Bender Named CEO , Seven Springs

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. October 14, 2008

NOVEMBER 1, 2006. Scott L. Bender has been promoted to the Chief Executive Officer position at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Bender has been with the resort since 1983, and most recently acted as the President, Chief Operations Officer and Chairman of the Board. The change comes with the sale of the family-owned corporation from the Dupre Family to the Nutting Family of Wheeling, WV. Bender was instrumental in the transition of resort ownership.

"Scott has been a tremendous asset to Seven Springs and the community for many years. He has earned this position through his outstanding leadership abilities and unwavering dedication to the resort," said Robert Nutting. "I am confident that under his direct leadership, Seven Springs will continue to flourish as the premier four-season resort and a major economic driver in the region."

"I have enjoyed my years at Seven Springs and experienced a lot of exciting changes, but this is certainly a very exciting time at Seven Springs," comments Bender. "The Nutting Family has a lot of passion for the outdoors, skiing and Seven Springs. They have an incredible vision for where they want Seven Springs to be in the future, and I am thrilled to be part of it all. I look forward to leading the resort and its management team as we achieve new heights."

Bender was hired in 1983 to establish an in-house Public Relations department at Seven Springs. He quickly became involved in resort marketing and assumed the role of Director of Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations in 1987. Bender positioned the resort as a year round resort offering family recreation and a company with key interest in the region and local community. He developed public relations campaigns and worked with an agency to create and facilitate the resort's marketing and advertising efforts. Bender was named Marketing Director in 1989. Under Bender's guidance the resort management team allowed Seven Springs to evolve in a highly-competitive winter industry, and grow as a spring, summer and fall resort. Much of this was accomplished by creating events and developing new activities and services to attract overnight guests.

Some of Mr. Bender's more significant accomplishments include expanding the resort's markets, developing special lodging packages and creating special events - most notably Autumnfest Weekends and Winterfest. Bender was also able to move the resort toward more aggressive marketing utilizing electronic newsletters and the resort's Priority7 Club to offer significantly reduced short-lead lodging packages.

In 1993, Bender was named Vice President of Operations, under the leadership of former resort President James McClure. In this role Bender introduced the discounted season ski pass program which took the number of Seven Springs pass holders from 3,000 to more than 11,000. Bender also worked to enhance the resort's services by constructing a $5 million skier services building and installing the region's first high-speed six passenger chair lift.

Groundwork for future development was also laid as plans for Pheasant Run and Southwind at Lake Tahoe, the latest real estate projects at Seven Springs, were developed. Bender was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 1999 and President and COO in 2001. Chairman of the Board was added to his role in 2003.

Bender resides in Rockwood, Pa. and enjoys golfing, skiing and many of the amenities offered by the popular four-season resort.