Our Team
Donald Wainwright - General Manager
Donald has been at Bear Creek Lodge since 2015, working his way up to his current role as the general manager. He can always be found smiling and talking to guests and owners somewhere on the property. Donald is married and has four beautiful children. His hobbies are hiking and fishing.
Alicia Moe - Assistant General Manager
Raised in Michigan, Alicia moved west after graduating from Ferris State University with a degree in Hospitality Management. Since 1997, she has lived in many western ski resort communities, where she has been involved in many areas of the hotel/resort and vacation rental businesses. She enjoys the mountains and all the outdoor activities like hiking, whitewater rafting, off-roading, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and just traveling to new destinations.
Josh Riley - Maintenance Manager
Josh joined the Bear Creek Lodge family in 2019. He grew up near Boulder, Colorado, and after several stints in the military, found a home in Ridgway, Colorado. Besides working on the lodge's funicular, Josh enjoys spending his time hunting, fishing, and as a backcountry guide. Josh is also an outdoor blogger and adventure enthusiast with a wife and three kids.
Apache Foster - Maintenance Lead
Apache grew up in western Colorado and has many hidden talents, which makes him the go-to guy at the Bear Creek Lodge. He enjoys fixing cars and really anything he can get his hands on.
Bernie Hernandez - Maintenance Tech
Bernie has been working in maintenance at Bear Creek Lodge since 2016. He always has a smile and a helping hand. While not working, he enjoys spending tiem with his family.
Caleb Neisen - Front Office Supervisor
Caleb grew up on a farm in West Central Illinois. After college, he was a horseback guide for two years before moving to western Colorado in 2018. He joined Alpine Lodging Telluride as a maintenance technician, where he was able to show his knowledge and great customer skills. In September of 2019, he was promoted to the Bear Creek Lodge, where he continues promoting great guest service. Caleb enjoys his downtime by hiking, hunting, fishing and snowboarding.
Paul Pierce - Valet/Guest Services
Paul is a longtime Telluride local with a lot of great hidden treasures he enjoys sharing with guests. He joined the Bear Creek Lodge team in 2014. When Paul is off the clock, he enjoys a lot of adventurous hobbies, whether it's rock climbing, skiing, snowboarding and spending time with his wife.
Travis Garns - Valet/Guest Services
Travis grew up on the east coast before traveling west in 2016 to see what kind of adventures he could find. Travis always has a smile on his face and a helping hand for everyone. He enjoys skiing, camping and any outdoor activities.
Shonda Young - Concierge
Shonda grew up mainly in Texas, spending her late teens in North Idaho. She moved to the Western Slope in 2005 where she has made Colorado her permanent home with her three children. She has enjoyed getting to know Telluride and Mountain Village over the last couple of years, and looks forward to exploring more. She is always ready to help with a smile and her signature southern charm.
Misha Bota - Fractional Owner Services Manager
Misha has been working in hospitality since 2008 and has accumulated a vast knowledge of the industry. He has been employed at the Bear Creek Lodge for over 10 years. After starting as a shuttle driver, he moved into a concierge role and has now been managing the fractional owner services office since 2017. His prior work at a high-end hotel brand helped him work towards his current position. Misha believes that the most effective way to cultivate a great relationship with owners is to be attentive and provide communication in a quick and timely manner.
He is originally from Moldova (Eastern Europe) and has been living in Telluride for over 12 years. The Bear Creek Lodge has been his favorite place to work and live and he considers it his home and his family.