In his own words: Dave Hahl, snowmaker at Mt. Rose

Northern Nevada Business Weekly: Tell us about your Mount Rose and the duties of your position.

Dave Hahl: My Mt. Rose is a world of extremes, from dusty, dirty and sweaty in the summer to cold and snowy in the winter, with multiple days of beauty in between. My duties include overseeing/managing grooming and snowmaking activities plus all off-season construction on the mountain.

NNBW: How did you get into this profession?

Hahl: I had to do an internship for school (a degree in Ski Management in Operations/Management) and came to the Lake Tahoe region, then was given an opportunity at Mt. Rose.

NNBW: What's the most important thing you have learned in your career? To be flexible and adaptable.

NNBW: Groomers work at night, often in terrible weather conditions. Was there ever a time you wished you were safely holed up in the lodge? No, not really. I always loved the challenge.

NNBW: What was your first job.

Hahl: I was a landscaper at Lichten Fels Nursery in Pennsylvania.

NNBW: Tell us about your dream job. Why aren't you working it?

Hahl: My dream job is this one. This job was made for me because every two weeks I'm doing something different.

NNBW: Have any advice for someone who wants to enter your profession?

Hahl: Hard work pays more dividends than any degree will ever do.

NNBW: What do you like most about your job. Being in the mountains and the variety of tasks.

NNBW: What's the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Hahl: Prove yourself through dedication to the work and the company (from my father).

NNBW: What are your favorite hobbies or pastimes? How do you spend your time away from work?

Hahl: Waterskiing/wakeboarding, biking, running & going to the beach

NNBW: If you could live your life over again, what one thing would you change?

Hahl: If I got injured, I would take better care of my body instead of fighting through the pain

NNBW: What did you dream of becoming when you were a kid?

Hahl: A forest ranger.

NNBW: What can you do that someone else can't?

Hahl: There's always someone out there who can replace you, but my ability to foresee opportunities/problems from a construction, business and fiscal standpoint I think helps me stand out at Mt. Rose.

NNBW: If you had enough money to retire right now, would you? Why or why not? No, not yet, because too much idle time is the devil's playground.

NNBW: What's the last concert or sporting event you attended?

Hahl: I went to Super Bowl XLV (what I refer to as the Dallas Ice Bowl) but I don't wanna talk about it because the Steelers got whooped. My last concert was I saw Lil Uno at the Knitting Factory with my kids.

NNBW: Where's your perfect vacation spot?

Hahl: Anywhere near the ocean.

NNBW: Why did you choose a career in northern Nevada? What do you like most about working/living here?

Hahl: I love the temperate climate and Tahoe summers.

THE BASICS

Name/title: Dave Hahl, Grooming/Snowmaking Manager

Number of years in this job? 22

Years in this profession? 28

Education: AAS from Colorado Mountain College

Last book read? "The Storm" by Clive Cussler and "Private Games" by James Patterson

Favorite flick? Anything with Liam Neeson in it

What's on your iPod? David Greta, Kid Cuti, Akon, Joe Johnson, and more hip-hop, house, and jazz

Spouse, kids or pets? All of them