The Aspen Chamber Resort Association last week announced new hires and a reorganization of its membership department.
Sarah Reynolds Lasser Sr., director of Business Development, will expand her focus to the broader business community overseeing membership initiatives and group sales. Alycin Bektesh has been hired as communications manager, and Mackenzie Sexton has been hired as program assistant.
Lasser has worked at ACRA for 10 years, selling Aspen as a meeting and event destination. She managed special projects for ACRA including the Aspen Snowmass Arts & Culture Impact Study and ACRA’s ongoing relationship with Aspen Sister Cities. In 2020, she was recognized by Smart Meetings as a “Smart Women in Meetings Stellar Performer” and received special recognition on behalf of ACRA as the Destination Colorado Member of the Year.
Students and teachers in Aspen and Shimukappu, Japan meet via Zoom for a virtual Aspen Sister Cities exchange on Jan. 27, 2021.
It was 6:30 p.m. on a Wednesday and eight middle school students four in their homes in Aspen and four in a classroom in Shimukappu, Japan, plus a few teachers and translators on both ends were practicing their greetings over Zoom: Hellos and konichiwas all around.
Students thanked each other for gifts they sent in December (hats sent to Shimukappu, candy and pens to Aspen). They presented slideshows about holiday traditions. They discussed winter sports (some were bigger fans than others) and tasty treats (mochi was a big hit).