In support of our mission and our day-to-day operations, NENSA is so pleased to welcome Steve Bruner as Operations and Programs Director.
Steve’s first experiences with competitive skiing with his high school team in Stillwater, Minnesota ignited a passion for endurance sports that led to collegiate running and adventures in the many places he resided before becoming a New Englander, including Mexico, Madagascar, Antarctica, Alaska, Germany, Minnesota, and Montana. He spent more than a decade leading wilderness trips and directing an outdoor adventure program, planning and coordinating more than 150 canoeing and backpacking trips each summer. After earning an MBA in 2003, he worked with the National Parks on strategic planning and implementation. He also owned and operated a business selling green building materials, managing all aspects of operations from accounting and customer service to marketing.
Since arriving in New England more than a decade ago, he has been involved in nearly every aspect of the sport – from co-founding the Amherst Nordic Ski Association to coaching in the Bill Koch League (BKL) and at the junior level in Amherst, MA (Amherst High School) and in Vermont (West River BKL, Stratton Mountain School), venue operations (Stratton and Viking Nordic Centers), event organization (Stratton Terrain Challenge), and staffing NENSA camps and trips including U16 Championships, Regional Elite Group (REG), and Junior Nationals.
Heidi Lange, Executive Director, couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Steve to the NENSA team. “Steve brings a rare blend of operational expertise and a deep commitment to our sport and community. I’m excited about the strategic thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and thoughtful leadership he adds to our team. He knows how to turn strategy into execution, better positioning us to serve our mission and our community every day.”
NENSA Board President Ellen Chandler recognizes what this means for NENSA, “With Steve on the team, we are going to be able to make some big strides with operational effectiveness thanks to his knowledge and experience.”
Steve reflects, “I am thrilled to be joining such an amazing team. From the NENSA Staff to the Board of Directors, I feel fortunate to get to work with such a great group of people. In fact, great people abound in our Nordic ski community. Joining NENSA means I’ll get to work more closely with race organizers, clubs, sponsors, athletes, coaches, venues… What a collectively awesome bunch!
I find great satisfaction in working for mission-driven organizations. That the NENSA mission includes the words “share the joy” is absolutely perfect.”
When asked about his favorite ski memories, Steve’s recollections illuminate the joy he finds in skiing: “I have so many amazing ski memories, from touring to racing, from coaching to being a parent of young skiers.
Not long after graduating from college, I was living in a cabin in northern Minnesota on the edge of the Boundary Waters. One spring, after a few freeze-thaw cycles, the snow on the ice-covered lakes had built up a nice crust, perfect for skate skiing. I went out for a long ski one weekend, tracing a route I had paddled and portaged in a canoe in previous summers. Under blue skies, I stayed out until the sun was low. My last few kilometers were heading south to north on an arm of a large lake. A stiff wind at my back, my home stretch was a wide-open, buttery-smooth exhilaration that felt like flight.
While working for Yellowstone National Park, I lived in Mammoth Hot Springs, the north entrance of the park. After work, I regularly skied into the park on the winter roads, “groomed” by snow coaches and snowmobiles. As I ventured deeper into the park, I began formulating a plan to ski across the park to West Yellowstone, about 75k away. It came to fruition one weekend when I had a friend driving to “West” who could give me a ride home that evening. Now, it can feel pretty remote in Yellowstone in the winter. I skied with food, water, lots of extra layers, and emergency supplies. About two hours into the ski, I came upon a herd of bison in the middle of the road. With no way to get around them, I thought I was in trouble. Fortunately, as I was contemplating turning around, two snow coaches approached, heading in my direction. I waved them down, asked if I could ski in between them as they parted the herd, and made my way through to the other side. I arrived at West Yellowstone late in the afternoon, pretty tired, hungry for hot food, and proud to have pulled it off.”
The New England ski community is looking ahead to a big winter in the East when the region will welcome skiers from around the globe to major events including U.S. Cross-Country Ski National Championships (January 1–9, 2026, Lake Placid, NY), FIS Cross-Country World Cup Finals (March 19–22, 2026, Lake Placid, NY), and U.S. Ski & Snowboard SuperTour Finals (March 27–29, 2026, Craftsbury, VT).
As for Steve and what he most looks forward to this season, “I’m super excited to attend another World Cup race in Lake Placid in March. The energy in Minneapolis in 2024 was out of this world. I’m also looking forward to coaching with Stratton Mountain School (where my daughter, Zola, is a senior) and attending Carnival races (my son, Micah, is a freshman skiing for Dartmouth).”
Please join us in welcoming Steve to NENSA and keep an eye out for him on the trails (and in your inbox) this winter!
The Operations & Programs Director oversees NENSA’s day-to-day organizational operations to advance the mission and values of the organization. Working closely with the Executive Director, staff and board, sponsors, clubs, and event organizers, the Director keeps NENSA running smoothly by stewarding contracts and negotiations; managing sponsorship fulfillment; leading technology systems and integrations; supporting logistics and select events; providing development support; overseeing CRM and data management; producing clear reporting and analytics; and supporting series scoring. The role builds efficient processes and systems that enable the organization’s work.
