KSEF leadership
Meet the people who keep our team moving: volunteer board members, coaches, and program staff who support our athletes and families.
Ask Dana about registration · Talk training with Kylese · Contact the board
Board of Directors
Coop
President, Board of Directors
Coop has been part of Kirkwood since 1992, following a decade in the U.S. Coast Guard as an Aviation Survivalman and Rescue Swimmer. His work at the mountain has included owning Cutting Edge Sports, leading retail and rental operations, marketing and communications, and serving with the Kirkwood Volunteer Fire Department.
He founded Cooper Marketing & Media and shares Tahoe weather and mountain stories through regional and national media. He also announces Tahoe Freeride Series and IFSA competitions and serves as Harbor Master at Camp Richardson Marina.
With family roots in the Reuter family, Coop cares deeply about this mountain and its people. As KSEF president, his focus is to protect the team’s culture, strengthen the foundation, and keep athletes and families at the center of each decision.
Scott Fair
Vice President, Board of Directors
Scott grew up in South Lake Tahoe, raced with the Heavenly Ski Team, and competed in two Junior Olympics. That experience gives him a lasting appreciation for the skills, friendships, and confidence young athletes build through ski racing.
He owns a commercial real estate firm and serves on the Chamber of Commerce board. With two athletes in KSEF, Scott brings both a parent’s perspective and a practical approach to planning for the foundation’s future.
Steve Hodgkins
Treasurer & Mountain Representative, Board of Directors
Steve has worked at Kirkwood for more than two decades. As Senior Snow Surface Manager, he brings experience in course preparation, snowmaking, and terrain management to the places where KSEF athletes train and race.
He connects the foundation with the resort’s daily operations and serves as interim treasurer. A Tahoe local and father of two KSEF athletes, Steve brings close knowledge of the mountain and a parent’s care to his work with the board.
Michael Campbell
Secretary, Board of Directors
Michael brings experience as a Managing Director in Investment Banking, where he advises companies on growth and long-term planning. He applies that experience to supporting KSEF’s future and its work with athletes and families.
A former president of the University of Notre Dame Ski Team, Michael understands the commitment and community that ski racing builds. His family’s Kirkwood connection dates to the 1970s, and his two children now race with KSEF.
Program staff & head coaches
Kylese Markt
Athletic Director
Kylese grew up skiing at Kirkwood and brings Nor-Am racing, international training, and eight years of U16 coaching at KSEF to her role as athletic director. Her master’s degree in Sports Psychology supports her work on both skiing skills and the mental side of competition.
She leads program development and supports coaches as they help athletes learn, build confidence, and work toward their goals. Kylese is the person to contact about coaching, training, and program structure.
Dana Keith
Program Administrator
Dana brings 15 years of KSEF experience to the everyday work that keeps the team running. She has served as an on-hill coach and event director, giving her a close understanding of what athletes, families, and coaches need.
She manages program details, helps families find answers, and supports the events that bring our community together. Contact Dana for registration, scheduling, scholarship questions, or help getting involved with KSEF.
Katarina “Kat” Fenton
U16 Head Coach
Kat knows the courage it takes to push out of the start gate—and the people who help you get there. She began racing at age five in Northern Michigan, competing in slalom, giant slalom, and super-G. As a U14 athlete, she represented the Central Division at the Rocky/Central Junior Olympics in Winter Park, Colorado.
Coaching brought her back to the sport at Hickory Hills, her home mountain, and later at Crystal Mountain while attending college. After moving to South Lake Tahoe in 2022, she spent two years coaching Heavenly’s competition teams, progressing to Head Alpine Race Coach and working with athletes from U8 through U18.
Kat holds U.S. Ski & Snowboard Level 100 and PSIA Level 2 certifications. She plans to complete U.S. Ski & Snowboard Level 200 and the final portion of PSIA Level 3 during the 2026/27 season.
At KSEF, her goal is a connected U16 team: athletes who challenge themselves, support each other, and grow in skill, confidence, and character. She encourages each athlete to define what becoming a champion means to them—on the hill and beyond it.
“The real win isn’t being best on the team. It’s making the team better.”
Email Kat about U16 training & race plans · Plan your race season with KSEF
Justeen Furgeson
U14 Head Coach
Justeen has spent more than a decade coaching young athletes in the Tahoe basin. A former national-level USSA and FIS racer, she brings experience in technical and speed events, dryland training, and mental preparation. Her background includes supporting speed camps with the U.S. Ski Team and American Downhiller.
She helps athletes build sound technique, confidence, and good team habits. Justeen’s goal is for racers to challenge themselves, support one another, and keep their love of skiing as they grow.
Kendall Northrop
U12 Head Coach
Kendall grew up in South Lake Tahoe and raced with the Heavenly Ski Foundation. Her racing experience includes representing the U.S. at the Whistler Cup, competing at National Championships and Junior Olympics, and training and racing internationally in New Zealand, Austria, and Switzerland.
As U12 head coach, she helps young racers build strong fundamentals and enjoy their time on the mountain. A mother and outdoor enthusiast, Kendall brings a local connection and a lasting love of skiing to the team.
Patrick Traynor
U10 Head Coach
Patrick brings more than 20 years of coaching experience to the U10 team. He is a Level 300 U.S. Ski & Snowboard coach, PSIA Level III instructor, Children’s Specialist II, and NASM Certified Personal Trainer.
His education includes a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from UC Riverside, a Master of Public Health from UC Berkeley, and a double major in Nutrition and Entomology from UC Davis. He has also published work on student behavior.
Patrick creates organized, encouraging lessons that fit each athlete’s stage of development. He helps young skiers build movement skills, confidence, and a lasting love for the sport.
Alisa Ferrier
Jr. Devo Head Coach
Alisa began skiing at age three and raced in the Pacific Northwest. A 30-year member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America, she holds Alpine Level II and Children’s Specialist certifications, along with U.S. Ski & Snowboard Level 100 coaching certification.
She brings patient instruction and a sense of fun to KSEF’s youngest athletes as they learn the fundamentals. A longtime Tahoe local who raised three boys in the area, Alisa enjoys sharing the mountain community she loves through skiing, hiking, and paddleboarding.
Tomasz Kalkowski
Masters Head Coach
Tomasz’s path through KSEF began as a ski parent, continued as a Masters racer, and grew into coaching. A Level 300 U.S. Ski & Snowboard coach and former instructor in Europe, he understands the goals and commitments adult athletes bring to training.
He helps skiers improve their technique, develop race skills, and keep enjoying the sport over the years. Outside skiing, Tomasz is a climber, surfer, and international karate referee.
Find your place at KSEF
Our team is here to help your family find the right program and feel at home on the mountain.
Explore 2026/27 programs · Learn about scholarships · Join KSEF family events