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December 3, 2009 — A 25-year career of looking out for and promoting the best interests of the Vail Valley will be rewarded Dec. 4 as Beth Slifer, one of the valley’s foremost business and marketing leaders, has been selected as the 2009 recipient of the Vail Valley Foundation’s Vail Valley Citizen of the Year Award.
The award will be presented to Slifer at the Foundation’s annual Black Diamond Ball, held in conjunction with the Audi Birds of Prey Men’s World Cup Race Week in Beaver Creek.
“Beth Slifer is without question one of the most recognizable ‘fixtures’ in this community,” said Ceil Folz, president of the Vail Valley Foundation. “Ever since she arrived in the valley, she has naturally taken on a leadership role in helping to promote Vail and Beaver Creek to the nation and the world. We are pleased to honor her numerous accomplishments with the Vail Valley Citizen of the Year Award.”
“Obviously, being selected to receive this award is very flattering,” said Slifer. “I’m not sure I really deserve it as I have spent most of my time with the business and my family, but I most certainly appreciate being recognized for the work that I have done within the community.”
Originally from Jacksonville, Fla., she arrived in the Vail Valley in 1983 after marrying former Vail Associates’ ski instructor Rod Slifer. A year later, she opened the doors to her own interior design firm and currently serves as the Creative Director and CEO of Slifer Designs.
She bought a diverse career with her to the valley, including experiences in teaching, banking, retail, marketing, and politics, working on Jimmy Carter’s campaign, as well as working as the Special Assistant to Administrator of the EPA.
In addition to her work with Slifer Designs, she was also a founder of the Vail Valley Partnership in addition to being a founding board member of the Roundup River Ranch Camp for severely ill children that will break ground in Sweetwater.
Her nomination for Citizen of the Year honors was specifically tied to her work as chairperson of the Vail Local Marketing District, helping to ensure that promoting Vail to the world remains a top priority, even in these uncertain economic times.
“Vail is a fabulous brand and one that we need to expand and position as a premier year-round resort,” Slifer said. “We need to concentrate on attracting visitors to our valley in order to help support the businesses that are owned by all of the locals. In times of financial difficulty, it’s easy to cut marketing dollars, but it’s actually the best time to be marketing because people are still looking for value and are still willing to come.”
In addition to her work with Slifer Designs, she was also a founder of the Vail Valley Partnership in addition to being a founding board member of the Roundup River Ranch Camp for severely ill children that will break ground in Sweetwater.
The camp is a provisional member of the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps, founded in 1988 by Paul Newman, and is now the largest family of camps worldwide for children with serious illnesses. She also volunteers for many non-profit boards that benefit the educational, economic, and cultural goals of the community.
“In my volunteer work,” Slifer said, “it’s been my philosophy to help start or to be a part of projects that improve the lifestyle of the community, programs that have long term value. I’m proud of my work with the Vail Symposium and the Vail Valley Institute, as well as other programs to continue to give back to the Vail Valley.”
Slifer was selected from a total of nine nominations that were submitted by interested members of the Vail Valley community.
Slifer will join an outstanding list of past recipients of the Vail Valley Citizen of the Year Award, including President Gerald R. Ford (1996), Pepi Gramshammer (1997), Pete Seibert (1998), Dr. Richard Steadman (1999), Gilbert Giordano (2000), Judy Alexander (2001), Gerald Gallegos (2002), Howard and Cathy Stone (2003), Oscar Tang (2004), Diana Donovan (2005), R.A. “Chupa” Nelson (2006), Erik and Kathy Borgen (2007) and Dr. Jack Eck (2008).
The Vail Valley Citizen of the Year Award is a project of the Vail Valley Foundation. For additional information on the Foundation, contact (970) 949-1999 or visit www.vvf.org.
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