the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol as a dispatcher in 2014. She continues to be “the voice of channel one” as the JHSP’s lead emergency dispatcher as well as joining the other patrollers in on-hill duties and responses.
Drew Kneeland
Board Member
Drew lives in Victor, Idaho with his wife Lindsay, and three-year-old daughter, Hadley. Growing up in Vermont, he migrated west for college, in search of new adventures, taller mountains, and softer snow. Immediately following graduation from Colorado College in 1989, Drew moved to Jackson Hole, and started working winters at the ski area, initially as a ski host, and then as a ski patroller since 1994. Last season was Drew’s first as Ski Patrol Director.His support for the scholarship fund stems from a belief that diversity in experience and education is instrumental in living a fulfilling life
Margo Krisjansons
Board Member 2016
Born: Margo Erjavec, June 30, 1953
I grew up in northern Minnesota on the west shore of Lake Superior. While on vacation with my family to the western mountains, I discovered my passion, unknowingly. On completion of two years in university, I declared to my father, I was going to move to Jackson Hole, Wyoming to ski for one winter season. That one winter turned into a “Way of Life”.I started working for the Jackson Hole Ski Corporation as a ski host in 1974 through 1977. I became involved with the ski patrol starting as a first –aider in 1977-1980. Mentoring with professional patrolmen, I was hired as a full patrol person the season starting 1980-1991.My years working on the mountain have been a passion with friendships that have lasted a lifetime. We have a special bond, sharing some of the happiest times and some of the saddest. Given that, how could I not become involved in helping with this memorial scholarship fund. Our goal here is to remember our fellow workers, by giving scholarships to the youth of our mountain valleys.I thank you for your supportAs Always,Margo Krisjansons
Chris Peck
Board Member 2024
Eric Lynch
Board Member 2024
Ian Barwell
Board Member 2024
Born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area, Ian Barwell discovered skiing in the 8th grade and was instantly hooked by the sense of freedom it offered. After a brief ten-year detour studying and playing music in D.C. and Boston—eventually earning degrees in music composition—the pull of the mountains and wide-open spaces won out over city life. In 2003, he fulfilled a childhood dream by moving out west, settling in Jackson,
Wyoming by way of New Hampshire.
Not long after arriving in Jackson, Ian began working at Red Top Meadows, supporting and mentoring at-risk teenage boys. His experience in their wilderness-based program sparked a growing interest in emergency and outdoor medicine, which led him to pursue a nursing degree at the University of Wyoming. In 2012, he joined
the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol—combining his love of the mountains with his training in medicine. He also works as a registered nurse in the emergency department at St.
John’s Health.
Today, Ian continues to embrace the outdoors—whether it’s hiking, biking, or skiing—and deeply values the strong sense of community that makes Jackson such a special place to call home.
Former Board Members
Kirby Williams
Founder
Bob Comey
Contact
JHSP Memorial Scholarship FundATTN M.Malm
PO Box 661
Wilson, WY 83014307-733-9078