Board of Directors

Melissa Malm, board

Melissa Malm
Founder & Executive Director 2012

Melissa’s skiing obsession began at age eight on the 400 vertical foot slopes of Sterling Forest Ski Area in New York and the icy trails of Highmount Ski Area in the Catskills.She moved 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.Initially an unpaid First Aider for the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol in 1976, she became the first woman hired in 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 continues her patrol career as an Auxiliary patroller.She and her husband Greg live south of Wilson. Their nineteen-year-old son Forest is following his own passion for skiing and education in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah.Creating this scholarship fund honoring fellow ski patrollers who have passed on has fulfilled her dream 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

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

Former Board Members

Kirby Williams
Founder 

Chris Peck
Founder 

Bob Comey

Contact


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JHSP Memorial Scholarship FundATTN M.Malm
PO Box 661
Wilson, WY 83014307-733-9078