Meet Our Staff

Housekeeping

Hometown?
Querato, Mexico

If you had a superpower, what would it be?
I would like to fly

Favorite Vacation
I love Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Mexico

Favorite spot in Colorado and why?
Estes Park Colorado is a magic place

What’s your favorite memory?
I love Christmas dinner in my country with my sibling and my mother.

Which historical figure would you most like to have met?
I would love to meet Roberto Gomez Bolanos (El Chavo del 8) he had a great sense of humor.

Hobbies?
Salsa dancing!

Housekeeping

Hometown?
Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico

If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Travel in time where my mother lives so that I could see her again.

Favorite vacation?
Cancun, Mexico

Favorite spot in Colorado and why?
Vail and Avon, because I love the parks around these towns. They are beautiful.

What's your favorite memory?
The best memories I have are the ones with my mother and the sacrifice she made for me. She always put me before herself.

What historical figure would you most like to have met?
Fransico "Pancho" Villa. He proclaimed himself the Mexican president and is one of the most important men of the Mexican revolution.

Housekeeping

Hometown?
El Progreso Yoro, Honduras

If you had a superpower, what would it be?
I want to fly

Favorite vacation?
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Favorite spot in Colorado and why?
Avon, Colorado because it is my home now. I have lived here for 19 years.

What’s your favorite memory?
When my daughter Sheila was born.

Which historical figure would you most like to have met?
Francisco Morazán was a great politician in my country.

Housekeeping

Hometown?
Cuauhtémoc Chihuahua, Mexico

If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Be able to fly

Favorite vacation?
In the woods for hiking and camping.

Favorite spot in Colorado and why?
Vail, for the mountains, and I also love the snow.

What's your favorite memory?
I have a lot of favorite memories, but I cherish the ones with my father.

Which historical figure would you most like to have met?
Francisco "Pancho" Villa

Front Desk Manager

Chris Manning is a Jack-of-all-trades who was a part of the Antlers team many years ago. He has returned to the Antlers to help lead the front desk among other projects. Along with his wife, Tessa, Chris has been running a successful business, Tessa Clogs, for the past twenty-five years. He loves being outside, especially loves riding, biking and climbing. As a bonus he’s always happy to share these adventures and says, “Bring your mask, let’s keep social distancing and get outside together. Cheers and Hugs to all!”

Where is your hometown? Omaha, NE

If you had a superpower, what would it be? Understand and speak all languages. How cool would that be to talk adventure with locals in their land wherever that may take you.

Favorite vacation? I’ve been fortunate to have so many great adventures with my family. Bike tour Bornholm, Denmark. Climbing vacation in Kalymnos Greece. Spending time with family on the south coast of Sweden. And, of course, just taking staycations backpacking right out our front door to skiing home at the end of the day.

Favorite spot in Colorado and why? Minturn – our backyard is the US Forest. Here we can ski to our house, put a backpack on at our house to go camping. Minturn is a true diamond in the rough and a place that our family the “Minturn Manning’s” call home.

What is your favorite memory? Seeing our family accomplish great achievements – from kids riding their bikes, skiing, climbing and crushing every outdoor sport they put their mind and having all three of our girls in the top 10% of their class, to Tessa, my wife, taking the risk to start our own successful business that has been around for 25 years, so many great times that I am forgetting now more then I’m remembering.

What historical figure would you most like to have met? Italian cyclist Gino Bartali – Tour de France winner who also saved many Jewish families during World War 2. An incredible athlete that had a heart of gold.

Controller

Here is a blast from the past. Chris Ratzlaff is back at the Antlers for the third time in three decades. This time his role is in the Accounting department. In the 1990s and 2000s he did management, sales, marketing and IT in the hospitality business. Eight years ago he switched into accounting, working as the Assistant Controller at the Christie Lodge and as the Controller for Charter Sports. He even worked as an accountant, remotely from Italy for a year. On the side, he has an oxygen rental business RentOxygen.com. They help visitors to the mountains avoid symptoms of adjusting to the altitude. Chris lives with his wife Sarah and son Indy in Minturn, CO.

Hometown: Waconia, MN
Favorite spot in Colorado: The Back Bowls
Best Vacation: Biking and hiking the Dolomiti mountains in Italy

Remodeling Manager

Dave Collins has worked at the Antlers a long time and is glad to be working here. He's said he wishes he had gotten here sooner.

Best vacation?

Skiing anywhere.

Favorite Pastime?

Sailing anywhere.

Conference Services and Guest Services

Gabe has lived in Vail for 9 years and has worked at the Antlers for several years. He has a degree in Psychology from Mississippi State University and a degree in Sustainability from Colorado Mountain College. He loves to ski and hike.

Hometown?

Cleveland, Mississippi

Favorite spot in Colorado?

Mt. Powell, just up Redsand Stone Road.

Best Vacation?

I went to Nepal and went trekking in the Himalayas. This was definitely the best vacation I’ve ever been on.

Housekeeping

Hometown?
Iztapalapa , DF Mexico

If you had a superpower, what would it be?
The power of curing any diseases

Favorite vacation?
Los Cabos, Mexico

Favorite spot in Colorado and why?
Vail, Colorado for the tranquility

What’s your favorite memory?
The birth of my children

Which historical figure would you most like to have met?
Frida Kahlo for her legacy and the feministic symbol she projects

Associate Executive Housekeeper

Gladys Contreras is originally from Hondouras. She began working at the Antlers in 1990 as housekeeper, so has been with us 28 years! Although a little quiet and reserved, Gladys is known for embracing the phrase, “The answer is ‘yes’, now what’s the question?” She just has that attitude. She worked her way up over the years to become a supervisor and integral part of the Antlers team. She very much enjoys her current role of supervising the staff and making sure that everything is very organized and in its place. She must also have a green thumb, as she cares for all of the plants belonging to Antlers owners in her office, and then brings them back to the owners when they are in house. Many guests recognize her as the constant, happy housekeeping face that is always here to make them feel at home!

She is very grateful for her time at the Antlers. One of her favorite memories is the year that Rob LeVine dressed as Santa Claus and delivered presents to her family at her house! Gestures like that are what has made the Antlers home for her and has kept here here all these years.

Her sister Delores (Lola) worked with us for many years and we miss her. In Gladys’ spare time she enjoys spending time with her three daughters and her granddaughter Yaritza.

As many of the Antlers housekeepers, she has worked hard to learn English and now communicates well in what is a second language to her. We are so proud to share the news that she recently became a U.S. citizen!

Sales and Marketing Manager

Matthew grew up in East Texas and moved to Vail shortly after graduating from Lamar University in 2014. He moved here for a "season", but ended up meeting the love of his life, Gina, and they decided to call Vail home. They have been married four years now, and have a rescue-pup named Athena.

He thinks it's a blast marketing the Antlers at Vail, and selling the best Vail accommodations to folks. He thinks that it's a joy to share these mountains with guests from around the world.

Away from work, you'll likely find him outside trail running, mountain biking, skiing pow, or in the kitchen. One of his favorite pastimes is cooking and trying out new recipes - some more successfully than others.

He also enjoys traveling the globe with his wife anytime he has the opportunity.

In addition to these activities, he and his wife run a date ideas, gift ideas, and travel blog named MakeaDateofIt.com.

Favorite vacation?
Most recently Gina and I had the opportunity to celebrate our wedding anniversary abroad. We started in Paris, then flew to Milan. We rented a little Fiat and traveled between the Cinque Terre and Venice, drove up to the Dolomites, and spent a few days on Lake Como. We met some really lovely folks staying in bed & breakfasts along the way, learned about the culture and history of Italy, and of course - had some of the best food ever. Bologna, Parma, and Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region really stole my heart. The history of that region was fascinating. And, I had some of the best food & wine of my life there.

Favorite spot in Colorado and why?
I really do love Vail. There is a unique combination of natural beauty and culture here that is, as the saying goes, 'Like Nothing on Earth'. I feel very fortunate to get to call the Eagle Valley home.

Housekeeping

Hometown?
Tomochi, Mexico

If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Be able to Fly

Favorite vacation?
California

Favorite spot in Colorado and why?
The Mall in Denver, love to go shopping

What’s your favorite memory?
The birth of my granddaughter

Which historical figure would you most like to have met?
Francisco "Pancho" Villa who was a Mexican revolutionary general

Director of Marketing

Liana joined the Antlers at Vail in March of 2013 as the Director of Marketing. In 2001 Liana made the Vail Valley her forever home and took on the job of heading up marketing and PR for Bravo! Vail which somehow led her to VP of Account Services at an ad agency specializing in real estate development, a couple of years running her own marketing consulting gig and then stepping in as interim Executive Director at a small non-profit on whose board she served. After interim turned to 3 years at the Vail Symposium she headed back to her marketing roots to fill a hole at the Antlers at Vail. Liana's passion is education. She enjoys volunteering for her childrens' schools, and bringing inspiring Vail Symposium speakers into the local schools. Other hobbies include debating with a 4-year-old (and sometimes winning!) and trying new sports (like BMX) with an 8-year-old and publishing websites on family travel and furry family members, dogs . She aspires to one day be able to return to her hobby of climbing mountains.

Hometown
Stavanger, Norway. Liana spent 1st through 10th grade in Stavanger, longer than anywhere she has lived other than Vail.

If you had a superpower, what would it be?
The ability to teleport myself and others between locations as well as time. I'd use it to give my kids the same cultural experiences I was able to have while still living our life here in beautiful Vail, Colorado. And, maybe I'd also use it to save the world.

Assistant General Manager

Kim Newbury Rediker joined the Antlers at Vail in September of 2016 as Assistant General Manager. She previously held positions as the General Manager of Simba Run and Inn & Suites at Riverwalk as well as the Assistant General Manager at Tivoli Lodge.

Kim has lived in Vail since 1992, right after graduating from UGA. She is a DIE-HARD Georgia Bulldog and will be until the day she dies, and most fall Saturday nights you will find her glued to the TV watching her beloved Bulldogs or any other SEC football that she can find. She both skis and snowboards, and loves cross country skiing and snowshoeing also. In the summer she plays a lot of golf, enjoys hiking and cruiser biking, thinks that tubing down the Colorado or Gore Greek is a fantastic way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and enjoys sitting on the banks of the Eagle River watching her husband fly fish (she's personally freaked out by hooking a fish, so avoids actually fishing). Kim’s daughter, Lydia, attends Emory University in Atlanta with a double major in International Studies & Chinese Language. Her son is a Senior at BMHS and captain of the varsity Basketball team. Her husband John is an attorney with Mountain Legal Professionals in Minturn. Her entire family is dedicated to community service – she serves on the Board of the Vail Rec District and of the Town of Vail Commission on Special Events, her husband is the Chairman of the TOV Planning and Environmental Commission, her daughter is the student advisor for Children’s Global Alliance and travels to multiple countries each summer to work in orphanages, and her son is involved in environmental service projects through his school and clubs.

Housekeeping

Hometown?
Nicolas Bravo, Mexico

If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Be able to fly

Favorite vacation?
Miami, Florida

Favorite spot in Colorado and why?
Vail, because my daughter were born here

What’s your favorite memory?
Living in my house in Mexico

Which historical figure would you most like to have met?
"Jenni" Rivera Saavedra. She was an American singer, songwriter, actress, television producer, spokesperson, philanthropist and entrepreneur.

Housekeeping

All of the Antlers housekeepers are a part of the Vail Valley Literacy Project in an in-house format. We reward them for learning English, and for using it in their jobs. Furthermore, the Antlers pays for any worker who wants to go to college or, that wants to earn their GED diploma. We have the testimony of several housekeepers who can help their children with their homework, just because they are now more prepared. We also have developed a Book Club discussion group for the housekeepers. We are slowly empowering our team to become better citizens of our valley. pictured here is Luz Barboza with Colleen Gray, Director of the Literacy Project.

General Manager

Magdalena is originally from Guayaquil, Ecuador. She feels that she grew up with the absolute most beautiful family in the entire world: Her parents (Carlos and Anita) are the very best example of love and hard work. Her 4 siblings (Ana Rosa, Cristina, Rosa Emilia and Carlos) are her best friends. They are funny, smart, and always challenge her to be better. Since she was little she dreamed of travelling: travelling around Ecuador, in South America, and the world! This is why she learned about other cultures and languages. Her passport has many stamps.

She is a wife, a mom, a daughter, a sister, a boss that is passionate about helping others, about learning, and embracing new challenges. She never takes herself too seriously. (She does take others and her job seriously in case you wonder).

Magda feels that life has given her so much that she can only give kindness back to everybody. She is a person full of gratitude.

Hometown? Guayaquil - Ecuador

What’s your favorite memory?
I love every New Year in Ecuador. In my country we celebrate the New Year Holiday with so many traditions… I miss our rituals.

True confession?
When I came to Colorado, I didn’t know anything about it. I hadn’t even seen a picture of it! I didn’t know what to expect…. You might wonder then why I came here? Well, I followed love…. My husband Tony was working in Avon, so I decided to relocate from Switzerland to here. But I fell in love with Colorado right away…. The mountains, the community, the outdoor life, everything was great! Our three children were born in Vail, and we bought our home in the valley. The experience has been super! Tony and I have a multicultural marriage. It is not the perfect marriage (we don’t even understand our language sometimes!) but it is always fun.

Tell us a “mom super power” you own?
I can carry three kids at the same time, and still manage to open our house door!!!

Housekeeping

Home Country?

Mexico

Hobbies?

Marcario enjoys travelling.

Housekeeping

Hometown?
Cuauhtémoc Chihuahua, Mexico

If you had a superpower, what would it be?
I would like to be a mind reader, know what people think

Favorite vacation?
Cancun, Mexico

Favorite spot in Colorado and why?
Vail, just because

What’s your favorite memory?
The moments I share with my mother I admire her love for her family and others

What historical figure would you most like to have met?
Jesus Christ Because I do believe in his sacrifice for humanity

Hobbies?
I love animals and have 3 dogs of my own.

Housekeeping

Hometown?

Cuahutemoc ChinhMezc, Mexico

If you had a superpower, what would it be?
I would like to have a super power of healing and cure all kind of people that are sick

Favorite spot in Colorado and why?
A summer day in the eagle valley, or a very snowing day in winter

What’s your favorite memory?
The birth of my daughter and my grand kids

What historical figure would you most like to have met?
I like all Mexican heroes and I love to celebrate the Mexican history with a good party

Housekeeping

Hobbies?

Olivia enjoys spending time with her beautiful daughters.

Housekeeping

Hometown?
Parral, Chihuaha, Mexico

If you had a superpower, what would it be?
I would like to fly

Favorite vacation?
California

Favorite spot in Colorado and why?
The hot springs in Glenwood Springs

What's your favorite memory?
My daughters' graduation.

Which historical figure would you most like to have met?
Francisco "Pancho" Villa who was a Mexican Revolutionary General.

Grand Poobah (previously GM)

Rob has been the anomaly in the Tourism business, having started working at the Antlers front desk in 1978 and then retiring as General Manager 38 years later. Throughout that time Rob felt like he had the best job on the planet. He’s thrilled that Magdalena and the board of directors have asked him to stay involved as a consultant for at least the next year. Much like Bud Benedict did when he retired in 1987, Rob is happy to help insure a smooth transition.

Again, like Bud before him (and potentially Magda in the future), as a real estate broker Rob has helped facilitate the sales of 95% of the condominiums when they have changed hands. In addition to his part-time role as consultant, he will continue to be very actively involved with the building through Antlers at Vail Real Estate, LLC.

Hometown?
I lived in Littleton (Denver suburb) until I was 16 years old. Then we moved to Stamford, CT where I finished high school. I applied to 3 colleges ... University of Denver, CU and Colorado College. Guess I knew where home was. I spent summers in Vail during college ('74-'78) and moved here permanently when I graduated from CC.

What will you do now that you’re retired?
My Dad was always my role model. He retired when he was 58, never worked another day and never regretted it. He loved to play golf, ski, fish, hike, bike and just about anything else recreational. He also enjoyed travelling and never met a museum he didn't like. I'm the same way, and cannot wait. There's also something in the Vail Daily almost every day that intrigues me ... whether it's recreational, social, cultural or just curious ... I plan to do a LOT more of those things.

Favorite memory?
It's not just one time ... many actually ... but skiing in the back, with a couple feet of new snow, pointing 'em straight downhill and making tele-turns until I got to the bottom or couldn't breathe anymore. THAT's a feeling I'll never forget.

Canning a 35 foot birdie putt on the second extra hole to win the Singletree Club Championship in about 1981 or '82, is another pretty good memory.

And more relevant to the Antlers, the celebration(s) that we had for my retirement were beyond memorable. The videos that Ron Bobuk helped create, the memory book from all the owners, all the nice things people said (lies mostly) and especially the moment when I learned of the conference center naming … all of it will live with me forever.

Housekeeping

Hometown?
Santa Barbara, Honduras

If you had a superpower, what would it be?
I would like to read minds and help people with their needs.

Favorite vacation?
Manhattan, NY

Favorite spot in Colorado and why?
Nottingham Lake in Avon, CO

What's your favorite memory?
Having communion with my children.

Which historical figure would you most like to have met?
Esther from the Bible, a woman who supported her people.

Revenue Management

Ryan grew up in Pennsylvania, spending his summers in Jackson Hole, WY. He attended Franklin and Marshall College and graduated in 1999. His love of the mountain west and skiing attracted him to the Vail Valley in January, 2000. Ryan has spent 15 years growing professionally within Colorado’s Hospitality and Ski industries, acquiring a MBA from the University of Colorado along the way. In 2010 Ryan met the love of his life DiAnna in Vail, and they have been married since 2013. They currently live in Edwards with their yellow lab Gunner and cat Lil’ Bit…trust me she’s way more than “Lil”!

Hometown?
Williamsport, PA….like a lifetime ago…now its Avon, CO!

Favorite spot in Colorado and why?
In my wife’s arms…She’s a true Colorado Local!

What’s your favorite memory?
Summiting the Grand Teton in 2013 with my best friend Alex.

How would you describe yourself?
I am a driven mountain sport enthusiast, whose primary goal in life is to safely share time and memories among high mountain peaks with my friends and family.

Housekeeping

Hometown?
San Pedro Sula, Honduras

If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Be able to teleport.

Favorite vacation?
Honduras

Favorite spot in Colorado and why?
Vail Mountain for the beautiful views

What's your favorite memory?
When my kids were born

Which historical figure would you most like to have met?
King Solomon because of his wisdom