Mike Larson | President
Mike is the President & principal planner and specializes in the planning, design, and oversight of alpine resort and landscape projects worldwide. With over 30 years of expertise, including 20 years as Vail Resorts internal resort planner, Mike provides clients with vast knowledge and experience from countless successful project implementations. During Mike’s time with Vail Resorts he was responsible for the governmental approval, design documentation, project budgeting, field layout, construction oversight, and post-completion evaluation of all resort projects. This included the design and implementation of over 4,000 acres of trail construction and numerous lift installations resulting in master plans for Vail, Breckenridge, and Keystone, as well as the complete new resort design and development of Beaver Creek and Bachelor Gulch in the early 1980’s.
As director of Vail Consultants, an internationally recognized resort planning consulting group, Mike was a key component in the master planning of major resort destinations in Japan, Norway, Sweden, Australia, Argentina, Canada, and the United States. Since founding International Alpine Design in 2000, Mike has continued to guide and complete successful, operationally friendly, sustainable projects around the world. During this time, IAD has realized numerous projects including master plans for Telluride, Heavenly, and Crested Butte and has expanded its presence in the planning of alpine communities, residences, and clubs. As a company Principal, Mike is directly involved in the oversight of all of IAD’s current projects. Mike attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and holds degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Business Administration.
Spencer Stanek | Managing Director
Spencer acts as the Managing Director of International Alpine Design and is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the company, as well as assuming a principal planning and design position for all IAD projects. His experience includes the comprehensive master planning of large scale destination resorts and has been responsible for the firm’s diversification into broader based land planning and visioning projects. Through working directly with project owners, managers, and operators throughout the world, he has gained a specialized knowledge of planning and design for mountain destinations. Spencer’s direct experience includes numerous projects throughout North America, South America, Scandinavia, Europe, and Asia. Spencer attended the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and holds a degree in Landscape Architecture / Environmental Design. He has also studied Ski Area Operations at Colorado Mountain College.
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