Big leadership changes at Vail Symposium

VAIL, Colorado – On the eve of the Vail Symposium’s 40th anniversary, the town’s second oldest nonprofit has a new team of leaders. This week, the symposium announced nine-year local Liana Moore as the new executive director. Moore had served as the interim executive director since May when former director Carrie Marsh resigned.

“The timing really worked out and I was able to jump in as the interim,” Moore said. “Once in the job, I felt like I was making a difference and it felt really good being back in the community.”

Moore has extensive nonprofit experience including five years at Bravo! as director of public relations and marketing. She holds a master of business administration from the Cox School of Business.

The organization created a new part-time position for Alby Segall, who will serve as the president and CEO.

Segall has served as CEO of The Children’s Museum of Denver, as a national leadership development officer at National Jewish Health, major gifts officer at the Allied Jewish Federation, and a board member with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Anti-Defamation League and Museum of Contemporary Art. He owns a consulting firm called the Gemini Consulting Group.

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“His experience will help to bring a whole new level to some areas where we haven’t had his kind of expertise in –namely with fundraising, board development and programming,” Moore said.

Alby sees the Vail Symposium as having a “tremendous future” ahead of it, he said.

“With the right vision, leadership and financial resources, we can really start to soar again,” he said. “I think we need to raise the level of programming so it’s not only stimulating and exciting, but has some name recognition, with speakers, presenters and programs that carry some cache. We also need to shore up our financial support so we have the financial stability that will allow us to create that kind of program excellence.”

Last month, the Symposium announced Jim Ruh as the new chairman of the board. Ruh, who practiced law in Denver for more than 35 years, has served on the Vail Symposium board for three years. He is a partner at Innovative Disputes Resolutions, LLC., a meditation firm in Santa Barbara, Calif. He took over the position from Rob LeVine, the general manager of the Antlers at Vail, who will remain on the Symposium board.

Ruh has previously served as chairman of the advisory council for the Hall of Life at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and past chairman of the board of trustees of the Colorado Ballet. His previous experience in leadership roles and with the Vail Symposium has prepared him well to take over as chairman, Moore said.

“It’s a pivotal point for the Vail Symposium and I think Jim will be a great leader,” she said. “His direction, community involvement and contacts have been invaluable to the Vail Symposium and we are looking forward to entering our 40th anniversary with his leadership guiding us.”

High Life Editor Caramie Schnell can be reached at 970-748-2984 or cschnell@vaildaily.com.